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Final Newsletter of 2021
Welcome to our fourth and final newsletter of 2021! Read on to find insights from our inaugural SGR Network Chair Bethany Dame, who reflects on how personal and professional challenges collided during the pandemic, and how we can help those struggling. Other highlights include findings from the Council’s most recent survey, an overview of the remaining SGR events of 2021, and a report from this year’s State and Local Government Relations Conference.
COVID-19’s Personal Impact & Season for Giving
By Bethany Dame, Assistant Vice President of Political Engagement and Grassroots, APCIA
SGR Network Chair
Although it’s hard to believe, this will be my final column as the inaugural 2021 State Government Relations (SGR) Network Chair. I want to finish my time by reflecting on some personal challenges I have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, in case hearing about my experience is helpful to others in the same position. I also have a few tangible suggestions on how we can professionally support those struggling as we enter the holiday season.
While you may know me as the SGR Network Chair, or as the Assistance Vice President at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, you may not know that I’m also the mom of two special needs kids with numerous medical and mental health diagnoses. Both of my kids were struggling academically, socially and at home pre-pandemic, but COVID-19 sent them on a significant downward spiral. They went from having many providers in and out of school to just their parents. Suddenly, my husband and I were faced with trying to get two kids with individualized education plans (IEPs) to participate in school with no supports, as well as getting both kids the mental health care they needed virtually – all while still meeting the demands of our full-time jobs.
It wasn’t easy. It stretched my husband and I to our mental and physical limits. I know that we were the lucky ones – that we both have jobs that allowed us to have flexible work schedules while so many others don’t.
The impact of COVID-19 on caregivers in workplace, particularly women, is staggering. According to a report by McKinsey & Company, women’s jobs are nearly twice as vulnerable to the current public health crisis than men’s jobs. Prior to the pandemic, women comprised 46 percent of the U.S. workforce; however, unemployment data suggests that woman make up 54 percent of job losses to date.
There are a lot of reasons the pandemic has had an especially harmful impact on working women, such as inequalities in the workplace or the overrepresentation of women in low-wage jobs. However, one of the chief reasons is that women have born a larger share of the consequences of pandemic-related childcare disruptions than men.
There were definitely moments during the height of the school and childcare shutdown and when state legislative sessions were at their peak, where I questioned whether continuing to work was the right thing for my children, our family and my well-being. There were moments where I felt like I couldn’t possibly continue to juggle it all. Ultimately, since you’re reading this article, you know that I was able to keep juggling and, thankfully, my kids are both now getting the support they need outside of the home.
If you are also a caregiver who is balancing work, your caregiving responsibilities, and the challenges of the ongoing pandemic, I want you to know you are not alone, and you are doing an amazing job. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me via Council Connect or LinkedIn if you need a friendly ear. If you’re a manager, I encourage you to evaluate whether you are giving your direct reports, especially women employees and other caregivers, enough flexibility and support during this second pandemic holiday season (I know I wouldn’t have made it through without the support of APCIA!). And if you’re in a position of job security and financial stability, I hope you’ll consider donating your time, money or work clothes to organizations like Dress for Success to help support and empower the women who did have to leave the workforce and are considering re-entering.
The SGR Network and the Public Affairs Council are generous communities, and part of the reason I love being in this field. Let’s continue to support each other and others in need. During this season of thanks, I am grateful for my time as SGR Network Chair and looking forward to staying involved and in touch! [/vc_toggle]
Lobbying for Good: Corporations Take a Stand on Social Issues
But that’s no longer the case, and young, talented employees who want to work for a company with a social purpose are leading the charge. As the Foundation for Public Affairs’ new Lobbying for Good report reveals, the range of issues on which companies are taking a stand is expanding, with social justice concerns now taking precedence over other issues including environmental sustainability.
Some of the key findings from the survey include:
Pressure to engage is increasing.
- Nine out of 10 (91%) major companies believe pressure to engage in social issues has increased in the past three years, a considerable jump since 2016 when 60% felt increased pressure.
- An even higher percentage of firms (96%) believe these expectations will rise further in the next three years.
- Companies are taking a stand on civil rights issues (race, gender and sexual orientation equality) much more frequently than any other category of issues. Over 80% are currently engaged in these causes and more than 70% are publicly supportive of gender identity equality.
- In the 2021 survey, civil rights issues surpassed environmental sustainability as the issues drawing the most corporate engagement compared to the 2016 survey.
Political action is the most common way companies engage in social issues.
- Forty-three percent (43%) of respondents used internal or contract lobbyists to advocate at the state or local level on an issue, and 41% engaged in lobbying at the federal level.
- Similar to 2016, the most common strategy employed by corporations to support a cause in 2021 is joining a coalition. The second most common strategy is issuing a public statement.
- Forty percent (40%) of respondents updated their PAC contribution criteria to reflect a candidate’s position on an issue.
Stakeholders, rather than reputation or business needs, are driving issue engagement.
- Stakeholder demands for involvement were the most common reason for involvement in social issues, with 95% of respondents indicating that their company got engaged in response to stakeholder requests.
- The two most influential groups of stakeholders are rank-and-file employees (82%) and senior management (79%).
- Politicians, activists and the news media were not the primary drivers of corporate involvement in these causes.
Visit our website to view the full reports here. [/vc_toggle]
Recap of the 2021 State & Local Conference
Conference highlights included tips for taking a hybrid lobbying approach to SGR in 2022, implementing internal criteria for handling controversy, navigating bipartisan dynamics in state legislatures, and creating city and county advocacy plans.
The 2022 State and Local Government Relations Conference is tentatively scheduled in person, in Alexandria, VA, during the second half of September.
Final SGR Events and Resources of 2021
Virtual Workshop: State Regulatory Advocacy Bootcamp
November 17 | 1:00 – 4:15 p.m.
Rulemaking is an essential part of the lawmaking process and often overlooked as an important advocacy tool at the state level. Plus, every state handles the regulatory process differently. Join us to hear strategies for navigating and influencing this complex but increasingly important landscape.
ICYMI: State Testimonies and Hearings Webinar
On November 4, two experts from Comcast and from the Healthcare Distribution Alliance shared the ins and outs of the hearing process across the states as well as tips on delivering effective testimony. If you missed it, watch the free recording.
Webinar: Building an Equitable and Diverse Public Affairs Function
December 14 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Free for members
Whether you are developing a plan for connecting with lawmakers or building a grassroots advocacy program, prioritizing diversity and inclusion in your campaigns and communications will lead to meaningful change. Join us for a conversation on how to incorporate these key values into your public affairs program
A Brief Reflection on 2021
By Kelly Memphis, Senior Manager of Government Relations
Public Affairs Council
As I reflect on this past year, there’s a lot to be thankful for. Our State Government Relations Network has grown to over 220 members, we’ve grown our SGR Network Resource Library to over 70 resources, and we’ve seen outstanding participation on Council Connect and at our virtual events. Perhaps best of all, we added the role of SGR Network Chair. I’d like to thank Bethany Dame for her excellent service in this role, as well as thank you all for reading this newsletter and being part of this network! I look forward to continuing to grow together in 2022. As always, please reach out with questions, ideas or resources to share with the community. Looking forward to finishing the year strong!