Ono the Ostrich CRISIS MANAGER
The Internet Newsletter about Crisis Management
Editor: Erik Bernstein
Publisher: Jonathan Bernstein

"For Those Who Are Crisis Managers,
Whether They Want to be or Not"


ISSN:1528-3836
© 2016 Jonathan Bernstein

When Contractors Go Bad


Volume XVII, Number 2

February 25, 2016

Just a Thought
"Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempest."

- Epicurus

From the Editor
Uber's been the focus of negative media coverage quite a few times over the past several years, mostly as a result of its own missteps. The shooting spree in Kalamazoo, Michigan by an Uber driver put the company under the microscope once again, and although the blame can't be pinned squarely on the popular taxi alternative, it's yet another in a concerning chain of actual or alleged assaults dating back to at least 2014 that raise serious questions.

Uber does require that drivers pass a background check, but how do they handle the fact that sometimes people with no prior offenses commit serious crimes?

It's not just a question for Uber, really. Many organizations hire contractors, use volunteers, etc., and many of them have little to no vetting process. Yet (and quite understandably so) when something goes awry the court of public opinion holds the organization at fault.

So, what can be done?

One idea being floated specific to Uber that I believe would benefit many types of organizations is to have some sort of app-based rapid report system in place. So imagine my surprise when I learned that Uber India actually offers this in the form of a panic button" for users that will immediately contact local authorities and allow them to track the offending vehicle's location. Why this hasn't been rolled out globally is a mystery to many, especially knowing that it could have saved lives last week.

Creating a direct way to report issues has been proven many times over to be an effective way to reduce misconduct as a whole, and with everyone carrying a tiny computer in their pockets today there's no reason for reporting to not be as easy as possible.

You can't avoid the fact that people commit crimes and put others in danger. Sometimes with no warning sign an employer could have seen. But, you can make certain you're facilitating stakeholder's ability to report, as well as your capacity to respond to said reports rapidly enough to prevent tragedies from playing out.

- EB

Interested in reprinting BCM articles or blog posts?
We're happy to give permission for material to be reprinted in hard copy or online!

If you find something you would like to reprint, simply submit a request to jonathan@bernsteincrisismanagement.com.


Blogs

The Bernstein Crisis Management blog, along with our blog at the Free Management Library are frequently updated and filled with case studies, advice, and the latest news on techniques, threats, and more.

Here, we share a look at some of the most popular posts from recent weeks:

Still waiting for the "perfect" time to work on your online reputation? [Infographic] Reputation, Reviews, and Success explains why there's no time like the present.

Brand Citizenship and Crisis Management gives insight into the many ways being a beneficial part of your community is an important part of crisis management.

Oftentimes, all decision makers want to know is "How much will it cost?" Chipotle and the Cost of Crisis holds telling stats about the potential price of encountering crisis situations, and what you can do to reduce it.

A strong reputation can carry you to success, and a negative one can quickly cause your downfall. Will Reputation Make or Break You in 2016?

Serious cyber threats often lead to crisis. In this post, we look at expert Security Predictions for the Year Ahead and what it all means to your organization.

IRS Data Breach Redux breaks down the latest data breach to hit the taxman's systems and the communications that followed.

If you're sensing a theme here there's a reason - hacks are one of the most common types of crisis we're seeing in 2016. What Does Cyber Crime Cost? shares insight into the skyrocketing price of these attacks.

Do you have a topic you'd like to see featured in our blogs? Send an email to erik@bernsteincrisismanagement.com and there's a good chance you'll be seeing it right here in the next issue!

Business Announcements
(aka blatant self-promotion)
Are There Any Holes in Your Crisis Planning?

Your organization may well have crisis prevention and response-related plans in place - but are you sure they're going to cover all the bases? Bernstein Crisis Management's Crisis Document Audit is a low-cost, flat-rate service which will quickly provide you with a comprehensive analysis of your existing plans and recommendations for improvement.

Contact jonathan@bernsteincrisismanagement.com for more information.

We're Giving Away Keeping the Wolves at Bay

Keeping the Wolves at Bay, the widely used media-training manual published by Jonathan Bernstein, is now being given away in its PDF format. Formerly $10, there will be no charge for the publication as long as demand exists.

To visit the download page, click here.

Exciting New Services from Bernstein Crisis Management

We are are proud to introduce two new services that will allow us to better meet the needs of our clients!

First, from entering new markets to defending billion-dollar established industries, BCM's public affairs practice, led by twenty year veteran Greg Brooks, will help you win the battle for the hearts and minds of audiences from City Council to the halls of Congress.

Our second addition is based on the belief that an important piece in managing a crisis includes attending to the emotional reactions that influence the outcome. Presented and facilitated by Steven Degelsmith, Ph.D., our focused human factors in crisis management service will equip you with the tools you need to handle even the most volatile of situations.
Social Media Crisis Training

A solid social media manager has quickly become a must-have for organizations of any size, and can make an immense difference by driving in customers and building your positive reputation online.

The problem is, the vast majority are simply not equipped to even identify building crises, much less take the steps necessary to cope with and mitigate the damage that can result.

That's where we come in.

Bernstein Crisis Management is now offering crisis management training for social media managers, both independent and in-house, as well as social media firms.

For an overview of our services, estimates, or more information, contact erik@bernsteincrisismanagement.com


About Us



Jonathan Bernstein is both publisher of Crisis Manager and president of Bernstein Crisis Management, Inc., a national crisis management public relations agency providing 24/7 access to crisis response professionals. The agency engages in the full spectrum of crisis management services: crisis prevention, response, planning & training. He has been in the public relations field since 1982, following five-year stints in both military intelligence and investigative reporting.

Write to Jonathan at:

Erik Bernstein is vice president of Bernstein Crisis Management. Erik started with BCM in 2009 as a writer and subsequently became social media manager for the consultancy itself as well as for a number of BCM clients before moving to the VP position.

Write to Erik at:

Bernstein Crisis Management, Inc. is located at 700 S. Myrtle Ave., #404, Monrovia, CA 91016. Telephone: (626) 825-3838.



Legal Disclaimer (aka the small print)

All information contained herein is obtained by Jonathan Bernstein from sources believed by Jonathan Bernstein to be accurate and reliable.

Because of the possibility of human and mechanical error as well as other factors, neither Jonathan Bernstein nor Bernstein Crisis Management is responsible for any errors or omissions. All information is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Bernstein Crisis Management and Jonathan Bernstein make no representations and disclaim all express, implied, and statutory warranties of any kind to the user and/or any third party including, without limitation, warranties as to accuracy, timeliness, completeness, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose.

Unless due to willful tortuous misconduct or gross negligence, Jonathan Bernstein and Bernstein Crisis Management shall have no liability in tort, contract, or otherwise (and as permitted by law, product liability), to the user and/or any third party.

Under no circumstance shall Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein be liable to the user and/or any third party for any lost profits or lost opportunity, indirect, special, consequential, incidental, or punitive damages whatsoever, even if Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

A service of this newsletter is to provide news summaries and/or snippets to readers. In such instances articles and/or snippets will be reprinted as they are received from the originating party or as they are displayed on the originating website or in the original article. As we do not write the news, we merely point readers to it, under no circumstance shall Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein be liable to the user and/or any third party for any lost profits or lost opportunity, indirect, special, consequential, incidental, or punitive damages whatsoever due to the distribution of said news articles or snippets that lead readers to a full article on a news service's website, even if Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Authors of the original news story and their publications shall be exclusively held liable. Any corrections to news stories are not mandatory and shall be printed at the discretion of the list moderator after evaluation on a case-by-case basis.

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Just A Thought
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