Goldman Sachs chief calls WFH an ‘aberration,’ Zoom adds closed captioning, and McKinsey ousts global managing partner

Also: Twitter interactions for biopharmaceutical companies rose 255% last year, The Ad Council releases COVID-19 vaccine campaign, organizational leadership insights, and more. Hello, communicators: Zoom is introducing automatic closed captioning to all customers—including those with free accounts—starting in the fall, and has opened requests for users who need the service sooner. https://twitter.com/zoom_us/status/1364747185686913026 In a blog post, Zoom wrote: As part of our commitment to connecting users across the world, we are focused on continually enhancing our features to provide a platform that is accessible to all of the diverse communities we serve. Here are today’s top stories: Goldman Sachs chief calls WFH an ‘aberration’ David Solomon, chief executive for Goldman Sachs, said at a Credit Suisse event this week that the organization is aiming to return to the office, eschewing the “new normal” of working from home and a future of a hybrid and digital workplaces. Goldman Sachs had roughly 10% of its 34,000 employees in the office throughout 2020. The BBC reported: “I do think for a business like ours, which is an innovative, collaborative apprenticeship culture, this is not ideal for us. And it’s not a new normal. It’s an aberration that we’re going to correct as soon as possible,” he told [the] conference. Solomon isn’t the only executive to decry remote working arrangements, with a popular argument leaning on the crucial nature of in-person mentoring and apprenticeships. MarketWatch reported: Barclays BARC, 0.77% Chief Executive Jes Staley said on Feb 18.—in a call with journalists accompanying the bank’s annual results—that working from home was “getting old” and that the bank would look to repopulate its offices this year. Both Solomon and Staley cited collaboration as a key reason to get deal makers back to offices, which play a role in helping shape corporate culture, especially for new recruits who learn the ropes by working closely with senior colleagues. “I am very focused on the fact that I don’t want another class of young people arriving at Goldman Sachs in the summer remotely,” Solomon said. Why it’s important: Though Solomon and Barclays’ Staley both strongly believe in-office workforces are key to organizations’ success, take care to consider your employees needs and desires as you map out what your future workplace will look like. Remote and hybrid teams have several benefits, including attracting top talent who want greater flexibility. It also can cut overhead costs. “U.K. lender HSBC is cutting its head office footprint by up to 40% as the bank reshapes its workforce and expects a larger proportion of employees to work remotely,” Financial News reported. Start by eliciting employee feedback, and remaining open to listen to what your workforce has to say. Don’t assume your experience to be the only valid way forward, but rather, explore additional options and what that could bring to your organization. No matter what your workplace will look like, start creating long-term strategies now for success. TACTICALLY SPEAKING The Ad Council released details of its COVID-19 vaccination awareness campaign, which includes more than $500 million in media and talent donations. Upcoming PSAs will feature celebrities and influencers underlining the safety of the vaccines and playing to emotions with displays of hand-holding, groups dining out and more. Reuters reported: Actress Rosie Perez, CNN medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta and actor and rapper Daveed Diggs will star in ads produced by AT&T’s WarnerMedia. Actress Angela Bassett will appear in an ad produced by Fox, the Ad Council said. The campaign will direct people to the website getvaccineanswers.org, which will answer questions such as how the vaccine was approved for use and why there is more than one type of vaccine. https://twitter.com/AdCouncil/status/1364934388379697154 https://twitter.com/AdCouncil/status/1364934444797358081 https://twitter.com/AdCouncil/status/1364934455429894146 The campaign’s tagline, “It’s up to you,” highlights viewers’ responsibility and ability to help end the pandemic. USA Today reported: “We’re dealing with the biggest issues of our lifetime,” said the Ad Council’s president and CEO Lisa Sherman. “We recognized pretty quickly that unless people could learn more about the vaccine and get educated, they may not take them. And then we wouldn’t be any better off next year than we are this year.” The ads are aimed at the 40% of Americans who haven’t yet made up their minds about getting vaccinated, Sherman said. The Ad Council focused on in-depth focus groups and surveys to understand what questions people had and what their worries were. CRISIS LEADERSHIP NETWORK Looking for more insight on how to address the current global crisis and lead your organization into a strong recovery? via GIPHY Join Ragan’s Crisis Leadership Network to connect and brainstorm with peers, get the latest intelligence and research and start to strategize for the future of your organization. Learn more about this exclusive membership here. MEASURED THOUGHTS Socialbakers published a recent report, Healthcare and Social Media: The 2020 Overview and Beyond. In it, the company revealed that negative sentiment decreased more than 10% last year for biopharma brands, but had increased more than 3% for health-tech brands. Twitter interactions for biopharmaceutical companies rose by 255% in 2020, spurred by consumers looking for information regarding COVID-19 vaccines and treatment: Image courtesy of Socialbakers. You can read the entire report here. DOWNLOAD EXCLUSIVE RESEARCH Where communications fits in an organization is a crucial element of positioning communicators to champion important campaigns, protect reputation and branding, drive key messages and influence top-level strategies. Are your PR and internal communications teams in sync, or do you place communications and marketing together? How does your organization view its communications function—and are you working on breaking down silos for collaborated, concentrated efforts? Take a look at how several communicators fit within their organizational workflows with our exclusive case study. via GIPHY Especially as organizations adjust to remote, dispersed and hybrid workplaces during COVID-19 and prepare for the future of work, considering where your communications team sits within your organization’s flow charts can affect leadership efforts and help you successfully execute campaigns and inititiaves. Download our whitepaper here. EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS McKinsey & Company is ousting Kevin Sneader, its global managing partner, following continued crises that have tarnished the organization’s image and reputation. The Guardian reported: The firm’s 650 senior partners voted Sneader out before the final round of a leadership election that was seen as a referendum on his three years in the role, according to the Financial Times. The 54-year-old Scot would be one of the first McKinsey leaders in recent memory to serve only one term – all five of Sneader’s predecessors as global managing partner have served a two terms or more. … [T]he firm, which has a fondness for mottos such as “Leadership through integrity”, has been stung by a string of crises during Sneader’s leadership. The news comes as McKinsey looks to repair its reputation and gain back trust. However, unless the organization can show action that backs up its crisis responses, the trust will not be easily earned back—if at all. WHAT YOU SAID We asked how your productivity is doing amid COVID-19, other unprecedented crises and working from home. For nearly 46% of you, it depends on the day, while 39% report feeling overwhelmed and 15% say they’re motivated to seize the day: https://twitter.com/PRDaily/status/1364606617782792193 Is there question you’d like to see asked? Please let us know under the #DailyScoop hashtag! SOUNDING BOARD How much does your communications role involve marketing strategies, PR Daily readers? https://twitter.com/PRDaily/status/1364954921771106312 Weigh in below or on Twitter, under the hashtag #DailyScoop, and we’ll share your insights in tomorrow’s roundup.

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