STAT OF THE DAY

Just 23% of U.S. employees strongly agree that they can apply their organization's values to their work every day. Only 27% strongly agree that they believe in their organization's values. –Gallup.

COVID-19 UPDATE

• At the time of reporting, The New York Times reported 1,336,756 confirmed cases in the U.S. and 79,552 deaths from COVID-19. Bing’s COVID-19 Tracker showed 1,364,517 cases, with 80,574 fatalities.
• The Covid-19 U.S. death toll is predicted to rise as states begin reopening. One news outlet has gathered stories about reopening from a handful of states, and even regions within states are relaxing some restrictions.
• As the Trump administration looks toward an opening economy, an outbreak in the White House caused a scramble to stop the spread. Three officials leading the response to the pandemic have quarantined themselves after two staff members tested positive.
• Banks are risking reputational damage as some of them stumble delivering federal aid, forcing Congress to consider other options to help struggling small businesses. Some banks withheld stimulus cash overdrawn accounts, and some debit cards, used to distribute unemployment benefits, didn’t work. American Banker, however, wants you to know that amid the pandemic, “ Customers trust their banks.”

4 do’s and don’ts for holding productive video chats. Now that so much communication is virtual, here’s how to make the most of online face time, once you get past all the stumbling blocks. (Can you hear me?)

Strategize your content. The COVID-19 pandemic is no excuse for ditching compelling communications. Here’s how to create a content strategy during the crisis.

Women CEOs say culture matters most. Amid the pandemic, top chiefs from AFLAC US, CoreCivic and other organizations share that leadership and culture matter most.

Mastering PR’s “soft skills.” What would Dear Abby say? During the coronavirus outbreak, PR pros working with clients should be a shoulder to lean on. For starters, listen more and talk less.

Beef up your social media policy amid the pandemic. These six steps will ensure you have clear guidelines for your team on how to share messages online.

Employees need mental health support. Though the focus has been on halting the spread of the virus, organizations should step up their mental health efforts, Human Resource Executive reports. The coronavirus pandemic finds more employees struggling—and employers playing catch-up in their response.

Is it safe to go back to work? Workers want to know, and so do employers, to avoid lawsuits. More and more employees will be asking this question as the economy reopens. Be prepared to offer realistic messaging—not Pollyanna corporate speak—about how you are addressing the risks.

Checking your employees. Virus screening questionnaires? Digital immunity badges? Employers are adopting measures against the virus. How effective they will be is unclear. As Ford begins a phased return to production, here is a questionnaire in which it seeks information on where employees work and whether they are hourly, salary or agency.

But before you launch that survey... How much information may an employer request from an employee who calls in sick, in order to protect the rest of its workforce during a pandemic? Here is guidance on pandemics from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Clarify the message. PR pros across the pond are panning British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s new “stay alert” coronavirus messaging criticized as “confused” and “nonsensical.” If your communications create more questions than they answer, it’s time for another draft.

Virtual Conference Alert

Join us for PR Daily’s Media Relations and Measurement Virtual Conference May 14–15.

Learn from experts who are transforming their pitches and media relations efforts, as well as their measurement strategies, to meet the challenges presented by the health crisis.

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