A recent KRC Research poll of American employees and consumers explores perceptions around the corporate response to COVID-19, as well as implications for the workplace as companies navigate the re-entry phase. The results suggest effective, consistent communications, an emphasis on employee safety and a commitment to corporate values will all play a key role in navigating the recovery phase.

1. CORONAVIRUS PULSE POLL:
NATIONAL SURVEY RESULTS
APRIL 2020
EMPLOYERS HAVE ESTABLISHED CREDIBILITY
WITH EMPLOYEES.1 EMPLOYER COMMUNICATIONS FOSTER
GREATER POSITIVITY, CONFIDENCE AND PRIDE.
90% 35%
85% 28%
84% 38%
84% 41%
2
Weber Shandwick and KRC Research have conducted three national surveys among Americans 18 years of
age and over to explore attitudes about the coronavirus and consumer and employee responses to it. The
surveys, each conducted online with a sample of ~1,000 adults drawn from a large national panel, are
demographically representative of the U.S. adult population.
Below are select findings from our latest poll, conducted from April 15 to 17, focusing on 498 employees and
their employers.
78%
74%
72%
72%
64%
57%
They are proud to work for their employer
% employees agree...
% employees agree...
Proud to work for
their employer
Employer’s response is
exactly what it should be
Employer puts the safety
of workers above profits
Look forward to going
back to work
Received
Information (%)
Did Not Receive
Information (%)
Employees Who Received Information
and Updates on Coronavirus and
Company Policy from Their Employer
Their employer is taking care of employees as best it can
Their employer’s response to the coronavirus is exactly what it should be
Their employer puts safety above profits
Their employer is going above and beyond to help the community
Their employer is taking action to fight the virus
EMPLOYEES ARE NERVOUS.
THE PATH TO BACK-TO-WORK IS UNCLEAR.3
66% of employees report business at their company has
dropped because of coronavirus and 52% of employees are
concerned about the future of their company and their job.
% employees agree...
For more information about how we are helping clients solve in this uncertain time, please contact:
Micho Spring Chair, Global Corporate Practice, mspring@webershandwick.com
Pam Jenkins President, Global Public Affairs, pjenkins@webershandwick.com
Kate Bullinger, President, United Minds, kbullinger@webershandwick.com
Please visit https://www.webershandwick.com/covid-19/ for more Weber Shandwick COVID-19 resources and results from past KRC Research Coronavirus Pulse Polls
When Employees Will Feel Safe Returning to Life and Work
They are afraid that their employer will
bring people back to work before it is safe.
Before employees will be comfortable going
back to work like before the coronavirus
outbreak, companies need to make changes
to protect employee health and safety.
CONSUMERS WILL REWARD COMPANIES THAT TREAT
EMPLOYEES WELL DURING THE CRISIS. THEY ARE
KEEPING SCORE.
AGREE
4
80% UNSURE
9% DISAGREE
11%
34% When there is vaccine/treatment
26% Public health officials say it’s safe
19% Cases drop to nearly zero
17% Coronavirus infections level off
15% State gov’t says it’s safe
14% Widespread testing and tracking
10% Everyone has been tested
9% Local officials say it’s safe
8% White House says it’s safe
6% Their employer says it’s safe
5% They have had the virus
IMPLICATIONS
• Recovery phase is fraught with risk
• Communications matter, can drive positivity and confidence
• Decisions about bringing workers back to work must be anchored in
public health expertise, accompanied by a new culture of vigilance
• Opportunity for leaders who recommit to values to accelerate progress
• Reputations will be bolstered or tarnished according to how employees
I will prefer to buy from companies that treated their
employees well during the coronavirus pandemic...
(% Americans)
% employees agree...
45%
80% 44% 36% 9% 8% 3%
Strongly agree Somewhat agree Not sure Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
are treated