Tag: 3BL

Henkel, a leading manufacturer of well-known consumer and industrial brands, such as Dial® soap, Schwarzkopf® hair care, all® laundry detergent, and Loctite®, Technomelt® and Bonderite® adhesives, sealants, and functional coatings, has expanded its parental leave policy for all U.S. employees, regardless of gender or family structure.

Expansion in the United States 

To reaffirm our purpose as pioneers at heart for the good of generations, paid parental leave for Henkel U.S. employees has been increased from a maximum of 6 weeks to 12 weeks of fully paid time off for all new parents, regardless of gender, who welcome a child into their home through birth, adoption, surrogacy, guardianship or fostering — demonstrating our firm commitment to equity in parenting and childcare for all parents.

“Henkel values the uniqueness of our employees and offers a comprehensive Total Rewards package with benefits and programs that allow members of our organization to choose what’s most important for them and their families,” said Valeria Gladsztein, Regional Human Resources Head, North America. “Time for parent and child bonding can promote the health and wellbeing of all family members and increase equity and career growth in the workplace. I am incredibly proud to be a part of shaping a bright future for the good of generations to come.”

Paid Parental Leave is only one of the programs within Henkel’s U.S. Total Rewards package that offers choice and flexibility in family care. Henkel recently implemented program additions that include virtual behavioral health care for children and teens, access to reliable and affordable childcare and elder care, and confidential personalized mental health care for employees and their families. In 2024, Henkel will also be introducing benefit enhancements for fertility treatments, adoption, and surrogacy assistance.

Parents on leave also receive a ‘future pioneer’ welcome kit to show support for their growing family. With items meant for both parents and children, including a Henkel onesie, hat, bib, blanket, water bottle, diaper bag, and more, these care packages are a way of celebrating new additions and letting employees know that their team looks forward to welcoming them back upon their return to work.

Setting a new global standard

Beyond this expansion in the United States, in 2024, Henkel will implement a new gender-neutral parental leave standard for its close to 50,000 employees worldwide, intended to complement existing local practices and regulations. Each market will offer its employees a minimum global standard of up to eight weeks of fully paid parental leave, based on the caregiver role, rather than their gender or biological parent status. In many markets, including the United States, Henkel will continue to exceed this standard.

“Henkel will become the first German DAX40 company to offer its employees worldwide eight weeks of fully paid parental leave”, says Carsten Knobel, CEO of Henkel. “This initiative sends a strong signal to all our employees and underscores our unwavering commitment to fostering a more inclusive culture and more gender equity.”

Sylvie Nicol, Executive Vice President Human Resources, Infrastructure and Sustainability, adds: “Through this initiative, we want to support parents and challenge traditional gender roles, enabling everyone to participate equally in childcare. However, addressing this inequality is not the sole objective of our new global standard. It also positions us to meet the expectations of the future workforce.”

This global expansion serves as a crucial foundation for promoting family-friendliness and greater gender equity, particularly in countries where parental leave opportunities are currently lacking. Moreover, in some countries, local practices exclude specific family types, such as single fathers, adoptive parents, and surrogacy parents. Recognizing this, Henkel has identified the need to establish a universal standard that applies to all caregivers.

After implementation in 2024, Henkel employees in approximately 80 countries will have the opportunity to take paid time off to care for and bond with a new child. With this approach, the company demonstrates a firm commitment to its diversity, equity, and inclusion ambitions by taking tangible actions to promote equal access to opportunities consistently around the world.

CINCINNATI, January 17, 2024 /3BL/ – Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) was awarded the NETS Road Safety Achievement Award for Overall Road Safety. The award was presented at NETS’ annual Strength IN Numbers® Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

The NETS Road Safety Achievement Award recognizes a member company for advancing the road safety of its employees, their families and the communities where employees live and work.

Cintas was recognized for its Cintas Driver Safety Program which incorporates several approaches that together improve the knowledge, skill, and driving habits of its employee-partners who get behind the wheel. 

“Safety is a top priority at Cintas, and our goal is to eliminate all vehicle incidents through engaging our employee-partners in our culture of safe driving, which includes ensuring our partners are provided with training and resources to drive safely,” said Stephen Jenkins, Director of Safety & Health at Cintas. “Earning this award recognizes those efforts, and we are honored to accept it.”

The Cintas Safety Program includes two main components: new employee-partner training and continuous ongoing training for all partners that operate Cintas motor vehicles. Since 2003, Cintas has partnered with Smith System to collaboratively create content for its driver safety program. This includes a three-part Smith driver training for all new employee-partners, a catalog of driving drills to practice real-life scenarios, monthly online e-learning training lessons and continuous Smith System on-road coaching evaluations.

“A core value of Cintas’ culture is continual improvement, and we are always looking for ways to build on the success of our driver safety program,” said Jenkins.

About Cintas Corporation
Cintas Corporation helps more than one million businesses of all types and sizes get Ready™ to open their doors with confidence every day by providing products and services that help keep their customers’ facilities and employees clean, safe, and looking their best. With offerings including uniforms, mats, mops, towels, restroom supplies, workplace water services, first aid and safety products, eye-wash stations, safety training, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and alarm service, Cintas helps customers get Ready for the Workday®. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas is a publicly held Fortune 500 company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of both the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and Nasdaq-100 Index.

Cintas Media Contact:
Michelle Goret, Cintas Vice President of Corporate Affairs | goretm@cintas.com, 513-972-4155

Erin Bigley, CFA| Chief Responsibility Officer

David Wheeler, CFA| Portfolio Manager—Sustainable Climate Solutions; Senior Research Analyst—Sustainable Thematic Equities

Kent Hargis, PhD| Chief Investment Officer—Strategic Core Equities; Portfolio Manager—Global Low Carbon Strategy

Transcript

Erin Bigley: As equity investors hunt for opportunities, why should they consider climate-focused investing?

Kent Hargis: We see plenty of investments growing in both energy transition, through wind and through solar, also through the growth of electric vehicles, and we expect that to grow much faster than the market over the course of the next 10 years. We also see that in the private sector is supporting or complementing the public sector.

Erin Bigley: David, what are you seeing?

Dave Wheeler: I see government policies, I see technological innovation, I see capital flows really lining up behind the need to address climate change. And so when I think about the investment opportunities, certainly companies that provide solutions to climate challenges should see strong tailwinds for their businesses in the years ahead.

Kent Hargis: So really it is more than just excluding companies that have risk to climate change. It really is taking advantage of those opportunities.

Erin Bigley: How has the landscape for climate-focused investing changed over the past year or so?

Kent Hargis: The US has increased investments in renewables, solar and wind, with the aim of reducing carbon emissions by up to 40%. We also see on the European side, an attempt of similar spending, again focused on increasing renewables. The changes and the constraints here are really around permitting and actually getting the project started, and we’re also seeing some advancements and some relaxation of some of the rules to move forward, it’s actually getting some of these investments started and getting along the path that we’re all aiming for.

Erin Bigley: We’ve just come out of COP 28. What sort of impact do you think that will have on climate-focused investing?

Dave Wheeler: When I think about not only COP 28, but other policy developments going on around the world, we’re really seeing an alignment of political consensus around the need to address climate. And I think they’ll result in accelerating capital into solutions to help address the challenges.

Erin Bigley: So can climate-focused strategies perform in a challenging environment?

Kent Hargis: We feel that investing in companies that are very high quality, that are at attractive prices, those companies will do quite well in this environment. So we like companies that have operational excellence, those companies that are still innovating on the quality side. We like companies that have less leverage, those that have very extended pipelines many years out in the future. And those companies that are more diversified in their customer base, so less exposed to a single client to reduce the risk of mispricing or causing issues with profitability.

Dave Wheeler: One thing that I think about is capital going in is not dependent upon economic growth and cycles. For example, over the last four years, which has been pretty bumpy, we’ve seen the amount of capital going into decarbonization double over that period. So we’re seeing secular growth in this area that shouldn’t be vulnerable to economic slowdown.

Erin Bigley: So how do you see this space evolving over the next several years?

Dave Wheeler: Along with high inflation, supply chain bottlenecks, rising interest rates, those have been headwinds to performance in climate investments. But as we move forward, I think those are going to move into the rearview mirror and it’ll be smoother sailing for climate-related investments.

The views expressed herein do not constitute research, investment advice or trade recommendations and do not necessarily represent the views of all AB portfolio-management teams. Views are subject to revision over time.

Learn more about AB’s approach to responsibility here.

Las Vegas Sands

A culture of service is central to Sands’ regions around the world, and volunteerism is a core tenet of the Sands Cares community engagement program. As such, the company prioritized contribution of 150,000 Team Member volunteer hours to address the critical needs of its communities as one of three 2021-2025 targets for its corporate responsibility program.

However, in 2021-2022 Team Members provided extensive support for pandemic-related efforts. As a result of these efforts along with core Sands Cares volunteer initiatives, Sands surpassed its 2025 global target with 192,330 volunteer service hours logged by the end of 2022.

While a new target will be announced in the company’s next environmental, social and governance report in spring 2024, Team Members remain committed to important global and local volunteer initiatives.

In recognition of the United Nation’s International Volunteer Day 2023 on December 5, Sands is commemorating Team Members’ dedication to the company’s goal of making its communities better places to live, work and visit.

Here’s a look at some of the core Sands Cares volunteer efforts globally and in local regions:

Global Volunteer Initiatives

Since 2014, Sands has hosted the annual Sands Cares Global Hygiene Kit Build with Clean the World, in which thousands of Team Members assemble hygiene kits for people facing hardship and disaster situations in their local regions. Through 2022, Sands Team Members assembled 938,000 kits to aid Clean the World’s mission, and 2023 kit builds kicked off at Marina Bay Sands and corporate headquarters in October, with Sands China’s build scheduled for December.

Last year, Sands established another global volunteer initiative as regions joined forces for the annual Sands Cares Global Food Kit Build, which is being held in 2023 through a series of events in Macao and Singapore that began in June and continue into 2024. In June, more than 350 Marina Bay Sands Team Members and partners assembled 5,200 food kits for The Food Bank Singapore. Kits included rice, rolled oats, biscuits, condiments and instant beverages.

In Macao, Sands China will complete a series of activations from June 2023-March 2024, working with social service organization Caritas Macau. During that time, Sands Cares Ambassadors will assemble 3,000 food kits, totaling 21 tons, for distribution to community members, including elderly and disabled residents, economically disadvantaged families, and food bank recipients through Caritas Macau’s service centers.

Mass Volunteer Events

Marina Bay Sands’ annual Sands for Singapore Charity Festival is another major Team Member volunteer effort Sands is highlighting for International Volunteer Day 2023. Established in 2013, the multi-day event attracts thousands of visitors for an array of philanthropic activities, entertainment, shopping, dining and crafting. The festival encompasses a number of volunteer initiatives in the weeks leading up to the event and at the festival itself.

Held in August this year, the festival capped three weeks of Team Member volunteer efforts that included painting temporary homes for families in need, packing goodie bags for National Day and delivering them to seniors in nursing homes, and hosting families for learning tours and fun experiences at the resort. Team Members also accompanied senior residents from Care Corner Singapore and students from Care Singapore during the festival to enjoy entertainment, food and other activities. Team Member volunteer contributions totaled more than 4,700 hours between July 18 and August 6, 2023.

In Macao, Sands China’s Sands Shopping Carnival, the largest mass sales event in Macao, is another major Team Member volunteer effort. This annual event has welcomed more than 420,000 visitors since debuting in 2020. The July carnival drew nearly 110,000 visitors, and Team Members played a major role in the four-day event through Sands Cares Ambassador involvement. More than 80 Sands Cares Ambassadors contributed 200-plus hours of volunteer service at the carnival.

Ambassadors supported participating community organizations by helping operate booths and accompanying their members to see attractions at the carnival. For example, Sands Cares Ambassadors escorted members of the Macau Autism Association and General Association of Women to visit carnival game booths, as well as families from the Macao Federation of Trade Unions and the Women’s General Association of Macau to participate in food-prep and decorating activities led by Sands China’s food and beverage team.

Other Volunteer Initiatives Around the World

In addition to these large-scale volunteer programs, Sands is also sharing a number of volunteer activations its regions execute for International Volunteer Day 2023 that are aligned with their community partnerships and the core issues prioritized under Sands Cares.

In Macao, one of Sands China’s longest-standing community partnerships is with the Macau Special Olympics, which it has supported since 2005. In conjunction with the partnership, Sands Cares Ambassadors regularly volunteer to accompany Macau Special Olympics athletes at competitions and other enriching events and activities. Ambassadors also assist in health screening events and other efforts such as the annual Health Check Day. Additional long-time volunteer engagements include support for Caritas Macau’s annual Charity Bazaar and Charity Run and cleaning the homes of elderly residents before Lunar New Year.

In Singapore, Marina Bay Sands Team Members volunteer in a variety of ways to support the local community. In addition to supporting The Food Bank Singapore through the Sands Cares Global Food Kit Build, Team Members regularly sort food donations and take inventory at The Food Bank Singapore’s warehouse. Earlier this year, Marina Bay Sands hosted its Lunar New Year Food Drive. More than 5,200 kilograms of food items were donated by Team Members and the resort’s retail tenants, which translated to more than 15,500 meals for The Food Bank Singapore’s beneficiaries.

Supporting education and opportunities for youth is also a central theme for Marina Bay Sands. Since 2021, Marina Bay Sands has worked with CARE Singapore on its youth mentorship program in which Team Members guide local students through important milestones and provide perspectives beyond the classroom.

Marina Bay Sands Team Members have volunteered with the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore School, which serves students ages seven to 18 with moderate to severe disabilities. Volunteers have helped facilitate co-curricular programs in the areas of drama, photography and other disciplines by providing administrative support and assisting with activities to reduce teacher workloads and enhance the student experience.

The resort’s Team Members also volunteer regularly with the AWWA School at Bedok, which serves individuals with special needs. Team Members provide support and friendship to students with autism as part of their co-curricular activities, which includes guiding students in dancing, drumming, and arts and crafts to help hone their coordination skills and promote creativity and appreciation for the arts.

At the corporate level, the Sands Cares volunteer committee began coordinating activities when the company moved into its new corporate headquarters earlier this year. Volunteer efforts kicked off with the Sands Cares Kit Build with Clean the World in October, and the committee has planned end-of-year activities with East Valley Family Services Center for Thanksgiving meal distribution to seniors, the Las Vegas Great Santa Run for Opportunity Village and the It’s a Wrap holiday gift drive with Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth.

“Year over year, our Team Members have demonstrated their compassion and willingness to make positive contributions to our communities through volunteerism,” said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs, who spearheads corporate responsibility initiatives. “They bring tremendous enthusiasm, time and effort to volunteer programs that strengthen our regions and support people in need. Sands Cares is able to make impact because of them.”

Sands will restate its 2021-2025 Team Member volunteerism goal in the 2023 ESG Report to be released in spring 2024. To learn more about past volunteer efforts and the full gamut of Sands Cares Communities initiatives, read the 2022 ESG Report: https://www.sands.com/2022-environmental-social-and-governance-report/

Sofidel

The paper manufacturing Group, alongside Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), is embarking on the pathway to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible along the entire value chain.

PORCARI (LU) /3BL/ – Sofidel, one of the leading manufacturers of paper for hygienic and domestic use worldwide, best known for its Regina brand, is intensifying its ecological transition policies and – after the achievements of the WWF Climate Savers program and the endorsement of decarbonization targets to 2030 by Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) – is committing to Net Zero by 2050.

The Net Zero goal, i.e. reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the subsequent removal of residual emissions to as close to zero as possible along the entire value chain, is at the heart of the European Green Deal and considered crucial to limiting global warming to well below 2°C in line with the Paris Agreement.

Sofidel will undertake this journey together with SBTi – the partnership between Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) – that promotes sustainability best practices and helps companies to pursue greenhouse gas reduction goals in line with science.

“Sofidel is still accelerating its decarbonization journey. Net Zero is a commitment to our Planet, a fundamental goal for a company like ours engaged in a highly energy-intensive industry. It is not an easy challenge, but it is a necessary one, following on from and consistent with the huge amount of work we have already done,” said Riccardo Balducci, Group Sustainability Director at Sofidel.

For Sofidel, Net Zero represents the next step in a journey to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that goes back a long way. In 2008, it became the first Italian manufacturing company and the first company in the tissue sector in the world to join the international WWF Climate Savers programme, committing to ambitious voluntary greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. From 2009 to 2020, Sofidel reduced direct CO₂ emissions (carbon intensity) into the atmosphere by 24%.

The Group’s aim by 2030 is a further 40% reduction in scope 1 and scope 2 CO2 emissions compared to the 2018 base year, and a 24% reduction in scope 3 emissions. This goal was also approved by SBTi.

The strategy to achieve a highly challenging and time-consuming goal is based on a multifaceted plan, which looks not only at the industrial activities directly managed by Sofidel, but also at the involvement of stakeholders throughout the supply chain, as well as relying on the gradual maturation of technological options that to date are unaffordable.

The key actions in Sofidel’s decarbonization plan up to 2050 will cover:

The introduction of technologies and solutions capable of further increasing the energy efficiency of the Group’s plants and, in the future, leading to the electrification of production processes which are today powered by fossil fuelsThe increase in the share of electricity self-generated from renewable sources or purchased under long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) from newly built facilitiesThe increasing use of fuels of organic origin, from local supply chains, waste from other processes, and from sources managed using environmental sustainability criteria. These fuels include: solid biomass, biomethane, and bio-syngasThe use of green hydrogen, in collaboration with technology partners and public agencies. In the United Kingdom, Sofidel UK has already obtained major subsidies to introduce this fuel into its plantsSustainable forest management, with a goal to eliminate all deforestation along Sofidel’s supply chain. In fact, forests play an important role in regulating the climate, as well as being a key ecosystem for preserving a lot of biodiversityThe manufacture and market presentation of products with reduced packaging or packaged using renewable, low-carbon materials. This action is in line with Sofidel’s longstanding commitment to halving the use of conventional plastic in its production, in favor, in particular, of the use of paper packagingThe selection and use of more efficient means of transportation, in the future powered by: plant-based fuels, hydrogen, e-fuels, or electricityThe use of technologies to remove residual carbon emissions, either through carbon capture and storage (CCS) techniques or biological storage with afforestation or reforestation projects

About The Sofidel Group
The Sofidel Group, a privately held company owned by the Stefani and Lazzareschi families, is a world leader in the manufacture of paper for hygienic and domestic use. Founded in 1966, the Group has subsidiaries in 12 countries – Italy, Spain, the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Romania, and the USA – with more than 6,400 employees. A member of the UN Global Compact and the international WWF Climate Savers program, the Sofidel Group considers sustainability a strategic imperative and is committed to promoting sustainable development.  For more information, visit www.sofidel.com.          

Media Contact:
Brianna Fitzpatrick
Mulberry Marketing Communications
bfitzpatrick@mulberrymc.com 

STAMFORD, Conn., January 17, 2023 /3BL/ – Webster Bank announced the launch of its first Special Purpose Credit Program (SPCP) aimed at expanding homeownership opportunities for low-to-moderate income (LMI) first-time homebuyers, and those who are seeking to refinance, in historically underserved areas.

The program, called “You’re Home,” provides an alternative to traditional loan program and terms, offering up to 97% financing for the purchase of properties located in defined, underserved markets.

The program is specifically designed to assist borrowers in specific demographic Geographic Assessment Areas and Majority Minority census tracts in the Bank’s footprint. Borrowers in these areas are eligible for both purchase and rate and term refinance transactions.

“Our goal is to help reduce the barriers to traditional lending and expand the opportunities for homeownership in the communities we serve,” said James Griffin, Head of Consumer Banking. “We want to do our part to help potential homebuyers, or those who want or need to refinance, to have more access to funding.”

“Homeownership strengthens our neighborhoods and helps individuals and families build generational wealth,” said Marissa Weidner, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at Webster. She added, “The ‘You’re Home’ program will create greater access to credit in economically disadvantaged communities.”

The “You’re Home” program is the most recent component of the Bank’s Community Investment Strategy, a multi-year, $6.5B commitment to expanding access to capital, providing loans, investments, technical assistance and financial services to individuals and small businesses in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.

The Bank’s dedication to supporting low- and moderate-income borrowers extends beyond financial assistance with our network of Community Liaison Officers, actively building relationships with community-based organizations to increase lending opportunities that meet local credit needs within these regions, as well as conducting financial literacy workshops on topics such as first-time homebuying.

Find more information about the “You’re Home” Program here.

About the You’re Home program:

The You’re Home product has been developed and will be implemented in accordance with the SPCP provisions in 12 CFR §1002.8 of Regulation B and will be in effect until the Bank decides to suspend, modify, or terminate the SPCP. The You’re Home product has been reviewed for consistency with the Advisory Opinion on SPCPs issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in December 2020.

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 its HSA Bank division, one of the country’s largest providers of employee benefits solutions. Headquartered in Stamford, CT, Webster is a values-driven organization with more than $70 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 our latest annual report, please visit our About page. To find our latest press releases, visit the Webster Newsroom.

Contact Information

Media Contact:

Elaine K. Ficarra

eficarra@websterbank.com

203.913.2716

Investor Contact:

Emlen Harmon

eharmon@websterbank.com

212.309.7646

View original content here.

IBM India

IBM’s skilling initiatives will pave the way for a dynamic tech landscape in Gujarat.

IBM SkillsBuild will equip Gujarat’s workforce with essential skills in AI including generative AI, hybrid cloud and other emerging technologies.

BENGALURU, India, January 17, 2024 /3BL/ – IBM (NYSE: IBM) and the Commissionerate of Technical Education (CTE Gujarat) of the Government of Gujarat, today entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bolster technical and professional education in Gujarat. Under this collaboration, the focus will be on leveraging IBM SkillsBuild, to empower learners in Gujarat with essential skills in emerging technologies like AI (including generative AI), cybersecurity, hybrid cloud and workplace skills for professional development.

Speaking about the collaboration with IBM, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said, “Driven by the Government of Gujarat’s commitment to fostering opportunities and nurturing a dynamic workforce, Gujarat has emerged as a leader not only in business and entrepreneurship but also in the educational landscape. Collaborations, such as the one with IBM, will further enhance the state’s technical education excellence, crucial in shaping a skilled future-ready workforce in emerging technologies like AI and hybrid cloud. Under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership, the synergy between education and skilling is set to position India as a Vishwa Guru, evolving into a hub of knowledge and a leading skilling destination.”

“In 2024, the emergence of technologies like GenAI and quantum computing signals transformative changes. Aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, our collaboration with CTE Gujarat aims to further strengthen Gujarat’s education and skilling ecosystem. Through training programs under IBM SkillsBuild, we will bridge knowledge gaps for graduates and professionals, enhancing their expertise in emerging technology and soft skills. This collaboration bolsters our (India’s) demographic dividend, positioning it for global excellence”, said Gaurav Sharma, Vice President, IBM India Software Labs.

Recently, IBM unveiled the new IBM Consulting Client Innovation Center (CIC) in Gandhinagar, emphasizing key technology areas such as generative artificial intelligence (AI), hybrid cloud, and cybersecurity.

IBM SkillsBuild is a pro-bono education program by IBM, specifically tailored for underrepresented communities in tech. The program serves as a valuable resource for adult learners, high school and university students and faculty, facilitating the development of essential skills in emerging technologies like AI, hybrid cloud, etc. and providing access to career opportunities. It includes an online platform complemented by practical experiences through strategic collaborations with an expansive global network of partners.

Aligned with IBM’s commitment to skill 30 million people by 2023 and train 2 million learners in AI by the end of 2026, the collaboration with CTE Gujarat contributes to addressing the prevailing skills gap in the global workforce. By offering technological resources and expertise, IBM aims to empower youth and job seekers, enabling them to acquire the technical and professional skills essential for entering or re-entering the workforce. This collaboration aspires to cultivate a robust education and skilling ecosystem in India, nurturing critical thinkers, problem-solvers, and next-generation innovators.

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs, and gain the competitive edge in their industries. More than 4,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

Has this ever happened to you? When people know you work for a certain company, sometimes they’ll tell you how much it means to them — or to someone they know — and how it changes lives.

It happened to Ashley Dusenbury, senior manager, Corporate Communications at Aflac, in November. As she shared information about Corporate Communications with new hires at a new employee orientation, she noticed someone who was especially attentive during the corporate social responsibility portion of the presentation — and that he looked familiar. She knew that she knew him.

As the orientation wrapped up, the man, Brian Teague approached Ashley and said, “I think you know my son, Daniel! I work for Aflac now.”

“Within seconds of my arrival, I had noticed Brian was among the group of new hires,” said Ashley. “I had never met Brian in person, but felt I knew him because of a story I had written about his son in August, highlighting Daniel’s journey with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and his wish to become an astronaut.

“Aflac had teamed up with Make-A-Wish South Carolina and the South Carolina State Museum to help make Daniel’s wish come true.”

During a surprise celebration at the museum, Daniel and his family learned they would be heading to Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The event included a taped, personal message by Gen. Charles “Charlie” Duke — a retired astronaut who walked the surface of the moon during the Apollo 16 mission in 1972 — and a gift of luggage just the right size for a little boy.

Taking off for Florida

Daniel and his family packed that luggage and traveled to Kennedy Space Center this past August — the final component of his dream come true.

“Daniel is in remission and has a lot more energy now that his treatment is done,” said Brian. “And residual chemotherapy side effects, such as nightmares, are no longer an issue.”

With Daniel’s energy level returning to pre-treatment levels, he and his brother, 4-year-old Austin, thoroughly enjoyed their space center adventure.

Making a life-changing career decision

As a result of the experience, Brian and his wife, Brannon, researched Aflac and its commitment to children with cancer and blood disorders. They liked what they learned and were so impressed with the role Aflac played in making Daniel’s wish come true that Brian looked into full-time employment opportunities here. As he explored Aflac’s advantages, he was convinced it was the company for him.

“I wanted to work for a company that genuinely cares about others and communities,” said Brian. “I wanted to work at Aflac because of the outpouring of generosity and kindness for Daniel.”

He applied for employment, and on Sept. 25, he was hired as a remote Aflac Group application developer.

Helping others prepare for what life may bring

“Aflac’s impact on my son’s life was very profound for me,” said Brian. “It inspired me to say thank you to Aflac in my own way. When trying to think of a way to do this, I knew that I could be an asset for Aflac based on my career experience in insurance and programming.”

Seeing Ashley at NEO confirmed those feelings

“Now that I’m working for Aflac, I am excited that I help deliver our promise,” said Brian. “We help provide our policyholders with the peace of mind that comes from knowing they are better prepared for whatever life may bring and recognize that, especially during a health event, today is what matters most. Thank you to everyone at Aflac for letting me be part of something amazing!”

Get to know Aflac and our philanthropic activities at Aflac.com/About-Aflac.

SWORDS, Ireland, January 17, 2024 /3BL/ – Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT), a global climate innovator, has been named to Corporate Knights’ 2024 Global 100, recognized as the leader in the Building Products industry and ranking 23rd overall.

Emphasizing the impact of a company’s core products and services, the Global 100 is one of the world’s most valued and transparent sustainability ratings. To determine its rankings, over 6,000 companies were assessed across 25 key performance indicators including sustainable investment, carbon productivity and racial and gender diversity.

“Corporate Knights’ Global 100 only includes companies that make sustainable solutions a core part of their business, complimenting Trane Technologies’ long-embedded and industry-differentiating strategy,” said Paul Camuti, executive vice president and chief technology and sustainability officer of Trane Technologies. “We are extremely proud of our 2024 Global 100 rankings and, guided by our purpose to boldly challenge what’s possible for a sustainable world, look forward to driving continued investment in sustainable innovation – accelerating decarbonization of buildings and the cold chain.”

In late 2023, Trane Technologies announced the fulfillment of its August 2021 commitment to deliver fully electric, zero direct emission Thermo King® refrigeration solutions for every segment of the cold chain in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region by 2023. The company also delivered on its low-carbon steel commitment, shipping more than one million HVAC units with low-carbon steel to homeowners and commercial customers across the United States.

Through bold, industry-leading action, Trane Technologies is advancing its 2030 Sustainability Commitments, including the Gigaton Challenge – a pledge to reduce customer greenhouse gas emissions by 1 billion metric tons (or, one gigaton) – and its pledge to be net-zero by 2050. In 2014, the company set its first science-based 2020 Climate Commitments – accelerating innovation to achieve them two years ahead of schedule. The company is first in its industry with near and long-term emissions reduction targets externally validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).

With its Opportunity for All commitment, Trane Technologies is taking action to advance gender parity in leadership, workforce diversity reflective of its communities, and community initiatives that support equitable education and pathways to green and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers.

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About Trane Technologies 
Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands Trane® and Thermo King®, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes and transportation. For more on Trane Technologies, visit tranetechnologies.com.

Forward Looking Statements 
This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of securities laws, which are statements that are not historical facts, including statements that relate to our sustainability and diversity commitments and the anticipated impact of these commitments. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from our current expectations. Factors that could cause such differences can be found in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as well as our subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and other SEC filings. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect the Company. We assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

ROCHESTER, N.Y., January 17, 2024 /3BL/ – Paychex, Inc., a leading provider of integrated human capital management software solutions for human resources, employee benefits, insurance services, and payroll, was named a winner in the 2024 BIG Innovation Awards , presented by the Business Intelligence Group. The award was received in recognition of the latest enhancements to the digital employee onboarding software within Paychex Flex®, the company’s cloud-based SaaS solution.

“Innovation is driving our society,” said Maria Jimenez, chief nominations officer of the Business Intelligence Group. “We are thrilled to be honoring Paychex as they are leading by example and improving the lives of so many.”

The latest enhancements simplify the onboarding experience by integrating essential steps directly within the Paychex Flex onboarding workflow while helping to comply with complex federal and state regulations, including employment eligibility verification and tax withholdings. Advancements allow new hires to complete critical documentation, including direct deposit authorization, Form W-4, state withholding forms, Form I-9, and emergency contact information, all from the device of choice, such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop, for a digital onboarding experience that can eliminate stacks of paperwork.

“Today, shifting economic conditions, new employee expectations, technology advancements, and complicated regulations all intersect within the workplace, making the hiring and onboarding process more complex than ever,” said Tom Hammond, Paychex vice president of strategy, partnerships, and business development. “It is an honor to be recognized by the Business Intelligence Group for the innovative enhancements made to Paychex Flex that are enabling a more efficient process for businesses to transition applicants to engaged and productive employees from day one on the job.”

Digital onboarding with Paychex Flex can help streamline the process to save time, reduce the chance of human errors, and simplify the workload of a newly hired employee. According to a Paychex Client Survey fielded in June 2022, three out of four Paychex clients with 50 to 500+ employees stated they have shortened times for recruiting, screening, tracking, and onboarding employees through Paychex Flex. Additionally, 97% of clients said an online portal for employee self-service or HR-related tasks from any device or location was very or extremely important to strengthening employee relationships.

The Business Intelligence Group named 47 companies and 108 products as 2024 winners. Organizations from across the globe submitted their recent innovations for consideration in the BIG Innovation Awards. Nominations were judged by a select group of business leaders and executives who volunteered their time and expertise to score submissions. For a complete list of the 2024 BIG Innovation Award winners, visit bintelligence.com/awards/big-innovation-awards.

To learn more about the Paychex Flex Onboarding technology solution, visit paychex.com/hiring/employee-onboarding-software.

About Paychex 
Paychex, Inc. (Nasdaq: PAYX) is an industry-leading HCM company delivering a full suite of technology and advisory services in human resources, employee benefit solutions, insurance, and payroll. The company serves approximately 740,000 customers in the U.S. and Europe and pays one out of every 12 American private sector employees. The more than 16,000 people at Paychex are committed to helping businesses succeed and building thriving communities where they work and live. To learn more, visit paychex.com.

About Business Intelligence Group

The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry award programs, these programs are judged by business executives having experience and knowledge. The organization’s proprietary and unique scoring system selectively measures performance across multiple business domains and then rewards those companies whose achievements stand above those of their peers.

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