QUOTE OF THE DAY "Setting a good example and making amends is one of the most powerful leadership qualities a true leader can have." --Maya Hu-chan --as featured in Bits & Pieces on Leadership COVID-19 UDPATE At the time of reporting, The New York Times showed 3,445,542 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and 136,356 deaths. Bing’s COVID-19 Tracker reported 3,483,905 cases in the U.S. and 138,358 fatalities. The White House disavowed a blistering op-ed from senior trade advisor Peter Navarro attacking top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci. Federal Reserve officials are bracing for a prolonged recession due to ongoing high unemployment and rising corporate bankruptcy. Expert worry that the will to enact safety measures has evaporated as case counts surge across the country.
How are you prioritizing self-care during WFH? Here’s how PR pros should think about taking care of themselves and setting boundaries during the ongoing pandemic.
Don’t confuse a reporters’ attention for agreement. Here are some important mistakes to avoid when engaging with media outlets during a crisis—or at any other time. WFH workers report added pressure to “overperform.” Make sure expectations and goals are clearly communicated and that you are working to help your teams avoid burnout. Here’s what workers say they are experiencing. Walmart to require masks in all stores. The retailer says the move is about offering consistency, but won’t put the rules into effect until July 20 to give customers time to adapt. CNN reported: "To help bring consistency across stores and clubs, we will require all shoppers to wear a face covering starting Monday, July 20," Walmart US chief operating officer Dacona Smith and Sam's Club chief operating officer Lance De La Rosa said in a blog post Wednesday. "This will give us time to inform customers and members of the changes, post signage and train associates on the new protocols." Zoom launches hardware to support video calls. The videoconferencing platform is offering a 27-inch screen with built-in cameras and noise reducing microphones to help workers get a better video experience without buying a bunch of equipment. The device retails for $599. Media monitoring is essential during these difficult times. Make sure you are taking advantage of the latest technology to monitor your online reputation and discover important trends. How are you supporting DE&I in the virtual workplace? Here are some tips for how you can work on making your workplace more inclusive—even when it doesn’t have a real-world location. Comms leaders offer insights on leading through the next stages of COVID-19. The Institute For Public Relations has published an e-book with takeaways from industry leaders on what’s next in the crisis. Check it out here. Live Nation’s CEO Michael Rapino commits to increased diversity in leadership. In an open letter to employees, Rapino said that the live music producer must do more to embrace its position as an industry leader and champion a more inclusive and equitable world. His letter read, in part: Recent events in the U.S. and around the world have sparked overdue reflection on racism and discrimination in our societies, as well as here at Live Nation. As the leader in live music, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to amplify the conversation around anti-racism and Black Lives Matter in order to be a part of the solution. We also recognize the need to expand our efforts across race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and other underrepresented groups. Former and current Nike employees share experience with discrimination on Instagram. Users are sharing stories via an anonymous Instagram account, something that is becoming a bit of a trend on social media platforms. Employees say that recent statements supporting Black Lives Matter and DE&I do not align with their lived experiences. Business Insider reported: “We urge every employee to speak up if an employee experiences something that does not align with Nike’s value sand policies,” the Nike spokesperson said. Southwest offers clear targets to avoid layoffs. As the organization has tried to encourage voluntary separation and other initiatives, CEO Gary Kelly shared some stark numbers to explain the shortfall now facing the airline. Radio.com wrote: "Although furloughs and layoffs remain our very last resort, we can’t rule them out as a possibility obviously in this very bad environment," Kelly said in a message to employees. "We need a significant recovery by the end of this year — and that’s roughly triple the number of passengers from where we are today." Virtual Conference Alert Join us for Ragan’s Remote Employee Engagement &Culture Virtual Conference on Tuesday, July 21 to learn internal comms strategies and best practices to meet the challenges of the new reality. 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. Sign Up Subscribe to Ragan’s Crisis Daily newsletter today. | 