Weber Shandwick & United Minds Release Playbook for Navigating Return to Office as Next Phase of Pandemic Yields New Complexities

NEW YORK, July 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite a recent spike of COVID-19 diagnoses, particularly in areas with low vaccination rates, business leaders are cautiously moving to implement return to workplace plans for employees who worked remotely throughout the pandemic. To help companies navigate emerging complexities around this next phase of the pandemic, Weber Shandwick and United Minds has published a playbook with best practices and resources for organizations of any size. Plan V_x – A Playbook for the Business Response to COVID-19 Vaccinations, Edition II: Return to Office addresses the continuing efforts to protect employees through COVID-19 vaccinations and shares key considerations for employers in supporting a safe and effective return to the workplace. It follows the March 2021 edition focused on the important role the private sector can play in advocating for vaccinations.

"As companies begin to bring employees back to the office amidst the rise of a new variant, they will encounter varying levels of comfort, attitudes and understanding around new policies and procedures – and in many cases a company culture in the midst of significant transformation," said Kate Bullinger, CEO, United Minds. "While returning to in-person work can inspire excitement and hope, it can also be a source of anxiety and confusion for staff and customers as the status of the pandemic continues to evolve, and as they adjust to a new 'normal' – making consistency and transparency around planned changes ever more important."

The Plan V_x Edition II playbook includes a synthesis of ongoing vaccine efforts and drivers of vaccine hesitancy, guidance for reducing anxiety around returning to in-person work, examples of work models companies are testing as they return, and considerations for evolving the employee experience to meet new employee expectations.

"Even as Americans broadly return to normalcy, virus variants and low vaccination rates in some parts of the U.S. present continued challenges for businesses to consider as they shift back to the workplace," said Pam Jenkins, president, Global Public Affairs and head of practice and sector integration for North America, Weber Shandwick. "Transparent, timely communications – informed by the latest public health guidance – will be paramount in getting employees back to offices safely and successfully."

For more information and to download the playbook, visit: https://www.webershandwick.com/vaccines/ 

About Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is a leading global communications network that delivers next-generation solutions to brands, businesses and organizations in major markets around the world. Led by world-class strategic and creative thinkers and activators, we have won some of the most prestigious awards in the industry. Weber Shandwick was named to Ad Age's Agency A-List in 2020 and Best Places to Work in 2019. Weber Shandwick was also honored as PRovoke's Global Agency of the Decade in 2020 and PRWeek's Global Agency of the Year in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. The firm earned 25 Lions at the 2019 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Data-led, with earned ideas at the core, the agency deploys leading and emerging technologies to inform strategy, develop critical insights and heighten impact across sectors and specialty areas, including brand and B2B marketing, healthcare marketing, change management, employee engagement, corporate reputation, crisis management, data and analytics, technology, public affairs, social impact and financial communications. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit https://www.webershandwick.com

About United Minds
United Minds is a management consultancy that specializes in transformation. Leveraging a deep bench of specialists, the company helps organizations deliver positive, lasting change by combining data-fueled strategy and creative communications solutions, engaging stakeholders in every part of the process. For more information, visit www.unitedmindsglobal.com  

Contact: Jill Tannenbaum
Company: Weber Shandwick          
Phone: 212-546-7815
Email: jtannenbaum@webershandwick.com

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SOURCE Weber Shandwick