| Your free trial subscription expires 8/14/20. Go here to extend your term, only $79/year. QUOTE OF THE DAY “You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end each of us must work for his own improvement, and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful.” –Marie Curie COVID-19 UPDATE - At the time of reporting, The New York Times showed 5,054,264 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and 162,481 deaths. Bing’s COVID-19 Tracker showed 5,133,880 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and 164,807 fatalities.
- At least 97,000 children tested positive for the coronavirus in the last two weeks of July, per a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- President Trump issued executive orders on COVID-19 aid after a deal failed to materialize in Congress, but experts warn that the actions will fall short of the needed financial stimulus that Congress could provide.
Monitor email volume to help guard against burnout. Here’s how you can track email use to know if workers are putting in extra hours and depleting necessary energy reserves during the pandemic.
How can you encourage workers to take PTO despite COVID-19 fears? HR workers are reporting difficulty getting employees to take their vacations as fears over the coronavirus and travel risks have people staying in their homes. Here’s how you might address the issue in your workplace. Have you removed these key roadblocks for better D&I? Without proper transparency, budgeting and a human touch, efforts to make your workplace more inclusive will have a hard time getting off the ground. Here are some key tips to follow. Is your management style intrusive or domineering for remote workers? Here are some of the ways employees say managers are cramping their style during the current crisis and WFH. McDonald’s sues former CEO over cover-up allegations. Steve Easterbrook was ousted eight months ago over an alleged inappropriate relationship with an employee, but now the fast food chain is taking more aggressive action to protect its reputation. New CEO Chris Kempczinski has issued a call for greater integrity within the organization. The New York Times wrote: “McDonald’s does not tolerate behavior from any employee that does not reflect our values,” Mr. Kempczinski wrote in an internal memo reviewed by The New York Times. He added, “As we recommit to our values, now, more than ever, is the time to lean in to what we stand for and act as a positive force for change.” How can you safeguard your reputation from “techlash”? Here are some important messages you should prioritize as consumer sentiment towards technology climbs and dives. Wisconsin software company reverses course on return to office plans. The company had planned to bring back its 9,000 employees until it was met with criticism and a clear rebuttal from local government officials. CBS News reported: In an email to employees over the weekend, obtained by CBS News, Epic said it was "modifying our return-to-work policy" and employees who were told to return as of Monday "are no longer required to do so." But the company still insists it will bring its employees back, and is asking public health officials to further review and approve its plan, saying, "Our intention is to ... be a model for others for how to return to work safely." Responsiveness and accessibility reign during WFH. Here are the important attributes for great leadership with remote teams. When is it OK to ask a reporter for links? Building your reputation, whether through word of mouth or online with SEO, requires patience and dedication. Here’s how reporters will react when you try to take a shortcut. Dollar Tree takes back policy (again) on mask use in stores. The discount retailer had originally required mask use before switching to a policy where they were encouraged but not required. Now they will be mandatory once more. The Hill reported: “To best help protect one another, and in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we are requiring all Associates, customers and vendors to wear face coverings when inside our stores,” the coronavirus update reads. Special Report Get a free copy of Ragan’s Crisis Leadership Board’s “Organizational Responses to Black Lives Matter,” a concise and meaningful review of how 10 brands responded to the Black Lives Matter movement—from best to worst—and the lessons taken from each response. Virtual Conference Alert Join us for Ragan’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Communicators Virtual Conference Sept. 17-18 to learn beast practices and tactics for improving diversity and inclusion in your workplace and making your comms programs reflective of your core values and beliefs. Join our Crisis Leadership Board Ragan’s Crisis Leadership Board is the resource you need before, during and after the crisis. As a board member, you have access to all back issues of this newsletter—as well as research, data, case studies, checklists, tip sheets, articles and other resources—plus a peer-to-peer discussion board and an all-access pass to the annual Crisis Management Conference. Sponsorship/Advertising Opportunities Contact Hannah Lavelle at HannahL@ragan.com with sponsorship and advertising inquiries. Pitch Us Have a great story to share about crisis communication or your own take on current best practices? Contact Editor Ted Kitterman at TedK@ragan.com. Your free trial subscription expires 8/14/20. Go here to extend your term, only $79/year. | 
