Tag: 3BL

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2024 /3BL/ Today, The Arc of the United States and Comcast NBCUniversal announced a major expansion of their long-standing partnership that will break down barriers and create more equity and opportunity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Comcast is providing a $1 million grant over two years to The Arc to modernize its data infrastructure, deepen the impact of its digital literacy programs, and give Spanish-speaking families access to special education advocacy. This funding is a part of Project UP, Comcast’s $1 billion commitment to advance digital equity and help create a future of unlimited possibilities.

Robust data is the foundation for driving meaningful change. This investment will revolutionize how The Arc collects and analyzes information across its network of nearly 600 chapters nationwide. The new centralized data system will track vital services its chapters provide, capture the scope of The Arc’s collective impact, and reveal insights to better advocate for and support the IDD community. The benefits of this new technology will reach every stakeholder: the national office will better support its chapters, chapters will learn best practices from each other and better meet their community’s needs, and people with disabilities and their families will have a stronger federation to rely on.

“In our pursuit of a fully inclusive society, data is power,” said Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc of the United States. “This grant allows us to wield our collective strength across our nearly 600 chapters to more strategically uplift millions of people with disabilities across America, making our human impact even greater.”

Comcast has also supported The Arc’s efforts to ensure resources are accessible to Hispanic communities. Through funding in 2023, The Arc@School Special Education Advocacy Curriculum was translated into Spanish and launched in early 2024. As part of the new grant, The Arc will conduct targeted outreach to Hispanic communities through Spanish-language webinars, collaboration with Spanish-speaking Special Education Advocates, and local program access to help these underserved populations become strong special education advocates. The funding will specifically provide subgrants to five chapters of The Arc – located in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Texas, and Virginia – that will give 150 Spanish-speaking families free access to the program and host focus groups to learn and better ensure their children receive a quality public school education.

“For too long, students with disabilities have faced a whole host of barriers that have denied them the free, appropriate public education they are entitled to,” Katy Neas said. “It is essential that parents and school personnel alike understand fully their rights and responsibilities so that students get the education they need consistent with federal law. Our partnership with Comcast to get The Arc@School in the hands of more families and educators is tearing down those barriers in profound ways. With their support, we are empowering students to not only access the education they deserve but to truly thrive.”

In addition, the Comcast grant will support The Arc’s Tech Coaching Centers, which provide customized digital skills training to people with IDD. The Arc will broaden its training to include caregivers and family members, which will better integrate technology skills into all environments of a person’s daily life, and support a total of 10 sites across Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas. Since 2014, Comcast has helped The Arc’s Tech Coaching Centers empower over 2,500 people with IDD through training that advances measured outcomes in employment, health, independent living, education, and interpersonal connections.

“Whether it’s having a reliable job, managing your health, learning lifelong skills, or being socially connected – technology is the bridge to opportunities and independence,” said Dalila Wilson-Scott, EVP and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast Corporation and President of Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation. “We’re proud to partner with The Arc to meaningfully advance digital access and equity for people with disabilities.”

MIDLAND, Mich., June 11, 2024 /3BL/ – Dow (NYSE: DOW) advanced to the #3 placement on the Fair360 2024 Top 50 Companies list and remains in the top 10 for the second consecutive year.

The Fair360, formerly DiversityInc, Top 50 Companies list has been the external validator for large U.S. employers that model fairness in their talent strategies, workplace and supplier diversity practices, and philanthropic engagement since 2001.

This ranking highlights the Company’s commitment in six key areas: leadership accountability, human capital diversity, talent programs, workplace practices, supplier diversity and philanthropy. This year, 160 employers, with approximately 7.3 million U.S. employees, submitted data and metrics.

“At Dow, we work to create a culture with equity and inclusion at its core,” said Jim Fitterling, Dow chair and CEO. “When we excel in the key areas Fair360 measures, we create an environment where Team Dow can thrive which leads to innovation and business success.”

Dow was also included on 12 of Fair360’s Specialty Lists: Top Companies for Executive Fairness Councils #1, Top Companies for Board of Directors #16, Top Companies for Environmental, Social & Governance #5, Top Companies for Philanthropy #5, Top Companies for Supplier Fairness #6, Top Companies for Employee Resource Groups #3, Top Companies for Mentoring #15, Top Companies for Sponsorship #4, Top Companies for People With Disabilities #2, Top Companies for Latino Executives #18, Top Companies for Asian American Executives #20 and Top Companies for LGBTQ+ Employees #17.

To create the 2024 specialty lists, survey submissions from employers with at least 750 employees in the U.S. were assessed within the context of their industries on verified policies, practices and procedures.

“Advancing to the #3 spot on the Top 50 Companies List and Specialty Lists is an honor and a testament to our consistent efforts to create a better Dow,” said Alveda J. Williams, Ph.D, Dow chief inclusion officer. “I extend a heartfelt thank you to our teams around the world who work hard every day to advance inclusion, diversity and equity at our Company.”

This Fair360 ranking is among other recent Dow recognitions including Great Place To Work® and Fortune‘s 100 Best Companies to Work For®, a top score in LGBTQ+ equality in Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index and a Leading Disability Employer Seal from the National Organization on Disability (NOD). Additionally, for the first time in 2023, Dow was named a Great Place To Work® and Fortune World’s Best Workplace.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world’s leading materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Our global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation, leading business positions and commitment to sustainability enable us to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. We operate manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employ approximately 35,900 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $45 billion in 2023. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. Learn more about us and our ambition to be the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world by visiting www.dow.com.

For further information, please contact:

Sarah Young 
989-638-6871 
syoung3@dow.com

X: https://twitter.com/DowNewsroom 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dow/ 
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/dow-chemical 
Instagram: http://instagram.com/dow_official

SOURCE The Dow Chemical Company

Inogen Alliance is thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of a new podcast, Rethinking EHS: Global Goals. Local Delivery.

The key to a sustainable future lies in our ability to coordinate global efforts built on the foundation of local expertise. So how can those of us passionate about protecting planet and people harness this knowledge and turn it into practical solutions on a worldwide scale?

On this podcast, we’ll traverse the globe to unearth the stories of EHS and sustainability communities making an impact on the ground. We’ll share compelling stories, expert insights, and diverse perspectives to highlight tangible solutions and share innovative strategies to drive change. Whether you’re an EHS practitioner, a sustainability specialist, or a leader striving to improve your organization, join us, as we explore the path forward and Rethink EHS.

Our Associate Sponsors of this podcast include: Anew Global Consulting Limited, ANTEA Brasil, Antea Group USA, Ayrton Group, Baden Consulting, denxpert EHS&S software , EnviroSolutions & Consulting , HPC AG, Sustainera Solutions and Tonkin + Taylor.

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and start listening this June.

The Food Is Medicine Coalition (FIMC) is a national collective of non-profit organizations across the United States that has provided medically tailored meal (MTM) and medically tailored grocery (MTG) services built on the power of food and community for almost 40 years. Grounded in the latest nutrition and medical science, FIMC agencies created the MTM intervention in response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, recognizing the tailored nutrition needs of individuals experiencing chronic, severe, and life-threatening illness. Over nearly the past four decades, FIMC experienced unprecedented growth in the demand for MTM and a concurrent need for standardized best practices across the expanding MTM sector. As a coalition of leading MTM service providers in the nation, FIMC realized the urgency of defining their foundational intervention, which has been shown to improve client health outcomes and community resilience. With this in mind, FIMC set out to describe this life-saving service and, in the process, establish the standards necessary to spearhead a future of equity and quality for the MTM intervention.

The Challenge: The Need for Standardization in MTM

The concept of food is medicine has gained increasing attention over the past decade, based on compelling research conducted on the Coalition and by other scientists across the nation. This research, along with the unique challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and an ongoing domestic focus on healthcare reform, led FIMC to search for a way to codify the power of MTMs as a clinical health intervention.

Identifying and measuring the specific yet diverse functions, customized services, and components of care offered through FIMC agencies presented opportunities and challenges. With agencies spread across the United States — each of which grew organically to meet the precise needs of their communities — FIMC’s approach to standardization had to span differences in cultures, geography, agency size, staff capacity, and access to resources.

Further, as mission-based, non-profit organizations, FIMC agencies were focused on qualifying and quantifying the wrap around services that community-based organizations offer, which go beyond meal delivery. To address these variables, FIMC focused its standard development efforts on formalizing best practices across the MTM landscape — not only to maintain the integrity of this essential work, but also to ensure that meeting client clinical health needs and ensuring community responsiveness remain the primary focus of the intervention.

Solutions Provided

FIMC needed to standardize and make auditable the best practices and science- based guidelines that have served as the foundation of its agencies’ work. The most challenging piece was the need to define and transform an ethic of care into specific and measurable requirements. FIMC turned to SCS Standards (SCS) to support its client- and community-centered approach and to facilitate a process to drive standards development and implementation.

SCS facilitated iterative conversations that built trust, underscored FIMC authority, and honored the heart and mission of this vital work. Through these constructive discussions, SCS drafted a formalized standard — the FIMC Medically Tailored Meal Intervention Accreditation Criteria and Requirements (ACR) — and worked with the Coalition team, offering expert insights and facilitation, until a polished standard was finalized. This process resulted in a first-of-its-kind accreditation program that documents and standardizes an effective approach to MTM provision. The accreditation program guides MTM providers to implement requirements that elevate this intervention in ways that prioritize equity and client needs.

Key Outcomes

By providing the initial MTM framework, FIMC defined the baseline requirements all agencies must meet.The FIMC accreditation standard was established, focusing on the client experience and encompassing the full MTM intervention embedded in FIMC’s model.SCS’ process allowed FIMC to align, agree, and clarify methodologies, offering improved focus and strategies for adapting across agencies.Through the accreditation standard development process, member agencies strengthened relationships across diverse geographies and communities while centering client health and community needs.SCS facilitated deeper collaboration, including knowledge sharing sessions among agencies to determine the best possible practices to inform the standard requirements.SCS integrated FIMC’s core requirements, mission, and values to ensure all agencies operate consistently.SCS developed accompanying auditing protocols.After finalizing the accreditation standard, SCS trained FIMC staff to conduct accreditation audits and continues to support FIMC’s implementation of the accreditation program across FIMC membership.

“Throughout the process of developing the FIMC Medically Tailored Meal Intervention Accreditation Criteria and Requirements (ACR), SCS honored the work of individual, community-based organizations and placed them at the heart of the accreditation program we designed. The standard emphasizes client health and community needs and upholds our core values as a coalition. We simply could not have achieved these superlative outcomes without the expertise of the SCS Standards team.” – Alissa Wassung, Executive Director, Food is Medicine Coalition

“SCS’ expertise in standard writing and development far exceeded our expectations. The SCS team always guided our agencies and working groups to focus on the feasibility and auditability of our medically tailored meal provisioning requirements. We knew how important this process would be and engaged SCS for their expertise in demonstrating the value of quantifying and codifying our work. Our accreditation program is something we are remarkably proud of, and we have SCS to thank as a great partner.” – Karen Pearl, Chair, Food is Medicine Coalition and Special Advisor to the President & CEO, God’s Love We Deliver

Read and download this case study on the SCS Standards website here: Standardizing an Ethic of Care

For more information about Standards Development, please contact:

Victoria Norman

Executive Director, SCS Standards

v.norman@scsstandards.org

www.scsstandards.org

For more information about FIMC Accreditation, please contact:

Food Is Medicine Coalition

accreditation@fimcoalition.org

www.fimcoalition.org

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., June 11 2024 /3BL/ – As global engineering and construction leader Black & Veatch designs, builds and maintains increasingly more advanced sustainable infrastructure assets to enable businesses and communities to thrive, it also is generating and leveraging huge amounts of real-time data at a scale and intensity never experienced before. To accelerate the company’s innovation and technology strategy in this fast-expanding digital economy, Black & Veatch has named digital transformation expert Mike Adams to a newly formed role as its chief digital technology officer (CDTO).

Adams is tasked with driving leading-edge initiatives to research, validate and adopt emerging technologies that accelerate digital competitiveness across Black & Veatch’s global workforce, operations and diverse portfolio of client-centric solutions. Whether it’s digitally enabling worker productivity and safety, tracking carbon emissions or leveraging data-driven insights to create new sources of recurring revenue, the new CDTO’s mission is to ensure that the next generation of Black & Veatch solutions adapt technologies that are innovative and intuitive to use and aligned with creating quantifiable value for employees, clients and partners.

Mike Adams comes to Black & Veatch from Brunswick Corp., where he served as vice president, chief information officer and leader of a digital engineering consulting business. While with that multi-billion-dollar recreational marine company, he successfully guided a large-scale digital transformation that focused on customer experience key performance indicators, including engagement, lead conversion and digitally assisted sales. Before that, Adams served as a DuPont Corp. digital transformation leader accountable for enhancing end user experience, optimizing technology investment and improving service reliability and performance.

Black & Veatch Chairman and CEO Mario Azar said Adams’ deep digital expertise will be invaluable as clients entrust the company not only with their physical infrastructure assets but also more increasingly with their critical datasets across the whole lifecycle from design to build, operate and maintain.

“With our relentless focus on disruptive innovation, safety and project management, Mike will be instrumental in transforming our broad application of advanced technologies – from drones and machine vision to artificial intelligence, digital twins, geographic information systems (GIS) and industrial cybersecurity solutions, “Azar said. ”This evolution in role from chief information officer (CIO) to CDTO is a leap to change our view and adoption of technology from an IT tool to an integral part of how we run our business.”

“My mission has always been to strategically align and place the right bets on digital capability best able to advance and deliver transformational change and durable competitive advantage, and I am excited to bring that mindset to Black & Veatch and the clients and communities we serve,” Adams said. “Data is a critical ingredient to durable competitive advantage. It is essential that we both protect it and put it to work.”

Editor’s Notes:

For a high-resolution image of Mike Adams, click here.As Brunswick CIO, Adams was a finalist for the 2023 Chicago ORBIE Awards, which recognize technology executives for leadership, innovation and excellence in that rapidly growing, CIO-led national professional association.Adams earned a master’s degree of business administration in international business management from Drexel University in Philadelphia.

About Black & Veatch 
Black & Veatch is a 100-percent employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure assets. Follow us on www.bv.com and on social media.

Media Contact Information:

JIM SUHR | +1 913-458-6995 P | SuhrJ@BV.com 
24-HOUR MEDIA CONTACT | Media@bv.com

Published by Las Vegas Sands on February 22, 2024

Marina Bay Sands donated nearly $375,000 in January to the National Arts Council’s Sustain the Arts (stART) Fund to establish the Sands Innovative Arts Fund, which will support Singapore’s emerging artists and innovation in artistic endeavors. The contribution marked one of the largest donations Marina Bay Sands has made in support of the arts since its opening in 2010.

Establishment of the Sands Innovative Arts Fund kicked off the resort’s three-year partnership with the National Arts Council, cementing its commitment to becoming a platform for the arts and providing guests and community members with vibrant cultural experiences.

“The arts have the power to inspire, challenge and transform communities,” said Paul Town, chief operating officer, Marina Bay Sands. “Through the Sands Innovative Arts Fund, we are proud to play a role in shaping the future of the arts scene in Singapore. This donation reflects our commitment to fostering creativity and innovation in the arts space for future generations.”

This new initiative underscores Marina Bay Sands’ and Sands China’s commitment to promoting a thriving local arts and cultural scene and protecting assets that make their communities great places to live, work and visit – and premier tourism destinations.

Over the past year, Sands’ regions have increased support to promote and expand their communities’ artistic and cultural offerings by establishing new programs and investing in local initiatives.

Marina Bay Sands: A Key Force in Singapore’s Arts Community

Marina Bay Sands’ establishment of the Sands Innovative Arts Fund is an expansion of the resort’s wide-ranging dedication to nurturing a thriving local arts scene, encouraging emerging talent and making art easily accessible to the community. The fund aims to support emerging artists in their creative outreach to the community, as they explore new technologies and innovative ways of making art and engaging audiences. In addition, it will give small arts groups a path to long-term sustainability.

Since Marina Bay Sands’ opening, supporting the local arts has been an integral part of the resort through its ArtScience Museum, which has become a coveted platform for local and international artists.

Beyond its diverse array of installations and cutting-edge exhibitions, the museum introduced two new programs in 2023 to advance the work of Singaporean artists. ArtScience Encounters enables local artists to transform hidden and overlooked spaces with compelling art attractions. The ArtScience Residency program provides a platform for creators to grow and kicked off with a two-year residency by Singapore’s Cesar Jung-Harada, who is exploring renewable energy sources and sustainable sea transport to address the climate crisis.

Marina Bay Sands also offers the Art Path program, which features 11 large-scale art installations created by eight internationally renowned artists. The site-specific art exhibits extend from the 23-story atrium in the hotel towers to the exterior of the buildings, creating an inspiring and breathtaking path through the resort.

Sands and Marina Bay Sands have combined to invest in the advancement of local artists and their work through a partnership with Art Outreach Singapore and its membership in the Sands Cares Accelerator. This signature global Sands Cares program empowers nonprofits to build their capacity in a strategic area or develop a new initiative to make greater impact in the community.

Art Outreach completed its three-year Sands Cares Accelerator membership at the end of 2023 and focused its time in the program on growing its HEARTH initiative, which provides local artists with exhibition space where they can share and develop work along with professional development opportunities. With program funding from Sands and hands-on mentoring, guidance and support from the Marina Bay Sands team, Art Outreach has been able to establish and steadily shepherd this program as a key platform for local artists.

Beyond visual arts, Marina Bay Sands also supports a thriving local performing arts scene. In 2023, the resort revived its Sands Live entertainment showcase, which was introduced in 2014 but had been on hiatus due to the pandemic. Sands Live features the biggest stars from Asia and beyond, and 2023 performances included Asian pop megastar Joey Yung, popular Hong Kong artists Hacken Lee and Andy Hui, and Taiwanese pop singer Zhao Chuan, along with the China Hip-Hop Power Live show at the resort’s Marquee Singapore night club.

Sands China Celebrates Region’s Artists and Performing Arts

Like Marina Bay Sands, Sands China also has permanent and dedicated space for highlighting the arts within its resorts to contribute to a thriving local arts scene. The Sands Gallery at its Grand Suites at Four Seasons provides the region with a leading showcase for the area’s rich arts community and hosts numerous exhibitions and events to present Chinese culture and other attractions.

Launched in early 2022, the Sands Gallery represents the company’s ongoing contributions to the diversification of art and culture in Macao and providing a platform for collaboration among local and international art talent. Most recently, the Sands Gallery hosted the CONTEMPO X Gallery UG exhibition, which was Sands Gallery’s first showcase of Japanese artists. The exhibition highlighted the essence of contemporary Japanese art and culture with diverse artworks that provided an enriching and rewarding art experience.

Sands China also introduced the Sands Performing Arts Program in 2023 to support and strengthen Macao’s cultural and artistic growth. In its inaugural year, the program featured 10 national and international performances in music, dance and Cantonese opera that attracted more than 11,000 attendees.

“We are pleased to leverage our diverse resources through the Sands Performing Arts Program, continually bringing world-class performance art projects from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Europe, as well as promoting artistic exchange between Macao and other regions,” said Dr. Wilfred Wong, executive vice chairman of Sands China. “Our goal is to create a vibrant atmosphere for art appreciation while expanding our audience base, thus laying a solid foundation for the development of Macao’s local creative and cultural industries.”

Highlights included Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting; The Peony Pavilion, a play performed during the China Theatre Plum Blossom Award competition; the legendary Cantonese opera, Floral Princess; and Vienna-based quartet, Janoska Ensemble’s unique interpretations of classical pieces. In addition, Sands China continued its New Art Studies in Filming – Micro Movie Support Program in 2023 by hosting five movie premiers over the year and launched the second New Art Studies in Filming Macau – Micro Movie Support Program in January 2024.

Beyond on-site programs, Sands China also collaborated with the community on local arts celebrations, co-presenting exhibitions as part of Art Macao 2023 and hosting a seminar in partnership with Macau Youth Art Association, which aimed to inspire more than 100 local artists and students. The company has also supported and sponsored Macau Cultural Affairs Bureau events such as the Macau Art Festival, International Music Festival and the Macau Orchestra. Sands China also recently launched Sands China’s Community Revitalization Series – Spring Festival in Full Bloom, part of the company’s support for the Macao government’s plan to revitalize local historic cultural areas.

Sands’ and its regions’ dedication to perpetuating and celebrating local arts and cultural heritage is one of the company’s core focus areas under the Community pillar its global corporate responsibility program and the Sands Cares community engagement program. To learn more about the company’s initiatives in this area, read the latest environmental, social and governance report: https://www.sands.com/2022-environmental-social-and-governance-report/

Webster’s Pan Asian Collective proudly celebrated AAPI month with company-wide events like “Passport to Pan Asia” to honor and create awareness of the different Pan Asian cultures. Many thanks to our Business Resource Group Co-Chairs for organizing so many opportunities for our colleagues to learn and participate!

About Webster 
Webster Bank (“Webster”) is a leading commercial bank in the Northeast that provides a wide range of digital and traditional financial solutions across three differentiated lines of business: Commercial Banking, Consumer Banking and Healthcare Financial Services, one of the country’s largest providers of employee benefits and administration of medical insurance claim settlements solutions. Headquartered in Stamford, CT, Webster is a values-driven organization with $76 billion in assets. Its core footprint spans the northeastern U.S. from New York to Massachusetts, with certain businesses operating in extended geographies. Webster Bank is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. For more information about Webster, including past press releases and the latest annual report, visit the Webster website at www.websterbank.com.

View original content here.

June 11, 2024 /3BL/ Today, Chemours announced the seventh edition of its annual Sustainability Report, outlining the Company’s progress toward meeting its 2030 Corporate Responsibility Commitment (CRC) goals. The report titled “Partnering for Progress,” showcases how Chemours embraces partnerships to deliver innovative products responsibly and more sustainably, share its success with others, and drive business value.

Chemours’ 2023 Sustainability Report highlights include:

Achieved a 52% reduction in operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions since 2018—on track for a 60% reduction by 2030.Reached a 59% reduction in total process fluorinated organic chemical (FOC) emissions to air and water since 2018—on our way to a 99% or more reduction by 2030.Met and surpassed our Sustainable Supply Chain goal, assessing the sustainability performance of 81% of suppliers by spend, with 24% demonstrating improvement in sustainability performance. Additionally, 85% of Chemours’ supplier partners scored above the average threshold of all companies rated by EcoVadis.Developed a framework with the Wildlife Habitat Council to conduct a nature assessment and implement a corporate-wide, nature-based initiative in 2024.Invested $3 million in the Center for Clean Hydrogen as part of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, which will work to solve the challenges of creating low-cost clean hydrogen and efficient hydrogen energy conversion.Expanded ChemFEST, our middle school STEM education partnership program, at five sites in the U.S. and Belgium.Earned Great Place to Work® Certification in 15 global regions, covering more than 92% of Chemours’ global workforce.

“Chemours’ commitment to sustainability and our values is unwavering. We’ve made significant progress against our Corporate Responsibility Commitment goals, prioritizing actions that improve how people live, power modern progress, and protect our planet for future generations,” said Denise Dignam, President and CEO of Chemours. “We are focused on priorities that matter to our company, customers, and stakeholders, and we fully integrate sustainability into our business decisions and actions across our organization.”

Chemours organizes its sustainability strategy and CRC goals around four pillars: Environmental Leadership, Innovation & Sustainable Solutions, Community Impact, and Greatest Place to Work for All. Inspired by the Company’s vision, these pillars guide the daily actions and decisions of its employees, from operations and product innovation to stakeholder and community engagement.

“The modern world continues to progress faster each year, and that brings both societal challenges and opportunities for creating a more sustainable world,” said Dr. Amber Wellman, Chief Sustainability Officer of Chemours. “Climate change, nature loss, social inequality, and public health are some of the most pressing issues of our time, and they require bold, collaborative action across society. At Chemours, we believe in the power of partnerships to find the best solutions to the biggest challenges and the opportunities they offer to accelerate progress. By working together, and through the unique capabilities of our chemistry, we help enable important applications that deliver on societal goals, such as transitioning to clean energy, driving innovation in low global warming potential thermal management solutions, advancing electronics and electrifying transportation, progressing a greener and more inclusive future, and helping improve lives everywhere.”

Strong partnerships are essential to making progress. Learn more about how Chemours’ partners are helping strengthen environmental stewardship and social responsibility in the 2023 Sustainability Report.

June 11, 2024 /3BL/ – How are organizations responding to their responsibilities to ensure decent working conditions and fully disclose their impacts on workers? This question is at the heart of a major review of all GRI labor-related Standards – with a consultation launched for the first phase of disclosures.

Seeking greater transparency on employment practices and working conditions, a suite of proposed changes address policies on employment relationships, pay and working hours, and how businesses handle significant changes for workers. A global public comment period, underway until 4 October 2024, seeks feedback on redrafted versions of three Standards:

GRI 402: Labor/Management RelationsGRI 401: EmploymentGRI 202: Market Presence

The process has been guided by an expert group comprising tripartite representation of workers (International Trade Union Confederation, Global Unions Federations), employers (International Organization of Employers) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). Crucially, it will ensure GRI Labor Standards are fully aligned with key intergovernmental instruments for business and human rights, including those set by the ILO, the UN and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Two further consultation stages in the labor project will happen over the coming 12 months: for working life and career development, followed by workers’ rights and protections. In total, updates will be made to 11 GRI Standards, guided by the human rights-based approach and due diligence.

Carol Adams, Chair of GRI’s Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB), said:

“Revising labor-related disclosures is a high priority for the GSSB, given widespread recognition of the need for organizations to do more to protect human and labor rights and ensure decent conditions and treatment of workers. Better information and disclosure are key to achieving the SDGs and improving decision-making. I encourage all stakeholders to review the changes and provide feedback.

I warmly thank the members of the Technical Committee and Advisory Group for their valuable input to draft this first set of GRI Labor Standards. The representation of all GRI stakeholder constituencies and input provided by the ILO, IOE and international trade unions increases the legitimacy and global relevance of the proposed new Standards.”

Emily Sims, Senior Specialist, International Labour Organization (ILO), said:

“ILO welcomes GRI’s commitment to align its reporting standards with the principles contained in international labor standards. This alignment contributes to business transparency concerning labor-related impacts, actions and performance; and helps companies to strengthen their contribution to SDG 8 on decent work and inclusive economic growth. 

We also commend GRI for including IOE and ITUC in the periodic updating of the standards, to ensure that the updates reflect the interests of the key actors in the world of work. ILO looks forward to the finalization of GRI’s Labor Standards, and we will continue to engage in their development.”

Paul Mackay, International Organisation of Employers (IOE) Governing Body Deputy Member, added:

“The IOE has cooperated with GRI for many years to help companies assess and report their social and environmental impacts, in line with the UN and OECD guidelines on responsible business conduct and human rights. As such, I was delighted to serve as IOE representative on the Technical Committee that reviewed all GRI labor-related disclosures. 

Crucially, these draft standards have been developed in cooperation with the ILO and the workers trade unions and have the potential to positively contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. I encourage businesses, large and small, to engage in the public comment period to ensure that the perspectives of employers are fully reflected in the final standards.”

Peter Colley, National Research Director, Mining and Energy Union (Australia) and a labor constituency representative on the GSSB, added: 

“Employment is a key social and economic impact of most organizations. For some, it is their biggest impact. Their workforce is a source of competitive advantage, but also a major risk for adverse impacts regarding workplace human rights and broader sustainability. The substantial revision underway to the GRI Labor Standards will be a major tool for organizations to manage risk and improve their performance in this critical area.”

Free global webinars on phase one of the project will take place at 5pm CEST on 20 June and 9am CEST on 25 June, for which places can now be booked. 

The initial phase of the Labor Standards review covers how an organization manages its relationship with workers, and proposes changes within GRI 202: Market Presence 2016,GRI 401: Employment 2016, and GRI 402: Labor/Management Relations 2016, as well as a new ‘control of work’ Standard Interpretation (aligned with GRI 2: General Disclosures).

The draft new or revised disclosures relate to:

Employment: non-standard forms of employment, apprentices and internships, fair recruitment, performance management, personal data protection and privacy, employment termination, and hiring and turnover metrics.Remuneration and working time: includes policies and metrics of cost-of-living estimates, basic gender pay gap, and social protection coverage.Significant changes for workers: comprising consultation and notice periods to workers’ representatives, redeployment and up-skilling and re-skilling and termination of employment.

The need for increased corporate accountability for labor-related impacts is reinforced by the ILO 2024 trends report, which revealed around 435 million people globally are deprived of earning an income through employment – while many millions more face declining real wages, a lack of employment security, or deteriorating working conditions.

The public comment period is an opportunity to provide feedback on the clarity, completeness, feasibility and relevance of content in the exposure drafts. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit their feedback by completing this online form.

The Labor Technical Committee was appointed by the GSSB in 2022 to lead the review, with an Advisory Group of independent experts then brought together to support the content development process.

The GRI Standards – the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting standards – are set by the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB), the independent and multi-stakeholder entity that works exclusively in the public interest.

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is the independent, international organization providing sustainability reporting standards that help businesses and other organizations take responsibility for their most significant impacts, by providing the global common language to report those impacts.

Originally published on GoDaddy Resource Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what do you do here at GoDaddy.

My name is Srinivasa Rao Sharma, but most people call me Srini. I grew up in Chennai, a city in the south of India, where I was the first person in my family to attend high school and college. I learned about the possibility of getting an education in the United States through my friends at undergrad and decided to apply. I got into Purdue University (go Boilermakers) and completed my graduate degree in Industrial Engineering. I like to optimize things around me. If I see dishes on a dining table that can be set up in a better manner, I will be the first one to do it. I also enjoy cooking and eating delicious Indian vegetarian food, especially biryani.

My wife and I like to go on road trips. I drove from Boston to Seattle (3,000 miles) in three and a half days this year. We added 30,000 miles to our car in just the last two years. We have a four-month-old son named Athik Shrey, which means “more kindness.”

I joined GoDaddy on Valentine’s Day in 2022 – I found the perfect match for my career! I started as a Senior Business Analyst, working on data enablement for various ventures. Later, I took on additional responsibilities to manage and enable data products related to cash receipts and maintain one of the most used and critical dashboards in the company. If you have any questions about revenue or cash receipt anomalies, you can ask me. Currently, I work as a Senior Business Analyst II in the Customer Product Analytics team.

What has been one of your proudest moments at GoDaddy?

After eight months at GoDaddy, I was entrusted the responsibility to own a vital data product that had a high impact on the business and improve its performance and reliability. I redesigned the underlying architecture, rebuilt the report with enhanced Tableau functionality, and delivered it to our stakeholders with faster loading and better user experience.

What do you want your colleagues, neighbors, and friends to take away from Asian Heritage Month?

Asian Heritage Month offers a valuable opportunity to acknowledge and honor the diverse contributions of Asians across various domains, including technology. It serves as a platform to gain insight into the rich and distinct cultures embraced by our Asian friends, neighbors, and colleagues, and to appreciate how these cultural influences shape their professional demeanor, communication, and personal traits.

Moreover, Asian Heritage Month prompts discussions about workplace inclusion and equity, fostering a deeper understanding of the importance of diversity. It encourages individuals to reflect on their roles in maintaining a fair and equitable work environment, ensuring that everyone, regardless of cultural background, is treated with respect and given equal opportunities.

How do you celebrate or honor your heritage and culture?

We celebrate festivals throughout the year to honor our heritage and culture. Every festival has its own way of celebration. One of my favorite festivals that we celebrate around January 15th each year is called “Thai Pongal”. During this festival, we honor the contributions of our farmers. We eat sugarcane and wear new clothes. We also conduct bull-taming competitions to recognize how important cows and bulls are for our farmers and society.

Moreover, our culture is expressed through the way we conduct marriages. These are lavish events that draw around a thousand guests. The ceremonies last for two to three days and follow intricate rituals that reflect our deep reverence for tradition and kinship.

Who are some mentors or public figures from your community that have influenced you in your life or professional career?

When I was a student, I found inspiration in the words of one of the greatest scientists, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the former President of India. Despite being born into a very poor family, he rose to become the President of India. Dr. Kalam was the epitome of humility, always advocating for the welfare of students and youth in our country. One of his famous quotes that deeply resonated with me is: “Dream is not that which you see while sleeping, it is something that does not let you sleep.” I continue to live by this philosophy today. I have experienced countless sleepless nights as I relentlessly pursue my dreams.

What’s your motto or personal mantra?

I have a few very simple and straightforward mantras in life. Some I learned from my dad and others I have learned from mentors. I will share two below.

“Money is not the only reward you might get for your efforts. There are other forms of rewards that are more valuable than money that one must not fail to recognize.”

“The most expected reward or prize is always delivered at the most unexpected times.”

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