Amazon warned at least two employees that future criticism of its environmental policy could result in firing due to violation of its external communications policy. Maren Costa, a user-experience designer, and Jamie Kowalski, a software development engineer, told the Washington Post that the company is contributing to climate change as its cloud computing business aids oil- and gas-company…
Josh Silverman, CEO of Etsy, makes no distinction between achieving his company’s social impact and business impact goals. In his view, they are the same and deeply linked. Silverman became head of the artisanal goods e-commerce marketplace in May 2017, two years after an IPO and a difficult start as a public company. Lunchtime conversations: What are…
Shutterstock, the online purveyor of stock images and photographs, now maintains a search blacklist of keywords forbidden by China’s authoritarian rules. Other U.S. companies also support China’s censorship by complying with the government’s censorship requirements. Lunchtime conversations: Should American companies always honor the American values that underly their business? Although some compromise is necessary, when…
In Madrid, delegates from governments around the world are meeting to work on a global response to climate change. This is the 25th meeting under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, known as COP25. The primary objective this year is to nail down the finer points of how to achieve their Paris Agreement commitments. Lunchtime…
Four software engineers say they were fired by Google last week in retaliation for workplace activism. The former employees plan to file complaints with the National Labor Relations Board in a move that will likely escalate tensions between Google’s management and workforce. Lunchtime Conversations: How can Google regain its reputation as the architect of the…
Many CEOs dislike regulation, and it consistently ranks high in surveys citing tough business issues faced by chief executives. But some companies are taking a different approach to regulation by aggressively creating solutions that eventually set standards. Lunchtime conversations: Amazon recently announced the company is developing standards and laws for its facial recognition technology, Rekognition, hoping…
Outdoor company Patagonia is matching donations to grassroots environmental organizations through its Action Works platform as a unique way to fight climate change. Through December 31, the brand is matching donations up to $10,000 per individual, per transaction, and up to $10 million overall. Lunchtime Conversations: Patagonia has been working to impact the planet positively for four decades….
Many business leaders are convinced that compassion has no place in the business world. Some managers think that showing too much kindness could be perceived as weakness, while others believe that pressure – not compassion – is the best way to keep employees productive. The reality is that compassion not only improves workplace culture, but it…
The benefits of expressing gratitude are well known. Studies show the more you are thankful, the more attuned you are to your feelings of well-being and gratefulness. Unfortunately, appreciation and gratitude in the workplace lag behind expressions of these emotional skills. Lunchtime conversations: How can the positive aspects of gratitude create a “we’re in this together” mentality in…
A business partnership between Google and Ascension, a major hospital chain and health insurer, includes the transfer of 50 million patient medical records without their knowledge or consent. Within 48 hours, federal regulators announced an investigation into the partnership. Google and Ascension both claim that they are fully compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and…
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