STAT OF THE DAY A new study reveals how the internet has helped friends and coworkers socialize during quarantine. Some 55% have joined in a virtual happy hour, the poll of 2,000 people indicates. The ideal number of people on a virtual call is six, and one in five use a custom virtual background. COVID-19 UPDATE At the time of reporting, The New York Times reported 1,210,749 confirmed cases in the U.S. and 71,077 deaths from COVID-19. Bing’s COVID-19 Tracker showed 1,234,351 cases, with 72,023 fatalities. In the latest figures, the effective reproduction rate for the virus is above 1 in seven states. Israeli and Dutch studies claim progress in COVID-19 antibody trials. Scientists welcomed the “initial step” towards developing an antibody therapy to treat or prevent coronavirus. President Donald Trump said Wednesday the coronavirus task force will keep working indefinitely, reversing his previous suggestion that it would be phased out. The task force may replace some members and will shift its focus toward an economic reopening in the United States. U.S. private employers laid off a record 20.2 million workers in April as mandatory business closures in response to the novel coronavirus outbreak savaged the economy. Stocks on Wall Street opened higher Wednesday amid hopes of a pickup in business activity as more states ease restrictions.
What’s the secret to remote work? Most of us are toiling at home these days. Here are four ways to manage your workload, maintain social ties, and create a healthy, sustainable schedule. For starters, take time to set priorities and structure your work.
How is COVID-19 affecting the future of the PR pro? Take our 3-minute survey and get a copy of our final report. Infuse empathy in layoff announcements. If your CEO sounds brusque or uncaring, he will risk your reputation. Help leaders craft compassionate messaging—starting with advocating for affected colleagues. On that note, check out Airbnb CEO’s layoff memo. Forecasting permanent changes to the travel industry, the online marketplace for homestays is laying off a quarter of its 7,500 employees. CEO Brian Chesky’s message goes beyond pro forma expressions of sympathy, offering generous severance packages, starting with a year of health insurance and 14 weeks of base pay: Even in the worst of circumstances, I’ve seen the very best of us. The world needs human connection now more than ever, and I know that Airbnb will rise to the occasion. I believe this because I believe in you. ...I have a deep feeling of love for all of you. Our mission is not merely about travel. When we started Airbnb, our original tagline was, “Travel like a human.” The human part was always more important than the travel part. What we are about is belonging, and at the center of belonging is love. Be an essential resource. Getting information and vital services to citizens digitally has never been more important than during the COVID-19 pandemic. But U.N. research shows more than 40% of countries had no information about COVID-19 on their websites at the end of March, the World Economic Forum reports. While many governments already provide information and services on national portals, mobile apps, or through social media, many are now finding they need to accelerate initiatives to move online, amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Image courtesy of the U.N. Better listening crucial for an effective response. Company leaders are seeing they need to listen more to their employees’ concerns in a time of uncertainty. Remote work, with managers and employees at different locations, also places an emphasis on focused and more precise communication. Time for a comms tech update? Hotel companies—and others, surely—are using the downtime to implement a digital employee communication platform, enabling them to communicate more efficiently with furloughed workers. Ensuring that everyone has the information they need while on leave will make it easier to onboard employees when business resumes. Rat out your employees? As Ohio lifts its lockdown, the state tells employers to report staffers who refuse to return to work once their jobs become available. Then again, states are swamped paying unemployment benefits, and Ohio might not be alone in showing impatience with those who want to stay on the dole. How will you reassure your workers it’s safe to return? Transparency first. Keeping a lid on news about an employee with coronavirus, then notifying coworkers one by one, guarantees that rumors will spread. That’s what a Philadelphia Whole Foods discovered, resulting in criticism for a lack of transparency. Gen Z to the rescue? As organizations adapt to a post-pandemic reality, the younger generation can provide guidance. They value digital relationships as much as face-to-face interactions, and thus are prepared to lead the way as hiring, meetings, training and team-building activities move online. 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. Join our Crisis Leadership Board Ragan’s Crisis Leadership Board is the resource you need before, during and post-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 [email protected] 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 [email protected]. Sign Up Subscribe to Ragan’s Crisis Daily newsletter today. | 