Social Impact

Economists at Texas A&M write that Milton Friedman’s view that maximizing profit is the sole goal of business is outdated. In lieu of this, “companies and nonprofits can prosper when they embody what we’re calling a social profit orientation by making sustainable, social and environmental impact central to their missions.” Social profit orientation holds that “financial profits and benefits for the common good are equally prized. ” Social profit orientation also helps “companies and nonprofits future-proof themselves against evolving market dynamics and social changes.”

Texas A&M Today | ‘Social Profit Orientation’ Can Help Companies And Nonprofits Alike Do More Good In The World

The Conversation | ‘Social profit orientation’ can help companies and nonprofits alike do more good in the world

Christopher Marquis, Sinyi Professor of Management at the University of Cambridge, tells us that by letting corporations off easy by placing the sustainability onus on consumers, like with consumers being the center of most recycling campaigns, we are creating a situation where avoiding corporate responsibility creates larger rewards. “In the 1950s, plastic producers and the packaging industry coined the term “litterbug” as part of their efforts to overturn state laws that mandated the use of returnable glass bottles.”

The Hill | How an abstract economics concept lets corporations off the hook

The glass cliff refers to women who are appointed to lead companies through a crisis with the thought that the women will plunge to their career deaths like ancient vikings during an Ättestupa. Some say the glass cliff should also refer to people of color who are appointed to lead a company through a crisis. @nytimes

All over my feed, and probably yours too, this week was this statistic: 76% of high performing women receive negative feedback compared to 2% of men. Is this the new women are bossy and men are confident malarky? @fortune

Have you ever wondered about the words around equal pay? Like when talking about how women are often paid at lower rates “for work they are already doing.” Uh… already doing the work…people. This translates to the GDP and consumer spending would rise if women were paid on par with men. Food for thought… @thewiesuite

Prince William’s Earthshot Prize CEO Hannah Jones, who was once Nike’s Chief Sustainability Officer, says that a new sustainability movement will emerge from the profound impact the ESG movement has had on the economy in the U.S. and globally. She explains the economic cycle concerning sustainability began with the first Earth Day and continues. My takeaway- even if we stop talking about ESG, its legacy continues. 

Fast Company | After the ESG backlash, what will the next wave of business sustainability developments bring?

As Sun Tzu says, approximately, know yourself as well as you know your enemies. Whichever side you may or may not be on here- The U.S. House Financial Services Committee’s Republican ESG Working Group issued its final staff report Wednesday. Big messaging point from the report says ESG is “an environment ripe for abuse.”

The USC Annenberg Inclusion Study found that the number of women leading roles in entertainment declined to 30% in 2023. That’s a drop of 14% from 2022. “Only 11% of 2023’s top 100 movies were gender-balanced, meaning women/girls in about half of all speaking roles, also a number even with 2007.”

Deadline | Women In Leading Film Roles Declined In 2023, USC Annenberg Inclusion Study Finds

A new study from Harvard Business School found that having women managers improves productivity in businesses with mixed genders. “We’ve said it before, and it’s worth repeating: putting women in management positions is good for morale, productivity, retention—and business.” @femalequotient

  Esports, you know that supremely fast growing sector, through its Global Esports Federation has launched the Global Social Impact Initiative to harness the power of gaming and esports for social good. What type pf good? supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through education, green technology, and employment practices.

Trendhunter | Esports CSR Initiatives

 Unspun, a weaving technology company, raised $32M in Oversubscribed Series B Funding for its 3D weaving. It is 4 times faster and offers a 53% emissions reduction, 49% reduced energy demand and a 39% reduced blue water consumption.

ESG Dive | Weaving tech company scores $32M to decarbonize fashion supply chains

The International Olympic Committee and 2024 Olympic host France agreed to 10 commitments from participants in five different thematic areas: education and employment; health and nutrition; equality and inclusion; finance and impact measurement; and sustainability and legacy. The agreement includes financial commitments to support the SDGs, with public development banks and other member institutions of the Sustainable Finance through Sport coalition, committing to invest $10 billion in “community-based, inclusive and sustainable” sports infrastructure by the end of the decade.

Microsoft committed to DEI. Jeff Jones, a Microsoft spokesperson, said, “Our focus on diversity and inclusion is unwavering and we are holding firm on our expectations, prioritizing accountability, and continuing to focus on this work.”  It’s like the opposite of Tractor Supply approach to DEI.

ESG Dive | Amid DEI cuts, Microsoft works to distinguish itself from those responding to ‘woke’ backlash

“More than 130 companies from across industries called on world leaders to step up action to prevent biodiversity loss as countries prepare to convene in October for the United Nation’s Biodiversity Conference, or COP16.”

ESG Dive | Unilever, Nestlé join over 130 companies in call to reverse biodiversity loss ahead of COP16

Mercedes Benz and Starbucks have partnered to support EV charging. Mercedes- Benz will “expand its DC Fast EV charging network at 100 stores across Starbucks’ retail portfolio in America.”

“The collaboration between two leading brands like Mercedes-Benz and Starbucks will uplift the charging experience for all EV drivers. Together, we seek to infuse delight into this facet of EV ownership through intentional experiences that make drivers genuinely excited to plug in. We envision a future where charging your vehicle is as easy as enjoying your favorite Starbucks.”
Andrew Cornelia, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging

What type of actions can derail a company’s DEI goals? In short, humans. In longer form: biases in hiring and performance evaluations. You know the line- “I have a hard time understanding women.” or “I have a hard time with accents” or “I just can’t see XYZ in that role.”

Human Capital Center | Traditional Bias Training Doesn’t Work— Bias Interrupters Do

H&M has created a green financing tool to support sustainable supply chain. The retailer is collaborating with Southeast Asia’s largest bank, DBS. The program is “a first-of-its-kind green loan programme that facilitates supply chain decarbonisation in the apparel sector.”

H&M Group | H&M Group drives the agenda on collaborative financing solutions for impactful climate action

This summer Tractor Supply abandoned its DEI, sustainability, and support for pride. The company had spent years supporting diversity and sustainability. Now the impact of changing its mind is being closely watched. As one analyst said, “Abrupt change is difficult and destabilizing, and unless plans were communicated clearly, consistently, and coherently to internal audiences, the firm might see a drop in motivation and engagement, increased absenteeism and turnover, and a loss of talent. That’s not only bad for Tractor Supply as a company, it is awful for those employees who might be disheartened by the move and abysmal for customers who observe and suffer because of the fallout.”

ESG Dive | Tractor Supply retreats on DEI, climate after ‘anti-woke’ backlash. Now the real fallout begins.

The UK has enacted legislation that criminalizes taking or detaining a cat or dog. The crime is punishable by a fine or up to five years in prison. What happens to people in your state that abduct pets? @globalpositivenews

 50 years ago Sweden was the 1st country to introduce paid paternity leave. Now the country is at the forefront of providing parental leave for grandparents. Under the new groundbreaking law, grandparents providing child care can get paid for up to three months of a child’s first year. A two-parent household can transfer 45 days of paid leave to others, while a single parent can transfer 90 days.  @goodgoodgoodco

Meet Moveinday mafia, a nonprofit that helps  HBCU students from foster care backgrounds in settling into college by providing dorm room makeovers. The nonprofit also sends the students monthly care packages. @blackenterprise

Meet carewashing. It is when employers offer ” low-effort initiatives in lieu of truly healthy, motivating company cultures.” 21% of employees believe employers care about their wellbeing that’s more than a 25% drop since 2020. Why the drop? too many unsustainable “work hard, play hard”  employer cultures.

How to avoid carewashing? Align your commitments and capabilities; talk to your employees, listen and follow through; and hire self aware leaders who aren’t psychopaths and that create a safe and healthy workplace with strong ethical practices. @harvard_business_review

Cities are changing downtown codes to make it easier for small artisanal manufacturers, often those with social impact purpose, to find spaces downtown. Cities like NYC, Nashville, Indianapolis, and Montgomery County, Md. are opening vacant storefronts and buildings to artisanal manufacturers.  Research shows that for every 1 percent increase in the entrepreneurship rate, the poverty rate decreases by 2 percent.

Governing | Empty Storefronts? Let Entrepreneurs Make Things There.

Utah is building a 305 foot Statue of Responsibility to serve as a means of spreading positivity. “The shape of the building itself is meant to represent people helping each other.” No taxpayer money will be spent on construction.

2KUTV | Statue of Responsibility proposed in Utah faces mixed reactions

San Francisco has created a Youth Commission and the White House has created the Office of Young American to gain insight from GenZ. Check out YouthinGov, a coalition of more than 80 organizations, that is fighting for youth representation. Issues important to GenZ include the economy, mental health, health care, and gun violence. The goal of these programs is build trust and active discourse with GenZ. 

Governing | Create a Seat at the Policymaking Table for Young Americans

Lake Research Partners found that more than half of voters (56%) oppose anti-woke legislation, while less than a third (30%) support it. Opposition crossed partisan lines – Democrats 58% oppose, 38% strongly oppose; Independents 63% oppose, 46% strongly oppose; Republicans 52% oppose, 34% strongly oppose.

Harvard Law School Governance Forum | National Public Opinion Survey Finds Voters Skeptical About Congressional “Anti-ESG” Policies

The recent release of Keurig Dr Pepper’s 2023 Corporate Responsibility Report highlights that corporate responsibility has become the company’s purpose. In the CEOs words: “[We] elevated Drink Well. Do Good., our longstanding corporate responsibility approach, to be KDP’s company purpose. Our purpose plays a critical role in guiding how we go about delivering positive impact for our stakeholders through our strategic framework and business priorities,” said Tim Cofer, Chief Executive Officer.

 A new survey from the Executive Leadership Council concludes what we all know- Top Down support is paramount. CEOs who are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion have better results. 75% of companies that responded say their commitment to DEI is strong.

Stanford Social Innovation Review posits that sustainability is out and regeneration is in. Why? Sustainability focuses on doing no harm by minimizing negative outcomes. Whereas regeneration goal is to make the process better by finding ways to also replenish the planet’s natural resources.

KPMG has launched “AI Impact Initiative” to bring AI to nonprofits. The program has 2 initial goals: (1) Empowering non-profits to maximize the benefits they deliver by harnessing the power of AI; and (2) Equipping the workforce of the future with critical AI and generative AI (GenAI) skills and capabilities.

IKEA estimates that each employee who leaves costs the company $5000. So, it started paying employees more, offering flexible schedules, and let me blow your mind. Wait for it… fewer employees are leaving IKEA. It’s kinda a shocking, right? A common sense solution produced happier employees and a productive and efficient corporate environment. @bloombergbusiness

Whirlpool’s Feel Good program has donated 900 refurbished, like new, refrigerators to food banks and nonprofits to facilitate the distribution of perishable foods. It has also donated 50,000 pounds of food to partner agencies, helping more than 25,000 families.

Feel Good along with its partners,  @hellofresh and Total Quality Logistics (TQL), have a goal of distribution 3000 refrigerators by 2030. The program is expanding to include Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Orlando, Phoenix, and West Michigan. @goodgoodgoodco

 Adam Grant, the Wharton School Organizational Psychologist,  says to get the highest level of productivity and to retain employees permit remote work 2 days a week. There’s  no cost to performance nor promotion rates. @AdamMGrant

In your reporting, are you including the “social return on investment” (SROI)? Your SROI more comprehensively measures the overall impact of investments. SROI  improves program management through better planning and evaluation, increases your business’ understanding of its effect on the community thereby facilitating better communication regarding the value of your work. 

Maybe SROI is the new  “it” factor. There’s a great interview by Tyler Twellman, of the Real Salt Lake Coach Pablo Mastroeni about the unquantifiable it factor of certain players. He explains that when players have that certain something it  elevates a team beyond their data- goals, wins, etc.  Every business needs to define and characterize their IT Factor, the je ne sais quoi, the SROI.

Let’s check in on how Sony Music is defining its purpose in its 2024 Social Justice Fund report. The fund continues to “support initiatives that lead to creating an inclusive world where all individuals are respected and valued for their unique contributions.”

Sony Music’s purpose statement is:
“In today’s world, where diversity is more crucial than ever, our Purpose remains steadfast: to fill the world with emotion, through the power of creativity and technology.”

This week Citi announced that it would match the parental leave policies of Morgan Stanley and Barclays. That increases birth mother leave to 24 weeks, 16 weeks of paid leave to all new parents, and two weeks paid leave to care for other family members. Crafting a parental leave message to employees? Here’s how Citi worded theirs.

Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance tells us that board gender diversity improves investment outcomes by increasing board monitoring, board advisory effectiveness, and board risk aversion as well as two-way communication regarding investment proposals between the board and managers and the board and the investment community. They examined 83 policies in 59 countries. They also discuss the limited number of women and gender tokenism.

Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance | Board Gender Diversity and Investment Efficiency: Global Evidence from 83 Country-Level Interventions

after nearly 4 years of negotiations, the EU adopted a Value Chain Law which  will require large companies to identify, mitigate, prevent, and remedy harmful human rights and environmental impacts in their operations and their value chains; that is, the company’s business partners involved in production, distribution, transport, and storage of the company’s products. A lengthy list of large companies and business groups support the requirement.

HRW | EU Adopts Groundbreaking Business Value Chain Law

You’re the new leader for a business. The business needs a change of culture to improve success in the current business climate. What makes an effective culture change? (1) Keep the business folk engaged, it’s not just data. (2) Resist the urge to change how people work- the where and when of it all (3) Know that culture change isn’t measured in data or an ROI.  @MITSloanManagementReview

Engineering Innovation Group reports that their data shows employees who have control, some control, over where and when they work, are more productive and more engaged. @techcrunch

A 2024 Morgan Stanley survey of 300 U.S. corporations revealed that 53% say sustainability is primarily a value creation for their long term corporate strategy. 32% say sustainability is both a way to create value and manage risk. 15% say it is primarily a risk management long term strategy.

Morgan Stanley | Companies See Sustainability as Integral to Long Term Value Creation

Last week we talked about the beauty company, E.L.F. partnership with Billie Jean King to “serve facts on diversity.” this week E.L.F. is out to point out all the “Dicks” on corporate boards. Bonjour “So Many Dicks”

Anyone else notice the wording of the NFL’s comment on the now-infamous commencemnt speech by Harrison Butker? DEI was front and center: “The N.F.L. is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.” 

NYTimes | N.F.L. Player Draws Rebukes (and Trolling) for Graduation Speech

Katz School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh research says that return to the office policies are a means for “managers [to] use RTO (return to office mandates) for power grabbing and blaming employees for poor performance.” This research paper shows the policies harm employee performance and do not improve a business’ performance. @techcrunch

 @theweisuite says data shows that 98% of companies which added  women board members saw revenue increases.

We’ve all heard of burn out, but what about misalignment burnout? This form of burnout occurs when an employee’s purpose does not align with a company’s purpose. Burnout impacts 71% of GenZ and 65% of millennials. @forbes

Rotherham replaced 8 miles of right of way grass with wildflowers. Switching the greenery in transportation corridors saved the city more than $25,000 in mowing expenses. Wildflower meadows saving businesses, governments, and the environment. @happygardens

 The NFL is donating the materials used for its draft to a local animal shelter. Detroit “said there was an entire sustainability plan between the NFL and the city to reduce waste and repurpose materials from the event.” Kudos for the creative thinking.  @goodgoodgood

E.L.F., the beauty company, has partnered with Billie Jean King to highlight the few women in business leadership positions. All leadership positions, if we’re frank. Partnering with a groundbreaking and rule shattering sports icon to deliver facts creates a beautiful partnership using data to show that diversity is good for business. Serving Facts with Billie Jean King

New wellness benefit rolling through business policies is offering pet bereavement leave. @thewildest

Rural communities are letting it be known that they will not exist for much longer unless they can work out how to have affordable child care. South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development is awarding grants to fund child care in rural communities.

Route Fifty | ‘We can’t exist without child care’: Rural towns use state funding to open local centers

Get your employee buy-in and build from there. “According to University of Missouri Professor Jung Ha-Brookshire, if companies want to shift toward sustainability, employees need to be aware of employers’ social initiatives and act as ambassadors to inform consumers of these CSR activities.”

 I admit my surprise to learn that conscientious consumerism, ethical consumers, aren’t new to the U.S.  Instead, they date back to colonial times when people wouldn’t buy goods or products from slave owners. Conscientious consumerism grew in the 20th century when consumers took into consideration environmental concerns and worker treatment. 

CMS Wire | Using Social Initiatives to Build Trusted Customer Relationships

(1) Deepen consumer trust and loyalty by fostering long-term relationships with your consumers. (2) Enhance market competition by aligning your brand with your consumers. This is especially important for conscientious consumers. (3) Be authentic.

CMS Wire | Using Social Initiatives to Build Trusted Customer Relationships

Republicans in Oklahoma are talking about rolling back their anti- ESG law which blacklisted financial firms for their restrictions on lending to oil, gas and coal companies. The reason: the increased costs for local governments to borrow funds. The Oklahoma Rural Association produced a study this week that says the added costs from the anti- ESG law are unavoidable for rural communities.

Insurance Journal | Republicans Weigh Rolling Back Anti-ESG Law They Passed

Morningstar utilized AI to review ESG posts from finance-related subreddits. What did they learn? That investors don’t use the term ESG. They talk in terms of climate change, sustainability. Investors like the strategy of ESG, but don’t use the terminology. Keep this in your hip pocket.

etftrends | How ESG Is Discussed Matters

Have you seen this trend in a cafe near you? You order a coffee and order a coffee for someone in the future who can’t afford a hot drink, or meal, in the future. The free meals/drinks hang on a board that allows people in need to easily claim them. @thedanishway

TThe WNBA has partnered with a daily birth control pill available without a prescription in the U.S. – Opill. The league has announced that they will be concentrating on social justice efforts in two areas: civic engagement and reproductive health advocacy. That’s a partnership leading by example.  @thefemaleathleteproject

Inspiration: Meet Nourish + Bloom Market, the first Black-owned autonomous grocery store tackling the nation’s food deserts by making eating healthy and convenient. @pocintech

Meet Bark Air, an airline that caters exclusively to barkers, AKA dogs. Maybe this inspires a business idea, a way to keep employees content by flying their dogs, or your new career. It is outside the box thinking that we all should consider. @bloombergbusiness

Research from the University of Pittsburgh Katz School of Business published this year states that “Our findings are consistent with employees’ concerns that managers use RTO (return to office mandates) for power grabbing and blaming employees for poor performance. We provide evidence that RTO mandates hurt employee satisfaction but do not improve firm performance.” Karen Mangia, president and chief strategy officer at the Engineered Innovation Group, says she’s found that it is as simple as employees want to have the choice an of where to be. 

@techcrunch

TechCrunch | Working from home isn’t going away, even if some CEOs wish it would

14% of all workers work full-time from home. That is expected to rise to 20% within a year. 58% of all white collar workers want to work from home at a minimum of a few days a week. @techcrunch

TechCrunch | Working from home isn’t going away, even if some CEOs wish it would

Office policies that are dog friendly boost employee mental wellness. @bloombergbusiness

California is considering language similar to several European countries that punishes employers who contact employees after hours, unless it is for an emergency or scheduling purposes. AB 2751 (2024 | CA), “The Right to Disconnect Act” will permit a fine of $100 per incident. @washingtonpost @entrepreneur

 @bloombergbusiness tells us that globally the hustle culture is dead. So long to always being on and always being in, and say hello to the semblance of a life work balance.

Texas State Senator Brandon Creighton, Chair of the Education Committee, is asking institutions of higher education to answer 5 questions:

• How has your institution ensured that there are no DEI offices or officers on campus, or no individual or organization performing the duties of a DEI office or officer?
• How has your institution worked to ensure that DEI training is not required for staff, students, and faculty?
• How has your institution acted to comply with the provision which prohibits providing preference on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin to an applicant for employment?
• How has your institution worked to ensure diversity statements cannot be considered for hiring or promotion?
• How has your institution been preparing for regular audits to comply with SB 17 that prohibits DEI at institutions of higher education in Texas?

So, you’ve hired new employees. Some of these new employees are being paid more than existing employees. What do high performing employees do when they find out new employees are paid more? they leave and they leave fast. @harvard_business_review

There is. 425% ROI for businesses that provide child care according to a study by @bcg and nonprofit Moms First. @theskimm

Austin’s Icon is printing climate friendly homes that will be the world’s largest 3D-printed neighborhood, a 100-house Austin subdivision, at Wolf Ranch for home giant Lennar. @bloomberggreen

Fast Company has listed the top innovating social impact companies:

• Verizon for bringing service to first responders in even the most extreme circumstances
• United Airlines for investing in the future of fuel
• Gilead Sciences for funding the fight against health disparities
• The Estée Lauder companies for supporting literacy and offering mentorship to at-risk youth in underserved communities
• Stripe for financing cutting-edge climate solutions
• Ikea for creating jobs for refugees and asylum seekers

Fast Company | The most innovative corporate social responsibility companies in 2024

France’s Parliament is moving forward to limit fast fashion by imposing a fee of up to 10 euros, just over SEK 112, per piece of clothing until 2030. @dagens_nyheter

Pay transparency policies have led to employees leaving for higher paid similar positions. “14% of business leaders say employees have left because they saw job postings with higher pay elsewhere, and 11% have seen a job posting within the organization and realized they were being paid less for a similar job.” Humm… so underpaying employees leads to those employees leaving to be paid fairly. shocking. @cnbc

Walmart is training its managers to be more compassionate. “Walmart’s success is possible only if the store managers take care of their workers and the customers and community where they operate.”

New York Times | Walmart Wants to Teach Store Managers Compassion

“Americas Trade and Investment Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at revitalizing America’s textile industry with over $14 billion in incentives to promote circular practices in apparel, footwear, accessories, and home textiles. The bill seeks to reshape US manufacturing by encouraging domestic circular businesses and reshoring manufacturing from China” @thesustainablefashionforum

The Economist is sharing data on how motherhood harms women’s careers. In the United States there is a sharp decline in women’s careers when the first child is born, and their careers do not recover over a 10 year span. @theeconomist

The California Legislature has created a committee to find solutions to make Californians happier. Some of their solutions are big ideas like universal health care and some are small steps like more parks. Why a happiness committee? Because of the ripple effects of happiness which include better mental health and less crime. It seems to me businesses could also use the ripple effect of happier employees. Add a Happiness Committee to your CSR toolkit.

Cal Matters | Lawmakers want to help California be happy

Some states like Nevada have had a couple legislative cycles of women majority Legislatures. Overall, Rutgers’ Center for American Women in Politics says that 10 state legislatures have fewer than 25% women. The fewest women elected officials is throughout the South, e.g. Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Louisiana. Jennifer Lawless, chair of the politics department at the University of Virginia, says voters will elect women but women aren’t running for office.

AP via VOA news | Few Female Lawmakers in US Statehouses

Hiring GenZ employees? Consider meeting them where they are–on social platforms. GenZ workers prioritize like-minded employers. Consider that nearly half of all GenZ workers have refused work for political or ideological reasons. Consider that GenZ requires flexibility. It’s not 1985 anymore. Consider keeping your company’s tech up to date, outmoded tech is a turnoff.

Route Fifty | Catching Zs: 4 ways to tap the incoming wave of young workplace talent

The politicization of the phrase ESG has changed the way we communicate. A list of tips and guidance move communication to terms like sustainable investments, sustainable business, community and leaving the phrase ESG to reporting.

The “Glass Cliff” is a phenomenon when women are hired or promoted to clean up a mess and then get blamed for the mess, especially unfixable messes made by those who preceded her. @ellevest

“Inclusive Local thriving” is a phrase to describe the “positive and equitable outcomes generated when businesses invest locally in diverse workforces, economic prosperity, and community well being.” MIT Sloan School lecturer Kate Isaacs explains how this phrase supports the “… ongoing global geopolitical conflicts spur American businesses to bring work and manufacturing back to U.S. soil.” @MITSloan

Nebraska wants to fund the revitalization of rural grocers. LB1116 (2024 | NE) creates the Grocer Reinvestment Option Act that would set aside $4 million over two fiscal years for rural grocers. Similar legislation has been introduced in Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota and Oklahoma.

Governing | States Invest to Save Rural Grocery Stores

The Charlotte Tilbury company is the first female founded firm to fund F1. “With this partnership, we will use our global platform to elevate this new generation of fearless young female drivers, and open up the traditionally male-dominated world of motorsport to even more talented young women,” said Tilbury. @charlottetilbury

New word of the day: de-paving. Cities are getting rid of pavement to make room for more wildflower and grass meadows. Not only does green space create cooler air, clean the air, and reduce flooding; green space has also been shown to reduce violence and improve mental health. @goodgoodgoodco

The National Governors Association, has a new initiative called “Disagree Better.” Sounds suspicious? maybe a tad spurious? The current NGA Chair is the Governor of Utah, a Republican, and the Vice-Chair is the Governor of Colorado, a Democrat.  They say 30% of Americans have ended a familial relationship because of polarization of politics. They also say that the elected officials of each party aren’t as far apart as they’re portrayed in the media.

Route Fifty | In an era of divisiness, some politicians are trying to change the tone

Looking for grants to support businesses owned by Black women? Look no further than the 38 programs compiled by Nerdwallet including: HerRise Micro-Grant program, Wish Local Empowerment Program, Innovate Together program, Corporate Counsel Women of Color, and Amber Grant Foundation which is open to all women business owners. @entreprenuer

 Techies are talking about partnerships with state and local governments and higher education. The partnerships help all partners make the most of data to address societal issues, innovate, bettering communities, and restoring trust in government.

Governing | What Could Entrepreneurs and Government Do Together?

A 6 month trial of the 4 day work week in the UK found that 82% of employers saw improved staff morale. @financialtimes

A new book discusses strategies to strengthen the effectiveness of DEI. Culture concepts to consider include: (1) not viewing DEI as charity but rather as a smart business choice; (2) get the buy-in of your middle management – you know the folks who are responsible for converting corporate practices into practicable effect; and (3) stop equating high performance with good management. @MITSloan

A study published in PLOS concludes that “there is merit in journalists shining a light on others’ kindness if people’s affective well-being and belief in the goodness of humanity is to remain intact.” It should also give one pause to the concept of delivering negative business news between positive news, AKA “the shit sandwich,” as in business there is also merit in being kinder.

PLOS | Buffering the effects of bad news: Exposure to others’ kindness alleviates the aversive effects of viewing others’ acts of immorality

Restaurant owners in Austin, Texas are advocating for childcare options for restaurant workers, who typically work nights and weekends. Their goals are to obtain  “another round of nontraditional hour childcare pilots and spearhead state funding.”

@Austin_monthly

Texas Comptroller Press Release discusses J.P. Morgan Asset Management and State Street Global Advisors withdrawal from Climate Action 100+. It also points to BlackRock transferring its signatory to an international arm of the firm. The press release is a good reminder to keep reading until the end… “we heard firms telling Texas one thing but then providing very different and often contradictory information to states like New York or California.” Summary: the eyes continue to watch.

Let’s look at a quick run down of what’s happening with how people are impacting the environment. NYC is considering banning laundry pods and sheets that contain polyvinyl alcohol, also known as PVA or PVOH. @bloombergbusiness New Zealand is set to be one of the few countries to have banned PFAs in cosmetics. @worldeconomicforum

Hellman’s is tackling food waste from the Super Bowl. More than 140,000 pounds of extra food are estimated to be left after official events and stadium snacking. Hellman’s campaign to tackle food waste is in its 4th year at the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl Ad. @goodgoodgoodco

MIT Sloan School created the 3 Ls for building an empathic work culture: Love, Learn, & Listen. Loving informed action + Listen to the experiences of your diverse workforce + Learn about institutionalized and systemic bias and work to correct it. @MITSLOAN

We’ve seen countries in Europe create economic sanctions when employers contact employees during non business hours for non-emergency issues. Add to this, Australia which is passing legislation to allow employees to ignore work calls outside of the workday. @nytimes

Looking for ways to create a sustainable retail supply chain? A new report from Interline surveyed global brands and retailers with revenue under $100 million to over $1 billion. Recommendations include evaluating supply chain through a lens of efficiency, profitability, and then innovation to support long term success. @interline

2023 was the conservative pushback against DEI. 2024 is shaping up as the conservative push for “Women’s Bill of Rights” In West Virginia it looks like HB 5243 (2024 | WV) the bills define women. Opponents say the bill’s are an attack on the trans community. The bills also define “equal” as “not the same” and “not identical” for equality purposes. The bills are making their way through Southern state legislatures.

Alabama Policy Institute

AP | A West Virginia ‘Women’s Bill of Rights’ is an effort to suppress transgender people, critics say

Remember the headlines when twitter came under the ownership of the Big E? Turns out his “hardline “extremely hardcore” employment practices were not well received. Employees left in mass, productivity fell. Happy employees, happy profits.

Fortune | Elon Musk reportedly quizzed Tesla managers on which staff could be fired—the last time he did that it didn’t end well for Twitter employees

Do employee wellness programs work? A new report in the Industrial Relations Journal and a research fellow at the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford says no. It is estimated that the employee wellness market will reach $120B globally by 2032. Some wellness programs have proven effective, like mental health employee wellness programs.

CBC | Do office wellness programs work? A new study suggests they’re not helping staff