How to Create a Communications Plan for Reopening – PR News

A major issue in the United States is whether or not to reopen businesses and areas that have been closed since the start of COVID-19. With certain areas hit harder than others, and economic impact taking a toll, some people are clamoring for a return to normal, while others believe waiting, watching and learning more about the virus is necessary.  

Aside from the actual process of reopening, restarting business constitutes many stakeholders, connected through numerous channels. Issues include everything from supply chains, public health and child care, for example.

First, before reopening, companies and organizations should consult government guidelines. Many state governors are negotiating reopening plans. The federal government, though, has yet to distribute a specific strategy.

Internal Communication Tips to Help Navigate COVID-19 – PR News

Effective internal communication helps ensure employees work collaboratively. It also develops and maintains a unified culture. Internal communications has become a priority during the pandemic as most staff are out of the office, working remotely or struggling to hold the fort. Here are a few tips to bolster your internal communications:

Make It Easy to Ask Questions, But Know Your Audience 

A significant part of internal communication, of course, is keeping employees informed. With uncertainty a dominant theme at the moment, managers should make it easy for staff to ask questions. Offer an open line of communication–whether  via phone calls, texts, email or video–and make sure employees know about it.

Gov. Newsom now Projects $18 billion Shortfall in Revenue for K-12, Community Colleges

Instead of $3 billion more in funding next year, officials from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration are now projecting possibly $18 billion less over two years for K-12 and community colleges. That amount — a historic decline of more than 20 percent in the constitutionally guaranteed minimum level of funding — would have a devastating impact on education, unless Newsom and the Legislature take other actions to reduce the cut or lessen the impact.

Testing in California Still a Frustrating Patchwork of Haves and Have-Nots

Months into the spread of the coronavirus in the United States, widespread diagnostic testing still isn’t available, and California offers a sobering view of the dysfunction blocking the way.

It’s hard to overstate how uneven the access to critical test kits remains in the nation’s largest state. Even as some Southern California counties are opening drive-thru sites to make testing available to any resident who wants it, a rural northern county is testing raw sewage to determine whether the coronavirus has infiltrated its communities.

Women are Better Leaders. The Pandemic Proves it – CNN Business 

As the entire world works to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the role of effective leadership has been brought into razor sharp focus. What people need now are leaders with empathy, compassion and an ability to show support — skills that women leaders tend to exhibit more than men. While it may take a global pandemic to finally acknowledge the unique talents and capabilities women leaders offer, companies shouldn’t wait until there is a crisis to afford women an opportunity to lead. While there is insufficient data to conclude that women world leaders are managing the Covid-19 pandemic more effectively, the emerging trends are hard to ignore.