PR firms like Edelman, Ruder Finn, and Kekst CNC are seeing a boom in internal comms work as CEOs scramble to reassure employees
Some PR pros praised New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's daily briefings as a playbook for internal comms.This story is available exclusively on Business Insider Prime.Edelman, Ruder Finn, Prosek Partners, Kekst CNC and other big PR shops picking up work during the coronavirus even as corporations slash marketing budgets.
One of the grimmest tasks for a chief comms officer in this environment is delivering layoffs, furloughs, and health and safety news. Last week, the Labor Department announced 22 million Americans are unemployed,Several agencies told Business Insider they were being hired for internal comms assignments.
All of Kekst CNC's work now has a "significant internal component," co-CEO Jeremy Fielding said. "Employees want management to show leadership, to be transparent and empathetic." As talks turn to a recovery and reopening offices, chief comms officers are thinking about what's next. "Three or four years ago, employee communications went from the back of the bus to the front of the bus," Prosek said.
And with the pandemic, companies are speeding up adoption of online communication tools like Slack, data analytics, and automation.
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