Month: May 2020

Reconciling People-First Values with Layoffs, Furloughs and Cutbacks | eNews from OWC

Posted on May 29, 2020 by - eNewsletter

OWC has spent years successfully highlighting client values because customers, partners and investors want to work with companies that share their values. In recent years, “people first” has been a fundamental value among our clients in tech, healthcare and finance. Rapid growth made these messages critical for attracting and retaining talent.

The pandemic has dealt a blow to every industry. The hockey-stick growth we thought would last forever is no more, and now lives, jobs and whole businesses have been lost. Companies are doing several things to try to weather the storm — from pay cuts to furloughs to layoffs and shutdowns. What now? How do companies reconcile a people-first persona with the new reality?

OWC has been a guide for many businesses during times of crisis. The truths of crisis communications have never been more important and here is what we urge companies who have spent years creating reputations as people-first companies keep in mind:

  • DON’T confuse mandated changes with exceptional actions. Working from home used to be a perk. It was something progressive companies were offering to attract employees. However, it is now the cost of doing business with many states, counties or cities requiring social distancing, limited occupancy and other restrictions. A company’s new work from home policy isn’t a people-first initiative. Companies depend on their employees to operate, so taking steps to continue to bring in revenue is in the company’s best interest, not a perk.
  • DO find new ways to connect with your employees. Providing tools for employees to work from home effectively and taking the time to check in on how they are handling the new work environment and routine are ways to be “people first” in the new reality. These are the things that will set you apart and build company culture. Businesses are bringing motivational leaders to encourage employees to make the most of each day. “Providence favors the prepared. Time doesn’t stop. Use this time to prepare to win,” said John Harbaugh, coach of the Baltimore Ravens, who spoke on a Zoom call to hundreds of employees of a client.
  • DON’T minimize bad news or make it about you. For those companies that are in the tough position of having to make pay cuts, furlough or lay off employees, remember the golden rule of breaking bad news – don’t tell people how they should feel about the news. Everyone knows these are hard times, but that doesn’t make it any easier when you are the one on the receiving end. Especially when it comes to layoffs, the conversation needs to be straightforward, sympathetic and free from a “silver lining” that you think the person should see.
  • DO communicate bad news via the same channels and with the same mentality that you have communicated historically. There were dozens of articles thrashing the Bird scooter company when it laid off over 400 employees via a two-minute Zoom call. The brevity, the carpet-bomb approach, the scripted delivery, the fact that it wasn’t the CEO who broke the news – these were all consistently called out by the media and dealt reputational blows unlikely to be forgotten. If you’ve been a people-first company, treat your employees like people. Some companies are able to provide severance packages and other forms of compensation, but many have lost significant revenue and can’t offer these financial cushions. However, every company can afford a conversation, an honest explanation, a recommendation (even just via LinkedIn) or the simple promise to stay in touch.
  • DON’T go silent and turn a blind eye to issues that arise on social media, whether it be from angry employees or customers. Don’t add credibility to accusations and negative feedback, but be able to tell your story and messaging.
  • DO share relevant news and ways that your company is adapting to change and/or supporting the community.

Reputational value and business value have never been more intertwined. We all loved John Krasinski’s “Some Good News” segments, but you’d best believe that the public – employees, customers and the media – are tracking and talking about the companies that stand out for good and bad behavior.

Bluestone Sunshields produces face shields and glasses during pandemic

Posted on May 22, 2020 by - Client News

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a known shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) among not only hospitals and healthcare facilities, but also local business and the community. Bluestone Sunshields decided to step in and contribute face shields since there is such a shortage.

“This was personal to me. My roots are in the medical community, I have family in law enforcement, and I have deep ties to the fashion and retail communities. People from all of these groups were telling me about a shortage in PPE and I knew we could adapt our product into something functional and comfortable,” says Jen Podany, esthetician, founder and CEO of Bluestone Sunshields.

Read the full article: Filling PPE gaps one visor at a time (Dermatology Times)

Miracle Mile Advisors tells Forbes how retirees can protect themselves from inflation

Posted on May 18, 2020 by - Client News

During the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during the first outbreaks, high demand of groceries like toilet paper and canned goods led to an extremely low supply and not enough time for grocery stores to stock up, eventually leading to price inflation. Will inflation define your near future and what does that mean if you’re retired or nearing retirement?

Dimitry Farberov, Investment Advisor for Miracle Mile Advisors says, “The best thing retirees that are close to retirement can do right now to protect themselves against this potential inflation is to consider inflation-protected bonds (TIPs) for their ‘safer assets’ and high-quality stock in companies that can grow in an inflationary environment for their ‘growth assets.”

Read the full article: What You Can Do Right Now To Protect Yourself Against Inflation If You’re Retired (Or Close To Retirement) (Forbes)

TaskUs gives back to those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic

Posted on May 14, 2020 by - Client News

With so many business closures around the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic and safety-at-home, TaskUs employees wanted to do something to give back to those who may have been laid off or furloughed.  The tech business services company summoned more than 50 employees to an office in New Braunfels to package 1,700-plus boxes of food for the Central Texas Food Bank. Each box feeds a family of two to three people for up to five days, so families who are unable to afford groceries during the coronavirus will be able to access this food.

Read the full article: How Austin businesses are giving back during coronavirus pandemic (Austin Business Journal)

Firehouse Magazine speaks with Impella patient on sewing homemade masks for the community

Posted on May 14, 2020 by - Client News

Years after they gave her a chance for survival following a massive heart attack, Joella Bobak wanted to help keep her fellow Pennsylvania firefighters safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is giving back to her fire fighting community by homemaking masks.

“Thankfully, my husband was right behind me when I collapsed,” said Joella, remembering the day of her heart attack. “By the time he caught me, I had already turned purple.” Today, she has fully recovered thanks to her talented team of doctors and the Impella heart pump, which helped her survive and allowed her to be here today to make masks for her fellow firefighters.

Read the full article here: After Heart Attack, PA Firefighter Makes Masks for Colleagues (Firehouse Magazine)

Miracle Mile Advisors tells HuffPost about stocks that are thriving because of COVID-19

Posted on May 13, 2020 by - Client News

Throughout the past few months, cities have shut down in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus, leading to businesses shutting down and stocks plummeting. However, there are some stocks that aren’t just growing despite the pandemic, they are growing because of it.

“The market as a whole has since recovered from its March lows. That’s due to a number of factors,” according to Brian Sterz, an investment advisor and portfolio manager for Miracle Mile Advisors. Among them are steps taken by the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates and inject the market with more cash, as well as the federal government’s decision to provide an unprecedented stimulus package to companies and individuals. “The general belief among market experts,” Sterz said, “is that the recession will be deeper, though shorter than initially expected. That cautious optimism is reflected in today’s market.”

Read the full article: 5 Stocks That Are Thriving In The Coronavirus Economy (HuffPost)

NewDay USA names Pooja Bansal new head of human resources and communications

Posted on May 13, 2020 by - Client News

NewDay USA has appointed Pooja Bansal as senior vice president to help lead the company’s effort to grow its team to 1,000 over the next year.

“Pooja’s experience in strategy, operations, and customer-centric leadership will be a valuable addition to the NewDay USA team,” said NewDay USA founder and CEO Rob Posner. “As senior vice president of our human resources and communications, she will play an important role in the growth of our company and in changing the lives of veteran families.”

Read the full article: NewDay USA appoints new head of human resources (Mortgage Professional America)

Mastering Webinars During Quarantine | eNews from OWC

Posted on May 8, 2020 by - eNewsletter

What makes a good webinar? The competition to stand out is heating up as inboxes are bombarded with invitations to sessions on all manner of topics. “Zoom Events” are more effective now than ever, and our clients have drawn thousands of viewers even to niche industries. But the bar has been raised, and many new hosts fail to consider the basics of what makes a good webinar: a clear discussion topic, knowledgeable speakers and attention to production values.

The OWC team has compiled the essentials for hosting and conducting a business webinar.

  • Provide Value – Whether as the moderator or a solo presenter, give the audience the gift of forethought—yours. The informality of the medium invites rambling and digression, but those who tune in appreciate a streamlined and on-topic flow. Faces on a screen are surprisingly personal, much more so than a PowerPoint delivered from a podium. New data prompts discussion, but even more important is its interpretation and implications for the market near and long-term. The value of a webinar moderator is evoking insights. The value of a guest is to give them. Avoid the blunders of selling by reviewing your resume and instead show your expertise, don’t tell them about it.
  • Engage and Interact – Webinars put attendees in the front row. Encourage them to use the chat feature and participate actively. Success is when the webinar moves easily and naturally to recognize key points and respond to them in depth. A good moderator recognizes key questions and helps the discussion flow – answer, discuss and move on. A good participant feels the dynamic and keeps energy up. A good webinar seems personal, not scripted. Notes are OK but no prepared script. Sharing PowerPoint slides takes away from the connection and should be used sparingly like when a graph or chart is needed, but it can always be shared separately or upon request afterward.
  • Market the Event – Promote the time and “place” on social channels, in eNewsletters, to employees and customers well ahead of the presentation to drive attendance. The simple act of announcing the slate of experts builds brand awareness of expertise, even for those unlikely to attend. Note also that a webinar is not just a one-time appointment. The recording of the production should be posted online for the convenience of those who missed it and as a continuing touchpoint on social media, newsletters and correspondence for everyone involved. Make every participant his or her own marketing force by encouraging panelists, moderators and organizations to share on social channels and within their own newsletters. A speaker’s network is factored into building an audience.
  • Production Values– Webinars need not be professionally produced, but every company can avoid amateurism through dry runs and a critical eye. The platform selected—Zoom, Webex, GoToMeetings, Microsoft Teams—should be familiar to you and most invitees. It’s not hard to set up the cameras or laptops, but attention must be paid to appearance (dress up, not down), similar or equivalent framing (heads the same size, backgrounds not distracting) and audio (make sure the audio matches the video). A dry run confirms it all works, and simple as it is, it does need to work.

If done right, webinars are a powerful marketing weapon in a brand’s arsenal in this COVID-19 world. Here are a few of our recent favorites:

Reach out to me if you’d like some quick tips.

Miracle Mile Advisors gives insight on making the most of a downturn

Posted on May 1, 2020 by - Client News

Miracle Mile Advisors may not be able to predict your future summer plans, but they can tell you how to handle your financial actions. Duncan Rolph, managing partner at Miracle Mile Advisors, gives insight on ways to take advantage of financial opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The coronavirus and its economic fallout have caused some assets to drop by 15-25% in just a few days. For example, investments in preferred shares, bank loan notes, and select equity sectors in fact offer windows of opportunity,” says Rolph.

Read the full article: Making the Most of a Downturn (Forbes)