Short- and long-term crisis response; Global communication pointers; Inspiring messaging; and more

STAT OF THE DAY

Fifty-five percent of respondents say they’re working longer hours during the COVID-19 lockdown, with 1 in 5 professionals working an additional 10 hours or more a week, according to a Fishbowl survey of 16,000 users. Additionally, 19% said they maintain the same work schedule, 19% work six to 10 hours more, and 26% said that they are working less hours at home.

COVID-19 UPDATE

How do short- and long-term crisis responses differ? Here’s how the experts say you should approach your immediate needs and still keep the wider view in mind.

For a global crisis, execute a global response. Many communicators have to coordinate messaging across multiple continents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are key cultural differences to take into account when communicating to a global workforce.

Brevity and positivity shine during this crisis. What kinds of messages are cutting through and inspiring audiences these days? Here’s how you should think about paring your writing and focusing on uplifting and “dauntless” storytelling.

Apple signals return to work in contrast with other tech companies. Unlike other Silicon Valley stalwarts like Facebook, Google and Twitter, Apple seems to be in the process of bringing back employees, though the moves are masked by its trademark secrecy.

Business Insider reported:

The company's move to get corporate employees back to the office as quickly as possible during a pandemic appears to be a departure from the approach taken by other technology companies. Amazon has told employees that those who can work from home can continue to do so until October 2, according to Reuters. Microsoft, which like Amazon, Apple, and other tech companies has been remote since March, also said that most workers can continue doing their jobs from home through October.

A Ford assembly plant sees COVID-19 case one day after reopening. The story highlights the need for crisis response preparation around new cases as businesses reopen. Having a clear policy and collateral to share with journalists will go a long way in dispelling negative headlines. Here’s what employees say they are concerned about.

Visa CEO Al Kelly touts WFH flexibility on LinkedIn. The credit card company leader said that offering flexibility for employees was the right thing to do for workers and their families.

MarketWatch reported:

"While we will look at bringing employees back into our offices on a site-by-site basis in stages, the flexibility to remain working remotely is the right thing to do for our employees and their families," Kelly said. He also said that the company has a social responsibility to offer those Visa employees who can easily work from home the opportunity to keep doing so. "Unfortunately, there are tens of millions of people who can't work from home, for whom not showing up to work means not getting paid," Kelly said. "It simply seems wrong for Visa employees to be crowding transit systems and roads when we have the flexibility to both continue full business continuity while working from home."

Now is a great time to invest in diversity and inclusion. What does a commitment to equality and inclusion look like during COVID-19? Here are some tips including web extensions that identify unconscious bias, support for varying home situations and more.

JPMorgan plans for half-full offices after lockdown ends. The bank has been preparing for workers to return with new cleaning protocols and says that it won’t bring back full staff levels for “the foreseeable future.”

American Banker reported:

“As we prepare for this level of flexible seating and put protocols in place for all areas to be cleaned and disinfected effectively, we have started clearing all desk surfaces and floor areas of any personal and business-related work items,” JPMorgan said in the memo. “We know how important your items are and will continue to make every effort to treat them with care.

Video is your secret weapon to cut through the noise during this crisis. Here are some tips on how you can build video content to reach your target audience, regardless of the backdrop you must play against.

Citigroup gives employees an extra day off for Memorial Day weekend. The move is intended to reward employees for their hard work and flexibility during the COVID-19 crisis.

Fox Business reported:

"My leadership team and I deeply appreciate how you’ve responded," [CEO Michael Corbat] wrote. "We want to express our gratitude for all you’ve done by offering you an extra day off on Friday, May 22. Please take the day to relax and enjoy time with your families, and above all, please keep in mind that as important as it is to take care of our clients, we need to take care of ourselves."

Virtual Conference Alert

Join us for Ragan & PR Daily's Social Media & Digital Communications Virtual Conference June 18-19 to learn brand strategies and best practices to meet the challenges of the new reality.

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