TIP OF THE DAY “It has to start from within,” inclusion advocate April Reign told Vox. “You cannot say that you are standing with black and brown people when you receive hundreds of complaints from those employees about your working conditions. What do your internals look like?” COVID-19 UPDATE At the time of reporting, The New York Times showed 1,883,033 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and 108,194 deaths. Bing’s COVID-19 Tracker reported 1,914,054 cases in the U.S. and 109,826 deaths. Global cases exceed 6.6 million. Health officials have shared concerns over the potential for spread of the COVID-19 virus due to crowds gathering to protest racial injustice across the United States. CNN reported the virus is still spreading, with more than 4,000 deaths in the U.S. since Sunday. May saw the biggest increase in employment in U.S. history as the economy attempts to bring back workers, but unemployment remains high at 13.3%. Experts say that the country might have turned a corner, unless a second wave of the virus shows up later in the year.
Balance transparency with the potential to overshare. Your audiences are overwhelmed with constant updates and news. For communicators, it’s crucial to know when you should share information and when you should give people space. Here’s how one team is thinking about it.
Investing in internships during COVID-19 is an important industry service. Here’s how one PR agency is considering its obligation to the next generation as COVID-19 disrupts usual employment practices. NYT publisher defends explosive op-ed in internal note. A.G. Sulzberger said a guest piece penned by Sen. Tom Cotton—in which the Arkansas Republican called for deploying military troops to quash protests---was part of the paper’s duty to publish a variety of views. Sulzberger’s remarks came in response to heavy criticism over the decision to publish the piece. Mediaite reported: It is clear many believe this piece fell outside the realm of acceptability, representing dangerous commentary in an explosive moment that should not have found a home in The Times, even as a counterpoint to our own institutional view. I believe in the principle of openness to a range of opinions, even those we may disagree with, and this piece was published in that spirit. But it’s essential that we listen and to reflect on the concerns we’re hearing, as we would with any piece that is the subject of significant criticism. Stitch Fix moves to cut costs with workers in cheaper locales. In an internal memo, the company explained staff cuts as part of a restructuring plan to hire workers in cheaper cities. Forbes reported: A company spokesperson said, “Employees who do not want to relocate will receive a minimum two-week severance payment, continued healthcare, help getting another job and possible bonuses for staying on until the layoffs are complete.” Stitch Fix founder and CEO Katrina Lake said in a statement, “Any decision that impacts our hardworking and talented people is incredibly tough, but we believe this is the right thing to do for our business.” Keep your remote workers involved with these tips. Top tips include “being human,” making sure there are frequent check-ins between leaders and workers, and celebrating successes. See the full list of ideas here. Brands should take internal action that supports external messages concerning race. Without a diverse workplace, and diverse leadership on visible organizations like your corporate board, messages about diversity and racial justice could come across as hypocritical. How has your CEO spoken out about the death of George Floyd? The Wall Street Journal analyzed responses from 35 statements and internal memos sent by leaders at some of America’s biggest companies. Check out the full breakdown here. Internal and PR teams must collaborate and break down barriers. Many challenges that organizations face can be adequately addressed only with a holistic approach. Here’s how you can get your internal and external teams to work together. Support for Trump becomes reputational issue for some brands. Estee Lauder had over 100 employees sign a letter asking for the removal of Chairman William Lauder over his support of the president and his reelection campaign. AdAge reported: “Ronald Lauder’s involvement with the Estee Lauder Companies is damaging to our corporate values, our relationship with the Black community, our relationship with this company’s black employees, and this company’s legacy,” the letter said. Nike commits $40 million in support for the black community. In coordination with its Jordan and Converse brands, the athletic apparel company says it will invest in organizations that “put social justice, education, and addressing racial inequality in America at the center of their work.” The donations help to underscore messages the brand has delivered, like partnerships with Colin Kaepernick. Yahoo Finance reported: “Systemic racism and the events that have unfolded across America over the past few weeks serve as an urgent reminder of the continued change needed in our society. We know Black Lives Matter. We must educate ourselves more deeply on the issues faced by Black communities and understand the enormous suffering and senseless tragedy racial bigotry creates,” said John Donahoe, president and CEO of Nike. Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy calls for racial equality. The statement comes after online criticism about Cathy’s donations to Trump and rumors that the business had also donated to the president’s reelection campaign. The “Today” website reported: "'I am tired.' I’ve heard this phrase too many times in my private conversations with black friends and colleagues, in the last 72 hours," Cathy began. "What I have come to understand is that they are tired of the violence, abuse and injustice. Virtual Conference Alert Join us for Ragan & PR Daily's Social Media & Digital Communications Virtual Conference on June 18–19 to learn brand strategies and best practices to meet the challenges of the new reality. 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