YouTubing Your Message to Management
February 16th, 2007
This week, I tripped over yet another creative way to use YouTube. Employees of Miller Brewing Company, up in arms over the possibility of CEO Norman Adami freezing their pensions, expressed their dismay in song and shared it with the world. The song is from the “Union Women of Miller Beer” (vs. the Miller Beer girls which turns up quite different items in a YouTube search). The video is not particularly well produced or entertaining, but gets the passion of the message across in a way that a written manifesto never would.
This is going to be my new first example when someone questions me on who citizen marketers really are. This is a trend that has moved way beyond fanatics and bored college kids. This is less about demographics and more about having something to say, or “sing” as the case may be.
And what will corporate leadership want to do upon seeing this trend? Hopefully, the takeaway is to create more forums for open internal discussion & collaboration so that employees don’t feel the need to resort to publicly airing dirty laundry to be heard. Alternately, we’ll start seeing more policies trying to prevent these sorts of electronic love notes. Time will tell.
Other posts by Virginia.
When employees “picket” on YouTube | Internet Marketing Blog says:
[...] VeeDub shows how social media can become an outlet for angry employees who are trying to get the attention of the CEO. [...]
February 16th, 2007 at 11:58 amSocial Media’s Impact on Business and PR » Personal Insights on Web 2.0, Blogging, and Business says:
[...] If you are a CEO — do you have a handle on your employees? Do they really like working at your company? Ask Miller Brewing Company how social media impacts them after several discontent employees decided to publish a song on YouTube in response to the “possibility of CEO Norman Adami freezing their pensions.” The video is a great demonstration of how social media is giving anyone and everyone a way to make their voice heard. The impacts are far-reaching in business and public relations. Wonder if Norman is losing any sleep over this?? [...]
February 17th, 2007 at 11:14 amYouTube is mightier than the pen… « The last man in Europe… says:
[...] 19th, 2007 · No Comments Now it seems YouTube is being used as a platform for internal communications. Thanks to Brains onFire for spotting the Miller Brewing Company ‘peoples revolt’ via the Tube. Unhappy with the CEOs plans to quash pensions employees recorded their protest (as a song) and broadcast on YouTube. [...]
February 19th, 2007 at 1:55 amm2h blogging » Public Protests says:
[...] (via Brains on Fire) Some employees of Miller Beer are protesting the possibility that CEO Norman Adami might freeze their pensions (video). These employees are union employees so I doubt they will lose their jobs over this public protest, still it’s interesting to note how they are using a You-Tube video to make their point and respond to management actions. I wonder if they felt they had no other options. We might see more corporate policies to try and prevent such things, and we might see more anonymous versions (say with faces obscured). However, I’d agree with Virgina that the best thing for management would be to respond proactively with more open internal communication options for employees. « Illustrator, day 2 [...]
February 19th, 2007 at 10:03 amThe Zone Read » Blog Archive » links for 2007-02-18 says:
[...] Brains On Fire Blog » Blog Archive » YouTubing Your Message to Management Employees of Miller Brewing Company, up in arms over the possibility of CEO Norman Adami freezing their pensions, expressed their dismay in song and shared it with the world. (tags: employee communications) [...]
February 19th, 2007 at 5:00 pmEmployees Making Their Voices Heard says:
[...] This past weekend I was reading an article that was discussing how CEO Norman Adami of Miller Brewing Company was proceeding with freezing the pensions of all his hard working employees. Obviously, this is something that the employees are not in favor of and I gather a bit upset over. Well Virginia at Brains on Fire discovered a video on YouTube made and performed by Miller employees expressing their unhappiness. [...]
February 20th, 2007 at 5:30 amcaptain flummox says:
I realize public shaming is part of the employee strategy, but I’m with you on the notion that companies should set up their own internal channels and forums as a way to address issues before they become public domain complaints.
February 27th, 2007 at 7:31 amChurchNiche » When employees “picket” on YouTube says:
[...] VeeDub shows how social media can become an outlet for angry employees who are trying to get the attention of the CEO. [...]
April 7th, 2007 at 12:57 am