How We're Responding to COVID-19

Cox’s people, customers and the communities we serve continue to feel the negative impacts from COVID-19. We want you to know that we’re here to help. The health and safety of our employees and customers is our top priority. Here are a few ways we’ve responded so far: 

Our People

We are taking several measures to ensure our people are safe and secure —financially and physically — during these extraordinary times. 

Our Cox Employee Relief Fund (CERF), which is funded by employees to help employees in a time of need, has expanded its scope to assist with unexpected financial hardships brought on by COVID-19.

In addition to supporting employees with increased food expenses and lost wages due to mandated curfews, lockdowns, layoffs or business closures, CERF will also help with travel and lodging for college-age children impacted by campus closings.

We’ve also expanded our healthcare benefits by including free and reduced cost access to virtual doctor visits, offering free COVID testing and giving employees the ability to have prescriptions refilled early and delivered for free. Cox employees who can perform their jobs effectively from home are doing so at least until June 7, 2021, and all interviews for open positions are being conducted 100% virtually.

Our Customers

Our businesses are adjusting to safely serve our customers without disruption:

• Cox Communications: We’ve waived late fees for customers and won’t disconnect residential and small business owners who can’t pay their bills due to the crisis. We’ve also upgraded internet speeds, waived overage charges for residential customers and are offering new plans like a low-income internet tier with no annual contract. And Cox Media, our advertising division, is offering local restaurants free television advertising to assure patrons that they remain open for takeout and delivery services and share new hours of operation. Stay up to date with the latest on Cox Communications’ response to COVID-19.
• Cox Automotive:  At Manheim, our teams are working hard to welcome clients onsite to preview vehicles, helping them find vehicles on our lots, and preparing them to safely join in-lane bidding. Manheim now offers in-lane digital block bidding at 43 locations.
  
  Additionally, our retail business is seeing consumer website traffic near pre-COVID levels, and used car credit applications are up over the prior year, indicating pent-up demand and hopeful signs of economic recovery. With low dealer inventory and a need for remote car buying solutions, Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer is helping dealers acquire cars. And, Xtime’s “Be Safe” products is meeting a rising demand for digital solutions in the Finance and Insurance sectors.
  Read more updates from Cox Automotive and its businesses.
   
• The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) and the Dayton Daily News: Both papers have expanded local, national and international coverage on the COVID-19 pandemic. The AJC is also providing complimentary access to the AJCePaper as a public service. Hear more from the AJC’s editor, Kevin Riley, about how the newsroom will continue to provide reliable, up-to-date information. 

Our Communities

The James M. Cox Foundation is providing millions to purchase equipment to make COVID-19 diagnostic testing more readily available in our communities. The foundation also joined with Emory University to start the Feed the Frontline initiative, which includes more than 1,500 individuals, foundations and corporate contributors and has raised more than $1 million. The program, which launched in April, has provided more than 15,000 meals to workers at Atlanta-area hospitals and to Atlanta police and fire rescue first responders.

And inside our customers’ homes, Cox Communications is helping families in need stay connected to the internet through our Connect2Compete program. We’ve fast-tracked qualifications and increased speeds for those who qualify. 

Our Purpose

At Cox, our Purpose is to Empower People Today to Build a Better Future for the Next Generation. This has never been more important than now. And our vision — our greatest people working together to solve the most pressing problems of the time — has never been more relevant.

To stay up to date with all we're doing during the COVID-19 pandemic, please see our dedicated page.