QUOTE OF THE DAY “I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts." – Abraham Lincoln COVID-19 UPDATE - As of Tuesday morning, The New York Times reported that the U.S. had at least 43,499 cases and 537 deaths from COVID-19. Globally, the number of cases reported is over 382,000 and there have been 16,890 deaths.
- President Trump’s messaging on reopening the economy conflicts with warnings from health officials. CBS News reported: “‘Our country wasn't built to be shut down. This is not a country that was built for this. It was not built to be shut down,’ Mr. Trump said in a briefing…”
- Markets have rebounded on news of a potential stimulus bill being passed by Congress. House Speaker Pelosi, among others signaled they hope to have a deal Tuesday.
How businesses can improve virtual town halls with polls and slides. Here are some tips on how you can keep employees engaged when you can’t gather them all around a table.
TED offers daily conversations from leaders on COVID-19. The conference company is an example of how you can connect virtually and have important conversations to inspire hope and find solutions with your team. See their full offerings with speakers like Bill Gates, and others. CEOs should set the example with remote work. When trying to establish a culture of healthy remote work, the example must come from the top, according to reporting by Fast Company. See all their recommendations on how to build a great remote network. Video conferencing reveals new workplace archetypes. Pet peeves about your cubicle neighbor are quickly changing as companies move their operations online. Here are some new character types for our brave new world of remote work and telecommuting. During a global pandemic, buzzwords are still the enemy. Here are some of the phrases and buzzwords that are irking readers. When talking to employees on coronavirus, it’s crucial to follow these rules. Ragan Consulting Group’s Kim Clark shares important guidelines for engaging worried and dispersed workers. Advocates warn about spying from remote work apps. With increased use of remote apps like Slack and Microsoft Teams during the COVID-19 outbreak, employees might have privacy concerns. Be sure to develop messaging for employees around your organization’s privacy policy and to whom they should direct their concerns. Instagram offers new ‘co-watching’ feature. The social media company now allows users to check out “saved, liked and suggested” photos while in a video chat together. Adding video chat functionality to other content could be a win for communicators looking to boost engagement. P&G extends work from home policy indefinitely. The policy does not apply to workers in its North America factories where household supplies and cleaning products are produced. The Cincinnati Enquirer wrote: “During times like this, it is critically important that we all do our part to reduce population density and increase physical distancing,” said CEO David Taylor. “We support the actions being taken by Governor (Mike) DeWine in Ohio, and the many other officials across the country, to save lives and protect community health.” Facebook offers paid leave for employees caring for sick family members. The leave is part of an overall effort to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, including bonuses for workers and work-from-home policies. CNBC reported: “Facebook understands we are in uncharted territory with the COVID-19 pandemic,” the spokeswoman said in a statement. “We want to support our people with navigating their needs during this time. Therefore, we have launched a number of initiatives for our employees and their families.” Virtual Event Alert Check out Ragan’s Crisis Communications Virtual Summit March 31 for a day of virtual sessions that you can share with your entire team, or watch any time on your own schedule. 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. | 
