Social Impact

What’s happening? Turns out those bosses wanting people back in the office 5 days a week, well, the bosses aren’t showing up 5 days a week.

Why is this important? Employees are noticing and it is not sitting well.

How will this be important? Employees not happy with their lack of flexibility are 3 times more likely to look for another job.

@bloomberg BusinessWeek

What is happening? Champagne Drappier became the first Champagne estate to be carbon neutral.

Why is this important? To Michel Drappier, ““Going natural, ecological, organic, was the only way to keep our planet a good place to live,”

How will this be important? On the family champagne estate, it is all about saving the grapes, and this they believe is their part to save the grapes

Barrons | Good Company: Champagne Drappier, France’s Carbon Neutral Pioneer

What’s happening? Adam Grant, Wharton School, professor focusing on organizational psychology, tells us companies are reserving 1 day a week where no meetings can take place

Why is this important? 76 companies tested it & saw satisfaction and productivity increase. Communication and cooperation improved.

How will this be important? Happy employees are loyal and productive thereby leading to increased earnings.

@AdamMGrant

What is happening? companies with a good CSR rating have returns 19% higher 

Why is this important? 59% of consumers say businesses have a responsibility to social good.

How will this be important? 52% of UK Business Owners say that it adds value to their business. 47% see financial performance improve 33% see a positive business reputation improvement & 27% say they see operational savings

Fintech & Finance News | The Power of Giving Back: Why Corporate Social Responsibility matters

What is happening? 42% of employees have a hybrid schedule. 39% worked exclusively from home. As for their long term work goals,  53% expect a hybrid arrangement and 24% expect to work exclusively remotely.

Why is this important? 54% will look for other jobs if they don’t have a remote work option.

How will this be important? Workers reported the following reasons for supporting the hybrid work model:

• Avoiding commutes
• Better overall wellbeing
• Flexibility to balance other obligations
• Still have the option to work in-person with co-workers
• Allows for feeling both more productive and still connected to organization

Rute Fifty | Easing the Transition to a Long-term Hybrid Workplace

What’s happening? IN, UT and now KY Governors have vetoed their state’s transgender sports ban legislation.

Why is this important? In KY, the Republican legislature passed the bill and the Democrat Governor vetoed it because the bill does not treat all student athletes equally for equal protection purposes.

How will this be important? IN 2021, LA, ND and KS Governors also vetoed the legislation.

NY Times | Kentucky Governor Vetoes Transgender Sports Bill

What’s happening? European Securities and Markets Authority research shows that “were overall cheaper than non-ESG peers, while their performance reflected the strong performance of specific sectors since the Covid-19 crisis.”

Why is this important? Because old adage be damned… this isn’t true:  investors must sacrifice profits for purpose

How will this be important? Dig down and find… ” impact funds performed better than other ESG strategies and funds with sustainable investment as [an] objective performed better in net terms… than those promoting environmental or social characteristics despite slightly higher costs,”

Investment Executive | ESG funds outperformed in 2020: ESMA

What is happening? A study by USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative has Rolling Stone calling the music industry a “sausage fest”

Why is this important? In 2021, 23.3% of artists, 4.4%of songwriters, and just 3.9% of producers for the biggest tracks were women. “On average for the decade, 12.7 percent of songwriters, 2.8 percent of producers, and 21.8 percent of artists behind the year-end Hot 100 were women.”

How will this be important? While gender equity has not increased, racial equity has improved. ” 57% of artists on the 2021 Hot 100 year-end chart coming from underrepresented racial groups compared to just more than 38 % in 2012.”

Rollingstone | The Music Industry Is a Sausage Fest, and This Study Proves It

What is happening? The NFL has created a committee to review its diversity hiring practices.

Why is this important? The NFL determined there is a lack of diversity, or the lack of diversity was brought to the NFL’s attention. Tomato/to-mah-to Either way the NFL has a committee. People know about the committee and its report will be public. The committee members include business leaders, academics, and former Houston Texans GM Rick Smith.

How will this be important? In addition to improving diversity, equity and inclusion, teams will now be required to hire a minority coach as an offensive assistant. The 32 teams signed a letter agreeing to diverse ownership too.

NFL.com | NFL forms new committee to review policies regarding diversity hiring; teams mandated to hire minority coach as offensive assistant

What is happening? In 2021, Colorado legalized human body composting. It is a green alternative to burial.

Why is this important? The natural funeral involved 6 months of preparation in a wooden box with wood chips,  alfalfa and straw. The first Natural Funeral in Colorado involved then mixing in wildflower seeds and scattering the human compost and seeds.

How will this be important? in 2019, Washington State passed a law supporting human composting.

9 News | Remains of first person in Colorado to undergo body composting laid out

What is happening? Sweden is deploying drones to offer fast medical care before ambulances can arrive. For example, a drone quickly delivered a defibrillator and walked through how to use it on a patient in need. It has been saving lives.

Why is this important? Sweden was the first country in the world to deploy drones when ambulances are called. Drones are dispatched in 60 seconds and don’t get stuck in traffic.

How will this be important? The only thing a bystander has to do is attach pads to the patient, and the remote operator gauges response, heart rate and necessary defibrillation.

GoodGoodGood | In Sweden, Drones are Beating Ambulances to the Scene — and Saving Lives

What is happening? Vegan leather, mushroom leather, and now apple leather. Apple leather is made from repurposing the cores and skins.

Why is this important? Vegan leather is 100% polyurethane & requires fossil fuels

How will this be important? Apple leather cuts the plastic to 40-50% & can eliminate food waste as the cores and skins come from the juice making process.

Hot fact: “Ninety-nine percent of real leather is made from byproducts of the food industry. It’s a symbiotic relationship,”

Fast Company | Why apple leather is the latest vegan trend in luxury bags and shoes

What is happening? The Great Resignation isn’t happening as intently in companies with women leaders it seems. Because women leaders tend to build happier and more engaged teams.

Why is this important? According to the Potential Project, women lead with compassionate wisdom.

How will this be important? This is showing up in governments too. Look at the pandemic. Countries led by women had the quickest and most effective health responses.

Fast Company | The secret to women’s leadership that can drive such a positive impact

What is happening? a study from NAVEX,  the risk and compliance management software company, found that 83% of executives say they strongly or somewhat agree their brand’s reputation is affected by ESG efforts.

Why is this important? 51% will increase their ESG spending in 2022

How will this be important? ESG investing had increased to $649 billion worldwide in 2021, up from $542 billion in 2020 and $285 billion in 2019. 

Environment + Energy Leader | ESG Reporting, Investing Remain Significant Priorities for Businesses

What is happening? A survey by PNC Institutional Asset Management revealed that 94% of corporate and non-profit executives say social responsibility is here to stay

Why is this important? 92% of corporate and nonprofit executives prioritize social responsibility. 91% are optimistic that the growth in ESG investing can have a positive influence on corporate behavior.

How will this be important? ESG investing as increasingly important and it is “critical that these investment opportunities are fully vetted and indeed aligned with their own values”

Yahoo Finance | SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY INITIATIVES TAKING HOLD IN FOR-PROFIT AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, PNC SURVEY SHOWS

What is happening? The US Census Bureau released a report on the gender pay gap in the US

Why is this important? Wyoming has the highest wage gap at $21,676; and Vermont has the lowest at $4,600. Texas gender wage gap is $10,552.

The other big gap states:

• Utah—$17,303
• Washington D.C. (state equivalent)—$16,032
• Louisiana—$14,926
• North Dakota—$13,950
• New Jersey—$13,434
• Oklahoma—$13,302
• Massachusetts—$13,217
• Illinois—$12,997
• Alabama—$12,738

The smaller gender wage gap states:

• Nevada—$6,013
• Hawaii—$7,022
• California—$7,162
• Florida—$7,705
• Maryland—$7,594
• North Carolina—$8,247
• Arizona—$8,452
• Rhode Island—$8,473
• New York—$8,821

How will this be important? Gender wage gap discrepancies remain.

Route Fifty | The States With the Highest and Lowest Wage Gaps

What is happening? States are pushing to downgrade professional licensing requirements.

Why is this important? The license narrows the gender-driven wage gap

How will this be important? The Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing says that licensing increases wages by 6.5%. Women and minorities in job fields requiring advanced education and training benefit from licensing. More than 70% believe we need to regulate professionals in accounting, engineering, architecture, landscape architecture and related fields with high impact on the public’s health, safety and welfare

Governing | The Dangerous Push to Downgrade Professional Licensing

What is happening? Pandemic and Black Lives Matter are both seen as fostering the growth of Black owned businesses which are up 30% since before the pandemic.

Why is this important? Most of the growth in Black owned businesses is driven by Black women.

How will this be important? Black businesses grew because owners banded together to share information about grants, PPP loans, and means of pivoting to address consumer needs.

NPR | Black business ownership is higher than pre-pandemic. Women are driving that growth

What is happening? A few years ago, California created the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. SB973. This bill requires companies with more than 100 employees to report pay data.

Why is this important? California is the first state to collect this data. The first year of data collection revealed:

• 36% of top earners are women
• 64% of top earners are men
• 55% of the lowest wages are paid to women
• 45% of the lowest wages are paid to men
• In the Bay Area, 2/3 of top earners were men
• In the Bay Area women made up 1/3 of top earners
• Hispanic, Latino people, and Black people were overly represented at the lowest pay levels

How will this be important? Women are more likely to be in a job that is administrative, sales, and service; while men are more likely to be executives.

Governing | Gender and Racial Pay Gaps Persist Among California Companies

What is happening? Travel company, Kind Travel, a woman and veteran owned travel company, surveyed travelers and found 96% want their travel dollars to make a positive impact in the places that they visit.

Why is this important? 48% said  “the greatest challenge in trying to travel sustainably is finding accommodations that are both “sustainable and socially conscious.” 37% of travelers say the biggest challenge is to reduce of eliminate their carbon footprint.

How will this be important? “As of 2022, Kind Traveler works with hotels and tourism boards in 22 countries and 100-plus charities worldwide.”

CNBC | 96% of travelers want their vacation dollars to positively impact the place they visit, survey finds

What is happening? The NFL has the Rooney Rule, which may be seen as well intentioned, required the interviewing of candidates of color for open NFL positions. There’s now a lawsuit.

Why is this important? Other groups also followed suits with their own, potentially well intentioned rules, about interviewing diverse candidates. According to Harvard Business Review, there is statistically no chance of a diverse hire if only 1 person of color or 1 woman is interviews. However, statistics increase if people of color or women are interviewed for the same position.

How will this be important? The odds of a diverse hire didn’t increase a little if people of color or 2 women were hired- the odds went up like this: ” the odds of hiring a woman were 79.14 times greater, and the odds of hiring a person of color were 193.72 times greater.”

Harvard Business Review | DEI Initiatives Are Futile Without Accountability

What is happening? Land O’Lakes, the dairy company, supports free, public Wi-Fi at 3,000 locations in 49 states, and funded the American Connection Corps that works with communities to bridge the digital divide.

Why is this important? The wifi program began as a project during the pandemic to help rural people work from home.

How will this be important? Bringing wifi access to rural America took on new importance during the pandemic and with this program looks to be here to stay.

Fast Company | The 10 most innovative companies in corporate social responsibility of 2022

What is happening? UC Berkeley began a program to house the unsheltered of People’s Park. The Univeristy is partnering with the City of Berkeley and nonprofit collaborators to operate a converted motel and offer meals and social services

Why is this important? The program will allow the University to build needed student housing on part of the park land while maintaining 60% of the 2,8 acre park.  The city will pay the costs of the lease and nonprofit services for 12 months with a $4.7-million state grant. UC Berkeley has committed $2.2 million to cover the last six months.

How will this be important? UC Berkeley is encouraging other universities to do something similar.

Los Angeles Times | Can UC Berkeley plan to house homeless people inspire other campuses to tackle the crisis?

What’s happening? EU Countries are avoiding Russian oil like vampires avoid garlic, wooden stakes and Holy water.

Why is this important? An energy analyst is referring to this as “the biggest stimulus to the rollout of renewables that the continent has ever had”

How will this be important? In 2021, Russia account for 45% of gas imports into Europe. Hence the move to renewables as EU countries move away from Russia.

@goodgoodgoodco

What is happening? Maryland is the 2nd state to prohibit the declawing of cats

Why is this important? IN 019 New York passed a statewide bans. Other bans on declaring are local and have been passed in Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Denver.

How will this be important? Welcome to the cat lobby.

@washingtonpost

What’s happening? Companies are ceasing operations and business with Russia over its invasion of the Ukraine.

Why is this important? Let’s find a list of companies ceasing business with Russia:

• Volkswagen
• Ikea
• Spotify
• H&M
• SAP
• Oracle
• Apple
• Netflix paused productions and acquisitions
• FIFA stopped Russian teams from competition
• Honda
• Google removed the apps for RT and Sputnik 
• Dell Exxon Mobile
• Boeing
• Roku
• Nike
• Ford
• Snap
• BMW
• Mercedes Benz
• Meta executives said Tuesday posts from Russian state media are no longer being recommended
• DirecTV  no longer offering of RT America
• Maersk
• Adidas
• YouTube on Tuesday blocked channels operated by Russian-state-funded outlets Russia Today and Sputnik News
• Mastercard  blocks  a number of Russian financial institutions targeted by sanctions from their networks
• Visa blocks a number of Russian financial institutions targeted by sanctions from their networks
• Walt Disney Company pauses theatrical releases in Russia
• Shell divesting from Gazprom
• Twitter will label tweets that share information from Russian state media accounts
• AirBnB  free, short-term housing for 100,000 refugees
• Etsy canceling all balances owed to the company by sellers in Ukraine
• BP divested a stake in Russian oil company Rosneft 
• Verizon waived  residential and mobile call fees to and from Ukraine 
• McKinsey will no longer serve any government entity in Russia

How will this be important? First time I can recall a global call for divestment from a country.

Forbes | Forbes | Volkswagen, IKEA And Spotify—Here’s The Growing List Of Companies Cutting Ties With Russia Over Invasion

What’s happening? RStreet Institute tweeted “A homogenous workforce is also more susceptible to groupthink.”

Why is this important? They point to an MIT study that says not only do groups that all look alike make bad decisions, they replicate bad decisions.

How will this be important? The question boils down to- do you have DEI and outperform or do you shirk DEI and make bad decisions….

@RSI

What’s happening? Numbers from McKinsey say if 30% of a business’ executives are women has a 48% likelihood to outperform. If your business is in the top 25% for diversity, outperformance likelihood is 36%. The big picture: DEI leads to  better investment returns, improved business strategies and stronger organizations as a whole. 

Why is this important? Businesses with low diversity numbers are are more likely to underperform their national industry median in profitability, at 40%

How will this be important? Let’s watch these 3 industries that they say have the highest levels of executive-team diversity: financial services, technology, and healthcare. 

Route Fifty | Making DEI the Cornerstone of the Public Finance Workforce |

What is happening? Everyday a new entity names a new high-level position for diversity equity and inclusion. They all have big tasks ahead of them. So, how do they get to it?

Why is this important? To advance DEI, we need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable so that people can share their experiences freely. Second, we need representation in CSuites and on corporate boards that reflect diversity, equity and inclusion. Finally, we need to build personal relationships with employees and stakeholders.

How will this be important? 2021 saw the most diverse S&P 500 Board class. 47% of all new board members were from historically excluded racial or ethnic groups.

World Economic Forum | 3 ways to advance corporate diversity, equity and inclusion

What is happening? A study by the Danske Invest sought to determine how men and women feel about ESG investments.

Why is this important? 23% of men thought ESG had a negative impact on investments. 10% of women held the same opinion.

How will this be important? According to Danske Bank, “Investing in ESG shouldn’t entail choosing between sustainability and returns”

Bloomberg Equality | Male Investors More Skeptical of ESG Than Women in New Study

What’s happening? After “shareholder pressure” Kraft Heinz will be setting goals to reduce its virgin plastic use.

Why is this important? Kraft Heinz says sustainable packaging has been in the company’s ESG plan for the past 2 years.

How will this be important? As You Sow is working with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme to reduce the use of plastic packaging.

Plastics News | Kraft Heinz agrees to cut virgin plastic use in packaging

What is happening? Researchers say working from home (WFH) at least 1 days a week increases productivity by at least 4.8%

Why is this important? Not only is it work flexibility, but a reduction in commuting time, a metric not previously considered by economists.

How will this be important? Researchers say the increase in productivity is expected to be long lived.

@BusinessWeek

What is happening? 52% of employees who left their jobs say management could have done something to retain them

Why is this important? A Gallup report says managers could do 5 things to retain employees:

• Connect With Employees
• Be an Empathetic, Reliable Resource
• Empower Managers to Empower Employees
• Provide Recognition and Encouragement
• Offer Career Opportunities

How will this be important? Weed out the narcissistic bullies fast.

Gallup | 5 Ways Managers Can Stop Employee Turnover

Route Fifty | How Managers Can Significantly Reduce Employee Turnover

What is happening? Tesco has begun labeling its product with carbon footprint and gave up in 2012. But technology emerged to make calculation of carbon foot print easier.

Why is this important? 75% of millennial alter their buying habits based on climate issues

How will this be important? A study in the EU shows that a carbon label increase purchase probability. A US study showed that consumers are willing to pay a premium for a smaller carbon footprint for fruits.

Sustainable Brands | Will Carbon-Labeled Products Sell More? Here’s What We Know

What is happening? Cole Haan released a shoe with a sole made from at least 25% dandelion based rubber, 21% recycled content vegan microfiber suede, felt from 85% recycled plastic bottles, and laces made from 100% recycled plastic bottles

Why is this important? It is the company;s first sustainable shoe

How will this be important? Wait and see how the company adds to its sustainable products to meet the modern economy

The Weekly Closeout | Smell My Feet

What is happening? Retailers REI, Patagonia, Timberland, North Face, and Public Lands are boycotting the Outdoor Retailer Tradeshow if it is moved to Utah because of Utah’s attacks on public lands.

Why is this important? It is a response to the reduction of the size of national monuments like Bears Ears under the Trump Administration. Those federal protections have been restored but the state continues an attack on public lands.

How will this be important? Outdoor Retailer Senior VP: “Our chief goal is to host a vibrant event that not only reflects today’s new normal, but also presents an engaging event that draws as many as possible into this community in ways that are authentic and affordable.”

Retail Dive | Patagonia, REI, Public Lands threaten to boycott Outdoor Retailer trade show

What is happening? The Anthem Awards were created to honor individuals and organizations for their social impact work.

Why is this important? Award recipients can be brands, organizations and individuals.  Jessica Lauretti, managing director of the Anthem Awards said, “We launched this platform to show the world that all corners of our culture, from sports and entertainment, to business leaders and celebrities, are all standing up to say, it is time for systemic change and that social good is what we value as a society.”

How will this be important? We can see a full list of award recipients here: https://www.anthemawards.com/winners/

Variety | ‘Insecure’ Star Jay Ellis to Host Inaugural Anthem Awards for Social Impact (EXCLUSIVE)

What is happening?The Keep Sweden Tidy Foundation says that more than 1 billion cigarette butts left on Sweden’s streets each year. That’s 62% of all litter. Södertälje spends 20m Swedish kronor (£1.6m) on street cleaning.

Why is this important? Corvid Cleaning has trained crows to pick up and collect cigarette butts, potentially saving 75% cost of litter clean up.

How will this be important? The crows have the potential to pick up other tasks as they are said to the have the brain function of 7 year old humans.

The Guardian | Swedish firm deploys crows to pick up cigarette butts

What’s happening? Researchers focused on nutrition epidemiology ponder the responsibility of markets to market equitably. For instance a market resplendent in fresh vegetables and ethically sources meat and dairy is a stark contrast to a market that bombards customers at eye level immediately with processed food choices.

Why is this important? “There’s a lot of racism, to be honest, I think, behind these decisions, whether it’s unconscious or implicit,” said Andrea Richardson, a policy researcher focused on nutrition epidemiology at the Rand Corp. and professor at the Pardee Rand Graduate School.

How will this be important? Non-profit programs, like Fresh Connect, have emerged that allow medical professionals to prescribe fresh fruits and vegetables with a stipend card.

Route Fifty | What Does It Say About Your Neighborhood If the Supermarket Isn’t So Super?

What is happening? New Jersey legislature is considering SB 820 (2022 | NJ) that would create the Division of School Desegregation

Why is this important? The goal will be to “identify instances in which students are functionally, though not legally, segregated along racial and socioeconomic lines, and “to ensure better integration and a more diverse enrollment in public schools,”

How will this be important? The division will accumulate and analyze student data to identify better integration.

PBS | N.J. lawmakers (again) push bills to study reparations, school desegregation

What’s happening? President and special counsel to the CEO of Comcast on diversity, equity, and inclusion, Steve White advises if you want to avoid the great resignation in your company, pay people fairly.

Why is this important? He also stresses to focus on on the end result but on exceptional work, and having a company purpose that gives employees energy and purpose. Pay attention to his words here: “If your company needs special programs to promote diversity and inclusion, you’re already in bad shape. Those programs are needed because someone identified that the leadership team is not doing the essential things to make a team feel wanted.”

How will this be important? This isn’t ok, we’re fair. We don’t have to do more. In today’s information exchange, people are always watching.

Forbes | The real key to avoiding the Great Resignation is paying people fairly, expert says

What’s happening? Federal workers in Belgium can no longer be required to answer work related emails or phone calls after hours.

Why is this important? Countries like Portugal and Belgium and some corporate entities are supporting a “right to disconnect”

How will this be important? There are exceptions for exceptional and unforeseen circumstances

@washingtonpost

What’s happening? A philanthropic thought experiment, should donor relations professionals have a fiduciary duty of loyalty and care to the original donor or donors.

Why is this important? The same is said for grant awards, in that the foundation awarding a grant should be ware if any of their staff also serves on the boards of grant recipients

How will this be important? Some say philanthropic foundations should follow the same rules that financial advisors have to comply with.

Route Fifty | Should Philanthropic Advisors Have a Version of Fiduciary Duty to Donors?

What is happening? Colorado is c considering SB33 (2022 | CO) that would permit liquor stores to sell more fresh (minimally processed) foods.

Why is this important? The bill’s goal is to lessen the impact of food deserts, areas where fresh food is not readily available or is inaccessibly priced. Leading to this article’s amazing quote: “pick up both brandy and broccoli, whiskey and watermelon, and scotch and salmon. “

How will this be important? if it works, this is genius.

Colorado Sun | Could liquor stores be a solution to Colorado’s food deserts?

What is happening? 30 companies in the UK are going to embark on a 6month journey into a 4 day work week.

Why is this important? Staff will work 32 hours per week while leaving their compensation and benefits unchanged.

How will this be important? Similar programs are set to start in the U.S. and Ireland, with more planned for Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It is said that the work during the 4 day work week is more productive which is good for the business and good for the employee.

@BloombergBusiness

What is happening? Growing support for Paid Family Leave for men with the support of Alexis Ohanian.

Why is this important? “#PaidFamilyLeave (especially when men are capable of taking it) will change lives. It’s good for families, good for business, and good for society.”

How will this be important? According to Ohanian more and more “wildly successful” Dads are talking about paid family leave.

@AlexisOhanian

What’s happening? In 1997 no one knew what to expect of the internet. So goes the analogy in this article comparing the pandemic effects to the effects the internet would have. For now these people agree that working from home will remain the course.

Why is this important? WFH, remote work impacts:

• where workers live: maybe not the same state or city as their employer
• greater worker ratification is reported
• greater work-life balance
• 30% of workers applying for jobs on LinkedIn are applying for remote work
• an economist says: “benefit smaller metropolitan areas that have sufficient housing for remote workers and don’t have as many large companies with big office footprint”

How will this be important? As more business feel that productivity and work product is not harmed, and may be helped, by working from home, the future is being formed today.

Oregon Live via Governing | In Oregon, Remote Workers Come and Go as Pandemic Continues

What is happening? We now have the world’s first sustainable turbot farm with certification from Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Flatfish Standard

Why is this important? Certification requires “limiting environmental impacts such as minimising chemical use and maintaining high water quality, as well as acting in a socially responsible way by providing workers with a safe and fair working environment, and treating neighbours and local communities with respect.”

How will this be important? when there is one, there are sure to be more to follow

Fish Farmer | Dutch turbot farmer is first to achieve flatfish certification

What is happening? The Governor of New York is creating a $200 million public-private fund to support social equity in the state’s upcoming marijuana market. Including “goal of issuing at least 50 percent of cannabis business licenses to social equity applicants, including people from communities disproportionately impacted by criminalization, distressed farmers and women- and veterans-owned companies. Hochul says the newly announced fund will help New York achieve that goal.”

Why is this important? Much talk about the big companies keeping the little companies out of marijuana markets in other states because of high licensing fees and banking challenges.

How will this be important? Overcoming inequities in participants is a talking point for every industry.

Marijuana Moment | New York Governor Announces $200 Million Marijuana Fund To Promote Industry Equity

What’s happening? The International Ice Hockey Federation canceled/postponed its U18 ice hockey tournament.

Why is this important? The IIHF statement concerning the cancellation included a statement disavowing accusations that the IIHF supports mens hockey more than women hockey. The IIHF denies this and vowed to host events to ensure the continuation of the women hockey program.

How will this be important? We will see more of these statements.

@IIHF

What’s happening? NY is considering AB8352 (2022 | NY), the Fashion sustainability and social accountability act. According to the BBC, “the fashion industry accounts for about 10% of global carbon emissions and nearly 20% of wastewater.”

Why is this important? N Y would become the first state to require all fashion brands to disclose their climate and social impact. It would apply to any brand that has more than $100 million in revenues and does business in New York.

How will this be important? In addition to wage reporting it would require transparency for fashion supply chains.

Route Fifty | One State’s ‘Moral Responsibility’ to Make Apparel More Sustainable

Marie Claire | How Fashion’s Boldest Legislation Came to Be

What’s happening? Some business minds say, but don’t put numbers to that I’ve seen, that the employees who prefer to work from home are women and those in minority groups.

Why is this important? These same minds say because these workers are more likely to work from home on a hybrid schedule their 1950s minded bosses won’t promote them. I propose that these minority groups prefer out of the office work because they know they are treated differently so why subject themselves to it. Pot and kettle and all.

How will this be important? The numbers say employees want hybrid work. Consumers and Investors want diversity. To quote Letterkenny- Figure it out.

San Diego Union Tribune via Governing | Hybrid Work Looks Increasingly Popular for Workers and Employers

What is happening? Ireland is considering cost of living stipends for artists.

Why is this important? The policy goal is to ensure that art (music, film, stage, visual, painters, sculptures, etc…) will continue to be produced through the pandemic.

How will this be important? The art sector of the Irish economy has been hit 5 times harder, but has provided art that has helped the country endure the pandemic.

@worldeconomicforum

What is happening? NYC is considering requiring all job postings to list salary ranges in an effort to close the wage gap.

Why is this important? It comes from a female Councilmember who in the 1980s learned of the salary of a male colleague in the same position of hers who was making roughly $12,000 more than she was. He told his employer he had a family to take care of, and was paid more.

How will this be important? This mindset continues today.

@washingtonpost

What is happening? Back int he day when Swedish automaker Volvo developed the 3 point seat belt, Volvo intentionally allowed anyone to use the patent for free.

Why is this important? The company ‘s position is that it had more value in saving lives than the company’s profits.

How will this be important? Volvo made this decision in 1959 and the company still exists.

@riskhappy

What is happening? Economists with the University of Oregon say data shows that remote workers worked more weekend and after hours time than pre-pandemic.

Why is this important? The shift may signal slightly longer work weeks, but in reality it likely reflects using daylight hours for outdoor activities or errands, and shifting work to the evening.

How will this be important? There is a new normal and this is part of it. 5 days a week in an office is antiquated.

San Francisco Chronicle via Governing | Data Reveals How the Pandemic Has Changed Work Schedules

What is happening? Time is proposing that Thernos could have had a different story had the board of directors not been white men of a certain age. The thinking is that younger and more diverse board would have been more willing to call out concerning practices before it rose to the level of perceived fraud.

Why is this important? A New York Times article this week says 6 in 10 board members are still white men because most board recruiters use recommendations from executives which is a circle of white men of a certain age and their friends who are also white men of a certain age.

How will this be important? Diversity could have changed the Thernos storyline

Time | One Lesson From the Theranos Scandal: We Need Age Diversity on Corporate Boards

NY Times | Board Diversity Increased in 2021. Some Ask What Took So Long.

What is happening? Research at the Univeristy of Delaware shows that companies that engage in greenwashing, making themselves look like good corporate citizens when they are not, are at a great risk for being hacked.

Why is this important? Actions matter. people are watching.  Charitable donations or recycling isn’t enough.

How will this be important? Companies with core values that include diversity, eco-friendly products, and examples of socially responsible practices are flying in clearer skies. This includes keeping your employees happy.

Insurance Journal | Corporations That Fake Social Responsibility at Greater Risk of Cyber Attacks

What is happening? Portugal has a new law that prevents employers from contacting employees during their time off

Why is this important? The goal of the legislation is to protect the work life balance and improve the mental health of employees. Companies can be fined for violations and companies are prohibited from monitoring employees who are working from home.

How will this be important? We see the same in US headlines and business news. Work place cues are being set by employees. Under the new law in Portugal employees can work from home at anytime without notice. As I read over the break- employment isn’t about managing people it is about managing work product. Let people make their own responsible decisions.

@worldeconomicforum

What’s happening? In 2016 California passed SB 1383 (2016 | CA) that will require grocery stores to donate eligible foods to food rescue organizations and food banks.

Why is this important? The goal of the California legislation is to reduce methane emissions from landfills.

How will this be important? This is an excellent example of nonlinear solutions whereby donations to food banks are increased and emissions reduced.

CBS8 | New law expected to bring increase in San Diego food donations

What is happening? Adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted is explaining that sneakers and t-shirts will be de rigueur for office wear.

Why is this important? If we’ve been able to conduct business during the pandemic with remote work in clothing that wasn’t suits and ties, the same work can occur in the office in more modern workwear.

How will this be important? So long business casual and hello, business comfort

@businessweek

Bloomberg Return to Office: Workwear is Comfort

What’s happening? Las Cruces New Mexico will begin the year with an all female city council.The majority of the women are people of color.

Why is this important? When one was asked who her childhood heroes were she replied that she didn’t have many people who looked like her

How will this be important? Representation matters as long with the diversity of ideas that have not previously been given air time

KVIA | Historic all-female city council leads Las Cruces

Las Cruces Sun News | Women set to represent all six Las Cruces city council districts

What’s happening? GlobalData, an analytics firm, estimated the second hand market will double from 2015 to 2022.

Why is this important? In 2020, Americans spent $140 billion on secondhand goods. By 2030, that is expected to increase by 154% to $354 billion.

How will this be important? They say Gen Z is leading this movement.

Washington Post | Sustainable gift-giving is on the rise. Here are a few ideas for the holiday season.

What is happening? The House Committee on Financial Services is considering proposals to “task the Securities and Exchange Commission and other financial market regulators with requiring companies to disclose racial and gender pay equity audits, board director demographics and other diversity-related information.”

Why is this important? Seeds of this started yers ago with ESG abroad, US Chamber Statement in 2017, and the work of investment firms to strengthen diversity, inclusion and sustainability.

How will this be important? We hear it every year the annual Top 500 is reported and that there are X number of Black CEOs and X number of women and X number of LGBTQIA+ CEOs. But, reported data sent to regulatory bodies, that’s new.

Roll Call |Democrats’ report urges diversity, pay equity disclosure bills

What’s happening? The U.S. House Committee on Financial Services released its report, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION: HOLDING AMERICA’S LARGEST INVESTMENT FIRMS ACCOUNTABLE.

Why is this important? Recommendations in the report include:

• firms should collect disaggregated data on workforce, executive and board diversity
• firms should consider at least one diverse candidate for all executive positions and board positions when there are openings
• firms should develop pipeline programs for diverse asset managers to manage increasingly larger portfolios

How will this be important? Diversity and Inclusion isn’t leaving the conversation of policymakers and regulators. Join in writing the rules that impact you.

Pensions & Investments | BlackRock, SSGA tout diversity efforts at House subcommittee hearing

What’s happening? A  report by BoardReady found that data shows diverse boards were more ready to handle social justice issues.

Why is this important?  “No matter whether you’re looking at racial diversity, gender diversity, or diversity in age, companies with a broader range of perspectives at the board table did better,” said the report’s lead researcher, Rajalakshmi Subramanian.

How will this be important? Since August 21, 2021 Board diversity is a requirement for NASDAQ listing.

Entrepreneur | Board Diversity: Why It’s More Important Than Ever

What’s happening? McDonalds is being sued by 77 Black former franchisees, part of the company’s solution is a diversity franchisee program.

Why is this important? McDonalds is committing $250 Million and 5 years to lower the equity needed to become a franchisee.

How will this be important? “The fast-food giant said Asian, Black and Hispanic owners represent 29.6% of its U.S. franchisees, while women account for 28.9%.” The company wants to increase access to capital and thus increase recruiting efforts for underrepresented entrepreneurs

Chicago Tribune | McDonald’s, facing lawsuit by 77 Black former franchisees, launching $250 million initiative to attract more minority franchisees to the fast-food chain

What is happening? Conscious gifting focuses on meaningful spending that supports causes you and your gift recipients care about.

Why is this important? It can be accomplished by shopping small businesses, shopping sustainably, donating or buying antique/vintage/second hand.

How will this be important? Being socially responsible with your money is an active choice, especially for Xennials, Millenials and Gen Z.

Forbes | 3 Ways To Embrace Conscious Gifting This Year

What’s happening? United operated its first flight with a sustainable aviation fuel.

Why is this important? Greta Thurnberg doesn’t fly when she travels because of the environmental impact from fossil fuels, a sustainable fuel changes that dynamic. The flight was Washington DC to Chicago, used around 500 gallons of fuel made up of fats, cooking oils, and grease, produced by the company World Energy and accounted for 80% reduction in the flight’s carbon dioxide.

How will this be important? Still looking for commitments and scalability for sustainable fuel sources in aviation.

Gizmodo | United Flies First Plane With 100% ‘Sustainable Aviation Fuel’

What’s happening? Yelp! is supporting 10 small businesses in Austin and San Antonio with its new “Deck The Halls” winterization fund.

Why is this important? Recognizing the need for restaurants to winterize to prepare for another year with a new Winter Storm Uri and its effects.

How will this be important? Winterization and emergency preparedness is for everyone.

@EaterAustin

What’s happening? Milan becomes the first major city in the world to establish policies to cut food waste by relying on public agencies, food banks, charities, NGOs, universities, and private businesses.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Why is this important? To make food systems more sustainable Milan also has a system that collects produce from supermarkets and companies, as well as purchased food aid, and gives it to hundreds of Milanese families in need. 

How will this be important? With rising food costs, limiting food waste, and making food more sustainable becomes more crucial.

@goodgoodgoodco

What’s happening? A Canadian company, The Leadership Agency, tested a 4 day work week and found their employees more efficient and effective in the office when they had a 3 day weekend.

Why is this important? How, where and when we work is changing. Change is good.

How will this be important? The Leadership Agency is an employee recruitment company that can influence hiring and change the nature of hiring.

@globalpositivenews

What’s happening? Forbes loves a list. Case in point- the best companies for women… An illuminating list. #4 Swedish Construction firm, Skanska.

Why is this important? #1 Hershey Company. #16 HEB

How will this be important? The companies were examined based on the support they gave to women employees both working in offices and during remote work.

Forbes | THE WORLD’S TOP FEMALE-FRIENDLY COMPANIES

@skanskaUSA

What’s happening? Sweden opened its first nursing home dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ community.

Why is this important? The nursing home creates a safe space for LGBTQIA+ Swedes to feel connected to the LGBTQIA+ world. It is a partnership with the nursing home and the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Rights.

How will this be important? All employees who work at this nursing home must undergo training from the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Rights

@sweden.se

What is happening? A new labor law in Portugal makes it illegal to contact workers, including remote workers, outside normal work hours.

Why is this important? Portugal will impose financial penalties if companies do contact their workers after hours.

How will this be important? The legislation also requires companies to cover the cost of remote work, such as equipment and increased electric bills

@goodgoodgoodco

What’s happening? The Kindness Curriculum is a free program designed for K-12 students designed by Kaplan in partnership with The Kindness Factory. It was first introduced to 69 pilot schools across Australia in May 2020 and expanded to nearly 3,000 schools across Australia and is now being introduced to the U.S.

Why is this important? Kindness has health benefits, lowers stress levels, lowers blood pressure, can be life saving.

How will this be important?  Kindness Curriculum focuses on twelve core attributes: collaboration, compassion, empathy, gratitude, honesty, humility, humor, mindfulness meditation, perspective, positivity, self-acceptance, and trust.

AP | Kaplan Launches “The Kindness Curriculum” in the U.S. in Collaboration with The Kindness Factory

What’s happening? Researchers are saying the US advantage in competitiveness and innovation is directly tied to the kindness of its business leadership. Be part of the future, not the past.

Why is this important? Humankindex reveals how a company that adopts kindness as a core value and leadership style increases its competitive advantage and its ability to innovate

How will this be important? The HUmankindex also tied kindness to a core value of a company as employees being 3.5X more likely to feel a shared purpose. And we’ve all seen the headlines about the Great Resignation being resolved when employees find an employer that enhances the employees purpose. There’s some cautionary information in here too:  nearly one-third (30%) of workers say their company’s leadership has embraced kindness as a value less so since the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, 76% of workers say their company’s leadership has embraced the value of “profits before people” the same or more since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yahoo Finance | New Research Reveals Kind Leadership is a Key Driver of Innovation and Competitive Advantage for U.S. Businesses

What is happening? There is a story on social media that famed footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, was asked to donate a pair of cleats to a charity for a 10month old with a rare brain disorder.

Why is this important? He took his impact and then upped it. He gave the cleats directly to the child’s family and paid for the child’s surgery.

How will this be important? All the psychology articles point us to emerging from he pandemic with increased empathy and kindness, with an increased focus on social justice, and our impact. Here’s a famous guy who could have been perfectly fine donating his cleats, but instead he went beyond. It’s food for thought.

@delightfulnews

What’s happening? This Saturday, November 13th is World Kindness Day.

Why is this important? There’s a part of your brain in the cingulate cortex that increases its activity ONLY WHEN YOU ARE KIND.

How will this be important? This isn’t some cult of personality, but actual science that shows kindness increases your brain function.

Psychology Today | How to Be Kind: 5 Lessons From the Science of Kindness

What’s happening? A social media famous barber, @vicblends , took it upon himself to bring a trade school to 3 California prisons with the help of film producer + criminal justice reform advocate @scottbudnick1 and @cagovernor

Why is this important? he plans to scale up from 3 to 33 California prisons and then move his rehabilitative program to prisons nationwide.

How will this be important? It will bring greater dignity, connection and opportunity to men within the prison system. 

@upworthy

What’s happening? In 2016, Tim Ryan of Price Waterhouse Cooper began forming a coalition of business leaders dedicated to diversity and inclusion. Now, he has 2300 CEOs signed onto the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion.

Why is this important?”CEOs who sign on make a pledge committing themselves to four specific actions: 1) make their workplaces areas of openness and trust to have difficult conversations about diversity and inclusion; 2) implement and expand unconscious bias training to help people understand and acknowledge their blind spots; 3) share best practices with each other and help other companies share stories of success and failure; and 4) share concrete inclusion and diversity plans with their own boards, or governing bodies, to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) issues are prioritized.”

How will this be important? This group keeps increasing in numbers. Here Ryan says the current wage increasing and great resignation play into this. “What is happening now, by coincidence, wages are on the rise as the balance of power has shifted. There are more jobs than there are people. We had an aging population for a couple of decades in the United States, but we cut off immigration both at the high end and the low end, and as a result, there’s a massive gap between supply and demand of workers, and that’s putting pressure on wages, which I think is a good thing. It’s happening through natural forces and I hope those gains hold.”

Marketwatch | PwC’s chairman wants to tackle systemic racism — and push corporate America not to ‘pass the buck’

What’s happening? The Board of Innovation is proposing 5 basic impact metrics that you can personalize for your business or client’s business.

Why is this important? Let’s look at the 5 metrics:

• Net Results Metrics like Volunteered hours, emission reduction percentages, or number of funded initiatives
• Net promoter Scores. Ask whether the impact would be recommended and find the rank the perception of your project amongst a specific community.
• Outreach Metrics like Social media and website metrics
• Inclusion & Diversity Metrics ” every social project needs to account for diversity, not only of beneficiaries, but of its staff too.”
• Feedback. Get it externally AND internally. Know how your community and your parters and your employees feel.

How will this be important? We’re all looking for modes and methods to quantity impact.

Board of Innovation | 5 metrics for social impact measurement

What’s happening? StateStreet’s European equity ETF is moving from ESG to SRI.

Why is this important? SRI is socially responsible investing. It excludes the following company types:

• alcohol
• adult entertainment
• all weapons
• gambling
• oil and gas
• nuclear power
• companies that rank in the top 10% in terms of emission intensities

How will this be important? This quantitative approach contrasts the often fluid nature of ESG determinations.

ETF Stream | State Street’s European equity ETF to ditch ESG index for SRI

What is happening? HRH’s Fashion Taskforce launches groundbreaking Digital ID with Sustainability Protocols.

Why is this important? The digital ID will inform customers of the sustainability credentials of their purchases enabled by a QR code or blockchain-hosted token

How will this be important? Will allow manufacturers, brands, retailers, resellers and recyclers – to provide unprecedented transparency and traceability in connection with the products.

@federicomarchetti

What’s happening? Workers who have resigned during the Great Resignation say they want a greater purpose. Creating purpose through strategic planning will help employees define their purpose.

Why is this important? By connecting each department in a local government through their goals and purpose makes employee purpose more clear. This can be achieved by aligning each strategic goal in the strategic plan to the annual budget goals.

How will this be important? Translate the purpose by increasing employee and management storytelling that illustrates the purpose and goals of the organization.

Route Fifty | The ‘Great Resignation’ is an Opportunity for Local Government to Create Purpose for Employees

What’s happening? Building construction and operations account for 40% of all carbon emissions worldwide, making it the single most polluting industry

Why is this important? 11% of the carbon emissions are tied to manufacturing of construction materials making procurement a key to selecting more sustainable choices. The tips:

• Talk to clients about sustainability first
• Build trust with your community (talk to your neighbors)
• Your supply chain is your community
• Prioritize water protection
• Prioritize energy efficiency
• Reduce, reuse and recycle
• Have a sustainability plan

How will this be important? Sustainable procurement has long term gains. Make sure everyone knows sustainability is the long game

Construction Dive | 7 ways contractors can work sustainability into their procurement practices

What is happening? A large global pension system, ABP,the Dutch pension fund for civil servants and teachers, is selling its €15bn-worth of holdings in fossil fuel companies.

Why is this important? The pension set a policy to “no longer invest in producers of oil, gas and coal”

How will this be important? The fund says it will have no impact to returns as it moves fossil fuel investments to electricity companies, the car industry and aviation where it is anticipated that the pension will push sustainability.

The Guardian | One of world’s biggest pension funds to stop investing in fossil fuels

What’s happening? Starting in 2023, Spain will prohibit the sale of fruit and vegetables under 1.5 kg in plastic wrapping

Why is this important? Packaging will shift to consumers, who will able to use biodegradable packaging or reusable bags

How will this be important? Who will be next…..

@globalpositivenews

What’s happening? Portland OR is offering 3 days of bereavement leave for abortions, miscarriages, stillbirths, or other pregnancy-related bereavement issues.

Why is this important?  ‘A policy like this is a really important step forward in providing that kind of support to employees and in recognition of the fact that we aren’t just robots.’⁠ – reproductive rights advocate Andrea Miller

How will this be important? Pittsburgh passed a similar ordinance earlier this year.

@nowthisher

What is happening? A billionaire wants to build a “woke city” called Telosa somewhere in the desert. To live there one must apply and meet diversity and inclusion standards.

Why is this important? Every person in Telosa will have equal access to education, healthcare, & safe environments, regardless of income.

How will this be important? The Founder, Marc Lore, ” is aiming for Telosa to be a diverse place housing various races, genders, sexual orientations, religions and political affiliations.” Remember this isn’t the first wealthy person wanting to build an ideal city- Bill Gates wants one outside of Phoenix and Jeffrey Berns bought 67,000 acres in Nevada for a smart city.

Route Fifty | A Billionaire Wants to Build an Inclusive Utopian City. Government Leaders Are Skeptical.

What’s happening? Climate First Bank now has 2 branches in Florida, its home state. The bank finances climate friendly projects like solar and those that support environmental sustainability.

Why is this important? Look at their mission and where the shareholder priority is, this reflects a shift back to a stakeholder economy, and out of Milton Friedman’s shareholder economy.

The mission statement:

 our mission is to do the right thing for:

• Our people
• Our planet
• Our community
• Our shareholders

How will this be important? “At Climate First Bank our vision is to reimagine finance as a force for good and become the most impactful bank contributing to the drawdown of atmospheric CO2. Backed by Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles, Climate First Bank is a full-service community bank offering personal and commercial banking services with a focus on environmental sustainability. We do our part to preserve America’s irreplaceable ecosystem by providing residents and businesses with convenient, specialized green loan options for everything ranging from rooftop solar to renewable energy to building retrofits, EV charging, or even purchasing certified carbon offsets.”

Climate First Bank

What’s happening? A review of 5000 employees and 85 Business leader interviews by Harvard Business Review revealed that employee mental health, physical health and financial health wellness programs are not well received by employees.

Why is this important? If the programs offer no value to the employee, then the employee will not utilize the services. Effective programs will address what employees want and will be substantively helpful and convenient for employees.

How will this be important? in light of the high number of resignations, the highest and best use of these wellness program funds could be in wage increases.

@harvard_business_review

What’s happening? Gallup released a poll on the treatment of women in the U.S. Here we go with this ball of fun:

• 53% overall Americans are very or somewhat satisfied with the treatment of women in society (A RECORD LOW)
• overall 44% of women are satisfied
• overall 61% of men say women are treated fairly
• 33% of women say they have equal job opportunities
• 61% of men think women have equal job opportunities

Why is this important? As a writer who was interviewed said,  “It’s not only that women aren’t treated well. Sometimes we’re invisible,”

How will this be important? The deviations among women will be telling:

• 46% of white women said they were satisfied with women’s treatment
• 38% of Black women agreed
• 43% of Hispanic women agreed
• 72% of Republican women were satisfied
• 32% of Democratic women

Washington Post | U.S. women are largely dissatisfied with how they’re treated. Most men don’t see a problem.

What’s happening? Mexico is the 1st country in North America to ban cosmetics testing on animals.

Why is this important? Mexico is the 41st country int he world to ban cosmetics testing on animals. European Union banned animal testing on cosmetics in 2013, followed by India, Australia, New Zealand, and 16 other countries.⁠

How will this be important? The Mexico ban passed its Senate unanimously after more than 13 million signed a petition supporting the ban.

@globalpositivenews

What’s happening? Some say the opening of legalized cannabis hasn’t been open for small and diverse businesses.

Why is this important? The legislation that legalizes cannabis operations has steep license & impact fees that keep small operators out of the industry. Massachusetts have start up costs and impact fees are near $1 million. Some sates like Washington have 25% taxes on each level of the business (growing, distributing, and retail) in addition to sales tax.

How will this be important? In the last 2 years, while tax revenues increase from cannabis, minority executives in cannabis have dropped 15 points to 13%. To turn this around, the start up costs and impacts to small business operators are to be addressed.

Governing | A Shrinking Opportunity for Equity in the Weed-o-Sphere

What’s happening? A Fulbright scholarship has been awarded to “San Diego State University accounting professor Victoria Krivogorsky notes, companies and their managers nowadays are expected to create value for society as a whole, paying heed to broader concerns that range from environmental pollution and carbon footprints to overcrowded highways and impacts on residents of surrounding communities.”

Why is this important? People are paying attention.

How will this be important? The first line from this press release: “For most public corporations, the days of concentrating solely on their shareholders’ interests in maximizing profits are long gone.”

SDSU | Accounting Professor Wins Fulbright Grant for Research in Austria

What’s happening? Lego is removing all gender labeling from its boxes. As a person who does not like labels, this is fantastic. As a person who loves Legos, not only because Legos are from a Scandinavian country, but because building things is cool, this is amazing news! Let kids build whatever they want.

Why is this important? let’s hear from Legos: “Despite the progress made in girls brushing off prejudice at an early age, general attitudes surrounding play and creative careers remain unequal and restrictive.”

How will this be important? “Girls today feel increasingly confident to engage in all types of play and creative activities, but remain held back by society’s ingrained gender stereotypes as they grow older.”

@washingtonpost

What’s happening? AB 1084 (2021 | CA) calls for gender de-identified retail toy aisles.

Why is this important? Look, when I was born in Belgium, as a CIS female I was swaddled up in blue and my CIS brother was swaddled up in pink. I liked legos. He liked legos. He could have also liked a wooden bakeshop and I could have liked trains. Just mix it up and let them play with whatever.

How will this be important? The bill does not prohibit boys toys and girls toy aisles too.

@washingtonpost

What is happening? L.A. Mayor is moving forward with policy initiatives to ” to right historical wrongs and rectify the city’s relationship with its Indigenous people.” This includes renaming parks, updating the city’s seal and flag to include Indigenous representation, renaming the Christopher Columbus Transcontinental Highway, and issuing a formal apology to tribes.

Why is this important? To hear indigenous voices, the city will grant develop a cultural easement that will grant tribal members priority access to the park for traditional ceremonies.

How will this be important? The historical actions of priests at Missions is booming a flash point that has resulted in the toppling of statues of the priests.

Los Angeles Times | ‘We’re sorry’: L.A. moves to make amends for wrongs committed against Indigenous people

What’s happening? A study from Kansas State Univeristy published in the International Journal of Business Communication , shows that bosses who are respectful to their employees produce employees that like their jobs more and are more resilient.

Why is this important? Not all leaders have gotten the message that respect fosters happier and more resilient employees

How will this be important? ” Putting up with gruffness from bosses isn’t young employees “paying their dues” professionally. It’s bosses undermining their teams’ ability to perform at their best. “

Inc. | This Week in Should-Be-Obvious Science: New Study Finds Being Respectful to Your Employees Makes Them More Resilient