While most big brands have Corporate Affairs functions and existing crisis plans, the vast majority of these brands have not updated their crisis management strategies to reflect both the speed and nuance of managing issues via social media.
The impending passage of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) means companies have just a few months left to make the case against union organization. If EFCA becomes law, companies will likely lose their ability to campaign against union organizing efforts – something that’s now possible in the weeks leading up to a formal union vote. Such votes would effectively be optional under EFCA.
A June 9 article in The New York Times suggests that banks and other financial institutions are betting they can reconnect with consumers by launching warm and fuzzy advertising campaigns. Their theory is that consumers are ready to “move on.”
Swine Flu. Financial meltdown. Bankruptcy. Banks failing the government’s stress test. Excessive executive compensation. The nature of crisis hasn’t changed, but the way crises emerge has. And the way we counsel clients has, too. Bottom line: companies must aggressively anticipate problems before they draw public attention.
