Tag: 3BL

By Rodolfo Perez, Ph.D.

IWBI is proudly collaborating with leading industry organizations to support efforts that can lead to improved transparency and other opportunities for buildings and organizations worldwide to unite in efforts to end modern slavery in the built environment.

What is modern slavery, and why does it matter?
Many of the people working on the extraction of raw materials, in the manufacturing of products or in the construction of a building are forcefully deprived of their fundamental human rights, where they are deceived or forced into exploitative situations that they cannot refuse or leave. Broadly, these situations are catalogued as “modern slavery” and may include human trafficking, forced labor and debt bondage. According to Walk Free’s Global Slavery Index, in 2021, 50 million people were living in modern slavery. Through passport retention and other coercive strategies, people are forced to work and live under inhumane conditions.

Construction and manufacturing are prone to exploitation, as labor shortages grow and sites can be staffed with coerced workers where lax regulation and lack of enforcement is the norm. The construction ecosystem accounts for more than 13% of global GDP and more than $13 trillion in spending worldwide (Global Construction Perspectives). Because of its disaggregated nature and the sheer number of raw and composite materials, construction is considered among the high risk sectors for forced labor. As supply chains are broad, complex and often unknown, the building sector can be susceptible to inadvertently supporting these harmful practices.

From identifying the challenge to driving solutions

Modern slavery is not exclusive to the construction and building product manufacturing industry. For example, the apparel and agricultural industries also are at risk for exploitation. The International Labour Organization (ILO) promotes decent work conditions and the adoption of fundamental conventions to protect workers’ rights around the world. Many legal frameworks and regulations promote awareness and transparency in the supply chain towards identifying modern slavery situations. Example regulations include Modern Slavery Acts of Australia (2018) and the UK (2015), the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, Canada’s Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, and California’s Transparency in Supply Chains Act. The European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires large companies to disclose their efforts towards assessing and improving labor conditions in their supply chain through one of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS S2, Workers in the Value Chain).

In addition to regulations, the urgency of the problem has prompted many companies to take actions to avoid direct or indirect engagement with modern slavery practices. Taking notes from playbooks first written by the apparel and food industries, certifications are becoming available for manufacturers and for sources of raw materials. Such programs may require demonstration of support for fundamental responsible labor practices through third-party verification of claims and onsite visits, plus chains of custody that clearly trace the origin of goods. Some companies perform labor audits to their suppliers and deeper in their supply chains. Still, the level of awareness and pervasiveness of the problem requires manufacturers of all scales to significantly ramp up efforts to improve their own labor conditions and demand labor dignity and traceability in their supply chains.

Companies can also support fair labor practices through their corporate policies and by vetting goods and services throughout their procurement processes. As a cultural and humanitarian center, Grace Farms Foundation has brought people together across sectors to advance the Design for Freedom Movement. Design for Freedom works to end modern slavery and eliminate forced and child labor in the building materials supply chain. Through the release of the Design for Freedom International Guidance & Toolkit, Grace Farms is raising awareness and promoting ethical practices within the built environment. The Toolkit provides background information on the scope of modern slavery, features high-risk raw and composite materials, areas where extraction and manufacturing has been particularly prone to exploitation, and provides tools and resources for architects, designers and contractors to explore material transparency and start conversations with manufacturers and suppliers about responsible supply chains.

“The design and construction sector has acknowledged responsible material procurement is not only a priority, but a critical lever for change. This industry recognition represents a shift that design is advancing beyond aesthetics, performance, and sustainability to now also incorporate human dignity. The Design for Freedom International Guidance & Toolkit is a comprehensive resource that can be used to enhance material transparency, accountability, and human rights due diligence.”
— Nora Rizzo, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, LFA | Ethical Materials Director, Grace Farms Foundation

The role of WELL
Building upon these initiatives, the WELL Building Standard includes two relevant strategies to help companies to assess and address modern slavery risks in their operations and supply chains.

• In feature C17: Responsible Labor Practices of the Community concept, organizations are required to list, map, commit to and report progress to establish and maintain fair and human-centric labor practices for contracted or employed groups traditionally prone to poor working conditions such as cleaning, catering, construction, security and building maintenance.
• Elimination of the embodied suffering in building products is the target of the strategies under X13: Fair Labor in Building Products in the Materials concept. In these strategies, organizations are required to install products from manufacturers that can demonstrate provision of living wages to their employees, that procure raw materials from certified and/or more transparent supply chains, and that assess, disclose and confirm fair labor practices on their suppliers. Much of this feature was inspired by the work of Grace Farms and aligned with strategies listed in the Design for Freedom International Guidance & Toolkit.

Collaboration is key

Consistent with IWBI’s governance process of engaging stakeholders during the standard development process, these WELL strategies were developed after years of consultation with global industry leaders, a key element to address this worldwide problem. We built these strategies with the goal to empower concurrent initiatives to help propel the movement towards better and truly restorative built environments. For example, IWBI has joined with organizations such as Grace Farms Foundation, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the International Living Future Institute under the umbrella of mindful MATERIALS to align efforts to select more responsible building products. Together, through such collaborative efforts, we hope to continue to make progress in how the built environment works and operates in an effective and positive way.

IWBI promotes sustainable supply chains as part of its larger focus on social sustainability – the practice of managing and optimizing an organization’s impact on its people, community and broader societal systems. To learn more about leveraging WELL to promote social sustainability, view this resource.

View original content here.

Originally published on NCPA.org

Recently, Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) announced a new collaboration aimed at improving heart health in rural communities in the United States.

NCPA has launched a program in partnership with BMS to address health-related social needs and care coordination for patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) by piloting community health worker specialized training for pharmacy technicians. Pharmacist-community health worker teams in 25 rural pharmacies across Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri will be trained through a rigorous curriculum to more effectively evaluate patients with higher risk of CVD and guide them toward appropriate healthcare providers for further care and evaluation.

Additionally, NCPA is creating new access points at these same independent pharmacies for screening, monitoring and management of cardiovascular disease, funded through a separate and independent grant by BMS, as part of a pilot program to evaluate the impact of enhanced access to critical healthcare services in medically underserved communities.

CVD disproportionately impacts rural Americans, with adults in rural areas facing a 19% higher risk of developing heart failure and being 1.5 times more likely to die of CVD than adults in urban areas. Community pharmacies are often the only access point to connect patients with critical healthcare services in many rural geographies. BMS and NCPA’s commitments to address healthcare disparities in rural America aim to improve healthcare delivery and, ultimately, outcomes.

“Too many patients in rural America face barriers to cardiovascular care—barriers that tragically cost lives,” said Andrew Whitehead, vice president and head of Population Health at Bristol Myers Squibb. “Through our collaboration with NCPA, we are confronting these challenges head-on. By supporting the NCPA Community Health Worker training for pharmacy techs to further assist in the continuity of care for patients in these communities, we’re helping to close a critical gap in our healthcare system and reaffirming our commitment to creating equitable access to care for all.”

“We are pleased to partner with BMS to improve access to care for people in rural communities,” said B. Douglas Hoey, pharmacist, MBA, CEO of NCPA. “The NCPA Innovation Center has partnered with the 25 rural pharmacies to improve cardiovascular outcomes through care coordination, screenings, transition of care interventions, and making sure patients have access to the medicines they need to sustain and improve health. Community pharmacists and their teams are increasingly playing a bigger role in the healthcare of Americans, and we are excited to create new, sustainable models of pharmacy-based care.”

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) is a US-based organization that represents the interests of nearly 19,000 independent pharmacies across the country, many of which are located in areas where healthcare is hard to find, and one-third of which are in communities of less than 10,000 people.

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Spills in oil fields, whether produced water, hydrocarbons, or other fluids, demand swift and effective response to minimize impacts on potential receptors, the environment, and operations. This live panel discussion will provide practical strategies for managing oil field spills from first response through closure, with insights from both risk management and field practitioners. 

Key approaches the session will highlight include: 

• Prompt spill response to contain impacts and safeguard receptors
• Field screening methods that support efficient decision-making and help avoid over-remediation
• Comprehensive documentation of work, burn rates, waste management, and sampling data
• Effective remediation techniques such as flushing, excavation, addition of amendments, and land farming
• Collaboration with regulatory authorities to access critical data and streamline closure
• Featured speakers in this panel discussion include Seth Kagan, Vice President, Head of Environmental Claims at Aspen, David Grounds, Visionary HSE & Regulatory Leader with 22+ years of oil & gas experience, and Troy Bernal, Senior Consultant & Spill Response Subject Matter Expert at Antea Group USA. The discussion will be moderated by Rosemarie Hebner, Esq., Senior Consultant at Antea Group USA, ensuring a dynamic conversation that bridges, insurance, operational, and consulting perspectives. 

Together, this expert panel will equip attendees with actionable strategies to strengthen spill response and remediation programs, whether for produced water releases or broader oil field incidents. 

Join us on October 28^th at 2pm ET for this live panel discussion.

Register Here!

Download the report

Welcome to the third edition of the KPMG ESG Assurance Maturity Index. Since we inaugurated this series, significant developments have unfolded, and the sustainability landscape has shifted in decisive ways.

This year, KPMG surveyed senior executives and board members with ESG reporting and assurance knowledge at 1,320 companies across industries and global regions, with a mean revenue of US$16.8 billion. Of these, 310 companies identified that they reported and obtained assurance over their sustainability disclosures in accordance with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) for financial years beginning on or after January 1, 2024 (Wave 1). We also expanded the sample size to include respondents from Africa, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates, to ensure representation from across each continent.

The Index captures a pivotal moment. As regulatory frameworks such as the CSRD and the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards gain traction, organizations are being called to act — not merely react. The data reveals that while some sectors are advancing with confidence, others are still navigating early stages. Yet across the board, the message is clear: ESG assurance is not a destination, it is a journey that demands courage, clarity, and commitment.

Want to know how your company measures against your peers? Complete our short survey to find out!

ESG Assurance Maturity Index benchmarking tool

Read more on kpmg.com

ST. PAUL, Minn., October 9, 2025 /3BL/ – Antea Group USA, a leading environmental and sustainability consulting firm, today announced its pro bono involvement in addressing PFAS contamination in the water supply of the Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School, located on the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation in Minnesota.

The Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School, serving approximately 250 students and 50 teachers, support staff, custodians, bus drivers, and others, has been grappling with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination in its water supply. Routine sampling discovered that four to eight PFAS compounds were present in the water from the school’s four on-site supply wells. This contamination may have been ongoing at the school’s current site in 1984, with the most likely source being the use of floor waxes and coatings containing PFAS compounds for over 30 years. Repeated cleaning, reapplication, and water disposal to the onsite treatment system likely led PFAS compounds to enter the groundwater supply. These “forever chemicals” are linked to various health risks, and the long-term exposure for the school community has necessitated urgent action.

Antea Group President and hydrogeology expert, Bob Karls, is donating his time and specialized knowledge to the ongoing remediation efforts by the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, who are actively collaborating with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and several State agencies. Support of this project is part of Antea Group USA’s broader corporate social responsibility program, which dedicates 1% of annual profits to pro bono work for non-profit organizations.

“We are honored to contribute our expertise to the Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in their pursuit of clean and safe drinking water,” said Bob Karls, President of Antea Group USA. “This pro bono project underscores our deep commitment to environmental stewardship and supporting communities in need, especially when facing complex challenges like PFAS contamination. Our goal is to provide the technical hydrogeological insights necessary to secure a new, clean water source for the school and protect the health of its students and staff.”

Bob serves on the board of Northern Waters Land Trust, a local nonprofit dedicated to conserving northern Minnesota’s watersheds, lakes, and wildlife. Through Northern Waters Land Trust, he learned about the school’s water issues and, with Antea Group’s support, committed to addressing the supply challenges affecting students and staff.

Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig Superintendent Dan McKeon shared, “Discovering that water at the school was unsafe for consumption was devastating. There are families who for generations have sent their children to the Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School, so the thought of the water being unsafe created a lot of frustration and fear. Having people like Bob on our team has helped us turn the corner from fear and frustration to hope and a sense of safety down the road. His expertise has been invaluable, as has his gentle and considerate approach to this sensitive project.”

Multiple water treatment options and new water sources were evaluated based on cost, environmental impact, and user concerns. The preferred solution involves drilling into a protected aquifer approximately 300 feet deep. Test wells have confirmed suitability, and engineering work is now underway to install new supply wells and connect them to the school’s water systems. The existing wells will be properly decommissioned, and continued monitoring of both shallow and nearby wells will ensure the contaminated groundwater is no longer used.

“In collaboration with our multi-agency team working to alleviate our PFAS concerns, Bob’s knowledge and expertise has assisted Leech Lake and the school to understand this emerging science, guiding us through our options, avoiding costly treatments and encouraging all parties to find clean water,” shared Brandy Toft, Environmental Director for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. “Bob’s engagement has greatly assisted us to do things right the first time—proactively—so we can secure clean and safe water for our children.”

Antea Group USA is proud to partner with the Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in this vital effort to protect the health of students and staff and ensure a healthier future for the community.

About Antea Group USA: Antea Group USA is an international environmental and sustainability consulting firm that partners with clients to create a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable world. By combining industry expertise with a global perspective, Antea Group USA offers a wide range of services, including environmental, health, safety, and sustainability consulting. Learn more about Antea Group’s expertise in PFAS management.

About Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School: The Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School is a K-12 Tribal school located on the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation in Minnesota. It provides education and a supportive learning environment for approximately 300 students and faculty. Learn more: www.bugonaygeshig.com

About the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe: The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe is a federally recognized, sovereign Native American Tribe located in north central Minnesota. The LLBO is committed to the responsible operation of government, preservation of our heritage, promotion of our sovereignty, and the protection of natural resources for our elders and future generations, while enhancing the health, economic well-being, education, and our inherent right to live as Ojibwe People.

Media Contacts: 

Alison Bryant
Antea Group
alison.bryant@anteagroup.us

Michael Chosa, Communications Director
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
mike.chosa@llojibwe.net

AI is reshaping agriculture – and CNH, a world-class equipment, technology and services company, is at the forefront of this transformation. In one of the world’s oldest industries, they have been supporting farmers through innovation and engineering for over 180 years. Today, as they face challenges such as constrained farming land, a changing climate and labor shortages, CNH are delivering AI-powered solutions that help them work smarter and more sustainably.

On CNH combines, tractors, and sprayers, AI systems make complex decisions in real time, from steering vehicles to optimizing inputs all to improve productivity and yields. Technologies such as SenseApply™ sprayer automation use machine vision to apply treatment only where needed, cutting herbicide use and increasing productivity for farmers each year.

In their latest A Sustainable Year story, CNH experts, including Head of Technology Strategies and Product Innovation, Francesca Protano, share how AI is making farming smarter, faster, and more sustainable. The story also features insights from Dr. Dennis Buckmaster, professor and expert in digital agriculture and AI at Purdue University, on how AI and connectivity are shaping the future of farming.

Read the full story here.

An uptick in public awareness and media coverage around mental health has catalyzed a long-overdue shift in how organizations view mental well-being. At the same time, a convergence of global crises—pandemics, economic uncertainty, climate change, and social unrest—has amplified stress, burnout, and anxiety in the workplace. For today’s businesses, mental health isn’t just a wellness topic—it’s a core risk management issue, regulatory requirement, and key to workforce sustainability.

A global survey by McKinsey found that even though roughly three-quarters of organizations surveyed are prioritizing workplace mental health programs, employee burnout remains high. Their research also finds that implementing and scaling proven mental health interventions globally by 2050 could reduce direct and indirect mental health disease burden by over 40 percent.

The cost of inaction is steep. For example, mental health conditions now account for 9% of serious workers’ compensation claims in Australia, with a 37% increase since 2017–18. These claims typically involve four to five times more time lost than physical injuries, and three times the cost in compensation.

This evolving legal and operational landscape means that investing in mental health is not just ethically responsible—it is critical for business continuity and compliance.

Benefits of EHS Mental Health Programs

Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) leaders are uniquely positioned to champion workforce mental health by building programs that address psychological hazards and integrate mental well-being into core risk management systems.

How workplace mental health programs benefit your employees

Workers gain several benefits from quality mental health programs in the workplace.

Benefits for Employees:

• Reduced stress and burnout: Comprehensive mental health programs provide employees with tools to manage stress effectively. This leads to lower stress levels and better coping mechanisms.
• Improved work-life balance: These programs often include resources for achieving a healthier work-life balance. This helps workers avoid burnout and maintain personal relationships.
• Stronger workplace relationships: Improved mental health translates to better interactions with colleagues. Workers are more likely to communicate effectively, collaborate, and contribute positively to team dynamics.
• Increased engagement and job satisfaction: Feeling supported in terms of mental health enhances overall job satisfaction. Employees who are content and fulfilled are more likely to remain committed to their roles and the organization.
• Greater focus on wellness: Mental health initiatives are often part of broader wellness programs. These programs encourage healthier lifestyles, encompassing both physical and mental well-being.

How workplace mental health programs benefit your organization

Here are a few ways your organization can benefit from implementing a holistic mental health program.

Benefits for Organizations:

• Improved productivity and performance: A mentally healthy workforce is a more productive one. Employees who have the resources to manage their mental well-being are better equipped to stay focused, make informed decisions, and perform at their best.
• Improved talent retention: Organizations that prioritize mental health create a positive and supportive workplace culture. This fosters employee loyalty and reduces turnover rates, leading to cost savings associated with recruitment and training.
• Reduced absenteeism and turnover: Mental health programs help employees manage stress and mental health challenges, reducing absenteeism due to mental health-related issues.
• Compliance with regulatory requirements (including psychosocial hazard regulations and ISO 45003)
• Risk mitigation and reduced risk of legal action: Addressing mental health issues early can prevent larger problems from arising. Mental health programs help identify potential challenges and provide interventions before they escalate.
• Stronger employer brand and talent retention: Employees want to work for a company that cares for them and provides structures and programs to support their well-being.

A Holistic Approach to Workplace Mental Health Programs

A holistic employee mental health program examines broader workplace culture to promote well-being at multiple levels. To meaningfully improve workplace mental health, organizations must go beyond awareness campaigns and take an integrated, risk-based approach grounded in the core principles of occupational health and safety. This fosters an authentic culture of support, inclusivity, and overall mental health.

Here are a few key elements for this approach.

Cultural assessment

The program would start with a comprehensive assessment of the existing workplace culture. This involves evaluating factors such as communication patterns, leadership styles, and attitudes toward mental health. A workplace culture assessment provides insights into areas that require improvement and informs the development of targeted strategies. These insights form the foundation for a robust psychosocial risk assessment aligned with ISO 45003.

C-suite engagement and buy-in

As the bridge between the C-suite and the workforce, EHS leaders play a vital role in prioritizing worker mental health programs. Sustainable change must come from the top. EHS teams can help secure executive commitment and embed mental health into broader business strategies.

Leadership training

Holistic mental health programs prioritize leadership development. Training managers and leaders in empathetic communication, active listening, and stress management equips them to create a supportive environment and respond effectively to employees’ mental health concerns—especially when managing teams exposed to psychosocial hazards like trauma or high-stress roles.

Policy review and development

The program would involve a thorough review of existing policies to ensure they support mental well-being. New policies could be developed to address bullying, misconduct, flexible work, and accommodation for mental health needs to align with local psychosocial hazard regulations and mental health standards.

Wellness initiatives

A holistic program extends to physical health as well. Initiatives like fitness classes, mindfulness workshops, and healthy eating options contribute to overall well-being and mental health.

Support beyond the employee

Supporting employees’ families through workplace mental health resources helps reduce stress and emotional strain on the employee, improving their focus, well-being, and overall job performance. When family needs are addressed, employees feel more supported and less distracted, fostering a healthier and more engaged workforce.

Workload management

Ensuring workloads are manageable and realistic reduces stress and burnout. Encouraging breaks, setting reasonable expectations, and providing opportunities for skill development contribute to a healthier work-life balance.

Global Mental Health Regulations and Guidelines – the latest updates:

Global employers need to be aware of regulations that impact their workforce across jurisdictions. Here are some examples of workplace mental health regulations and guidelines from around the world.

Australia

Victoria’s new Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations

Commences on 1 December 2025, requiring employers to identify, assess, and control psychosocial hazards such as bullying, sexual harassment, aggression, and exposure to traumatic events. These hazards must now be treated as seriously as physical risks.

The Fair Work Act now includes a positive duty to eliminate sexual harassment and hostile work environments, requiring proactive measures rather than reactive responses.

Model Code of Practice for Bullying at Work

Australia has a Model Code of Practice on Preventing and Responding to Workplace Bullying. This code provides guidelines for employers to prevent and address workplace bullying, which can have significant mental health implications. It includes recommendations for risk assessment, creating policies, and providing training.

Model Code of Practice for Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work

NSW and other states have already embedded psychosocial risk management into WHS regulations.

United Kingdom

Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

The HSE in the UK provides guidelines for managing work-related stress. Employers are required to assess and manage the risk of stress-related ill health arising from work activities. This includes identifying stressors, implementing control measures, and providing appropriate support.

Canada

National Standard

Canada developed a voluntary standard that provides guidelines for promoting psychological health and safety in the workplace. It addresses factors such as workload management, work-life balance, and supportive leadership to prevent mental health issues.

There are also a few specific province acts related to mental health including:

Stronger, Healthier Ontario Act

(Bill 127) which amended several provisions of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act,

those governing the circumstances in which workers are entitled to benefits as a result of mental stress These amendments took effect on January 1, 2018. Workers are entitled to benefits for both traumatic and chronic mental stress that arises out of and in the course of the employment.

Working for Workers Act 2021

Workers in Ontario now have a right to disconnect when their regular work day is completed, which means not engaging in work-related communications or the sending or reviewing of other messages, so as to be free from the performance of work.

Brazil

Starting in May 2026, Brazil will enforce NR-01 (Regulatory Norm-01) around psychosocial risks. NRs are the federal Health and Safety regulations that are applicable to all businesses in the country.

Psychosocial risks are a big part of the new equation, and this is likely to require significant efforts, specifically around integration of different areas from the business, new resources around health and new documents required.

New Zealand

WorkSafe New Zealand

WorkSafe New Zealand provides resources for addressing work-related stress and mental health. Employers are encouraged to create a supportive work environment and identify and manage stressors that could impact employees’ mental well-being.

Mental Health Foundation New Zealand

The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand is a charity that works towards creating a society free from discrimination. They encourage policies, systems and laws that protect and promote wellbeing alongside providing resources and best practice guidelines for businesses.

For more on bridging occupational health and safety across borders, listen to our podcast episode here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Workplace Mental Health Programs

What is a psychosocial risk assessment?

A psychosocial risk assessment is a structured process used to identify, evaluate, and control workplace hazards that impact mental health—such as stress, bullying, harassment, or traumatic events. It is essential for creating psychologically safe work environments and is increasingly required under global regulations like ISO 45003.

What are psychosocial hazards in the workplace?

Psychosocial hazards are aspects of work design, organization, and interpersonal relationships that can negatively affect employees’ psychological health. Common examples include unrealistic workloads, poor leadership, job insecurity, bullying, sexual harassment, and exposure to trauma.

Why is ISO 45003 important?

ISO 45003 is the international standard for managing psychosocial risks at work. It provides guidance to organizations on how to prevent work-related stress, promote well-being, and fulfill legal and ethical responsibilities around mental health.

What are the legal responsibilities of employers regarding mental health?

In many countries, employers have a legal duty to protect employees from psychological harm, just as they do for physical harm. For example, Australia has introduced psychosocial hazard regulations in states like Victoria and New South Wales. In the UK, duties fall under the Health and Safety at Work Act. In the U.S., OSHA and the Department of Labor emphasize mental health as part of overall workplace safety. It is important when operating globally that a business understands the local environments and regulations, local consultants can help not only with the compliance and guidelines but important cultural nuances and understanding.

How do mental health programs benefit businesses?

Workplace mental health programs improve productivity, reduce absenteeism, and increase employee retention. They also help organizations comply with emerging regulations, reduce legal risks, and build stronger employer brands.

NEW YORK, October 9, 2025 /3BL/ – The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) announced today that its pioneering 12 Competencies for Measuring Health and Well-being at the Workplace (12 Competencies) has been peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Corporate Real Estate. This validation affirms the framework’s scope, rigor and relevance for global organizations to leverage when seeking to track and improve their workplace health and well-being strategies.

The 12 Competencies is a framework that maps out areas of health leadership and offers a comprehensive framework for organizations to evaluate key workplace well-being factors, such as mental health, physical health, social connection and organizational culture. Organized across five interconnected levels—individual, organizational, environmental, community and global—the framework helps companies dimensionalize well-being strategies and identify what they are measuring and where opportunities remain for deeper impact. The 12 Competencies can help companies monitor, track and demonstrate their impact on health, and in turn identify health improvement opportunities while reducing exposure to material risk.

The 12 Competencies, first announced by IWBI in 2022, is the result of an integrated approach to understanding how to measure commitment to and progress in health and well-being, drawing on the expertise of the IWBI’s Research Advisory, the science backed WELL concepts, and industry-leading best practices that IWBI has gathered through its decade-long work with thousands of forward-thinking companies around the world who are elevating workplace health and well-being. Together, these knowledge streams shaped a robust and practical framework designed to move the needle on measuring workplace health and well-being.

“Today’s announcement signifies a major step forward in our mission to provide actionable and science-backed KPIs for organizations focused on improving workplace health and performance,” said Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO of IWBI. “The peer review of the 12 Competencies and its publication in the Journal of Corporate Real Estate validate the framework’s relevance and effectiveness in transforming workplaces.”

Industry experts advocating for workplace health and well-being are celebrating the growing momentum around this important shift. “In my decades-long experience helping global organizations advance workplace health and well-being, I’ve seen how challenging it can be to measure what truly matters for employees,” said Despina Katskakis, Global Chair Strategic Consulting, Cushman & Wakefield. “The 12 Competencies provide a practical framework that helps companies align measurement and strategy across diverse workplaces, turning good intentions into meaningful outcomes.”

Eleven esteemed researchers participated in the independent peer review article, including academic scholars from seven top universities in the United States, Canada, Australia, Belgium and South Africa, as well as leading experts from the organizational and building health sectors. Their collective expertise and independent validation underscore the strength and credibility of the 12 Competencies.

“Measuring health and well-being is inherently complex. We designed the 12 Competencies to turn that complexity into clarity—and to solve a problem that so many companies face when measuring health and performance. In doing so, we help companies align their investments, reporting and people outcomes across five levels of impact,” said author Dr. Whitney Austin Gray, Senior Vice President of Research at IWBI.

“Validating a company’s investment in people is critical. Leading certification systems around the world provide strategies, but it is challenging to know if these systems comprehensively measure health, or only a portion of health, such as environmental health versus organizational health. The 12 Competencies show how to track, measure and manage how you’re measuring health,” added author Dr. Christhina Candido, Professor and International Advisory Board Member.

In the article, the authors say, “The 12 Competencies identified five interconnected levels known to impact health and well-being, within which 12 competencies are nested. Each competency is broad enough to enable benchmarking. Detailed domains and dimensions help organizations understand what to measure and track for health and well-being and can adapt as research evolves. The framework addresses industry gaps by connecting leading and lagging indicators to allow for a more systemic approach to measuring health and well-being.”

“Too often, organizations don’t know what to measure when it comes to employee health and well-being—or how those metrics connect to performance, thriving and social impact,” said Angela Loder, Executive Director of Greening the City in Denver, Co., and the lead author of the article. “The 12 Competencies framework changes that. It’s an adaptive, evidence-based tool that shows leaders where they’re strong, where they need to improve and how to prove the impact of their investments in health and well-being.”

Leading the charge to operationalize the 12 Competencies, IWBI plans to incorporate the framework in its WELL Standard and program offerings, helping to support organizations’ in leveraging them to measure their multi-tiered investment in health.

Since its 2022 launch during a landmark event at Nasdaq focused on embedding health into corporate strategy, the 12 Competencies are now positioned to provide organizations with a clear, actionable guide to evaluating and strengthening their social sustainability efforts. The competencies include:

Health and well-being
Thriving
Performance, energy & motivation
Employee effectiveness
Organizational performance
Organizational culture & engagement
Risk management
Environment of care & support
Ambient environmental quality
Occupant & market perceptions of indoor environmental quality
Community & stakeholder engagement
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) transparency & reporting

The publication of the 12 Competencies is another important step in IWBI’s mission to support and equip organizations with the tools to advance and validate healthier, more resilient workplaces.

Authors of the peer-reviewed paper include:
Angela Loder, PhD, Greening the City, Denver, Colorado, USA; and formerly IWBI
Christhina Candido, PhD, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
Sergio Altomonte, PhD, Architecture et Climat, Louvain Research Institute for Landscape, Architecture, Built Environment, Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium
Whitney Austin Gray, PhD, IWBI, Washington, DC, USA
Casey Lindberg, PhD, Department of Environmental Design, University of Colorado Boulder, USA
Susan Sung Eun Chung, PhD, PhD, HKS Inc., Dallas, Texas, USA
Ina Rothmann, PhD, WorkWell Research Unit – Afriforte, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
Avis Devine, PhD, Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, Canada
Yoko Kawai, PhD, Yale School of Architecture, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
Usha Satish, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
Sally Augustin, PhD, Design with Science, La Grange Park, Illinois, USA

For more information on the 12 Competencies, visit IWBI’s original announcement here.

About the International WELL Building Institute
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation and the global authority for transforming health and well-being in buildings, organizations and communities. In pursuit of its public-health mission, IWBI mobilizes its community through the development and administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL), WELL for residential, WELL Community Standard, its WELL ratings and management of the WELL AP credential. IWBI also translates research into practice, develops educational resources and advocates for policies that promote people-first places for everyone, everywhere. More information on WELL can be found here.
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In New York, business leaders from every corner of the world are uniting to address evolving global challenges and accelerate solutions. Across multiple events and stages, SAP is sharing how its artificial intelligence (AI) edge is helping leading companies shape the future of business by turning environmental, regulatory, and market pressures into opportunities for action.

AI, with already proven applications, can unlock insights to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 5%-10% by 2030. According to KPMG, over half of sustainability executives say one of their top actions in the next three years is expanding their use of AI to enhance ESG capabilities.

Most businesses have not yet realized AI’s full potential for sustainability. In fact, only 14% of companies are using AI today to reduce carbon emissions. But those ready to do so will gain a decisive advantage that goes beyond emissions reduction. SAP’s ERP-centric approach enables organizations to deliver sustainability outcomes with applications, data, and AI embedded into SAP Business Suite. With sustainability reporting, data processing, automation, and strategic insights, AI can navigate your business through today’s climate challenges and ensure tomorrow’s competitiveness.

Put sustainability at the core of your business with AI-driven solutions

Learn more

Power on, ethically and responsibly

Scaling AI solutions comes with considerable energy and water usage. To ensure net benefit, this needs to be part of return on investment conversations. With robust governance and renewables-backing however, AI is able to reduce more emissions than it generates.

All SAP data centers are powered by 100% renewable energy and any emissions from use of third-party AI systems are calculated and included in the company’s Scope 3 emissions.

Used ethically and responsibly, AI can be the catalyst of your sustainable business transformation. Here are eight ways that businesses use SAP’s AI-powered systems to build their sustainable advantage.

Improve efficiency with automation

1. Compliance information processing

The SAP S/4HANA for product compliance, AI-assisted compliance information processing capability can automatically extract compliance information from updated documents and map the information to compliance requirements.

This can reduce costs in product compliance disclosures, reduce penalties and fines in environmental management, and automate processes to reduce the risk of manual errors.

This helps turn a 50-minute task into a five-minute job and reduce processing and evaluation costs by 90%.

2. Declaration image analysis

With the SAP Green Token, AI-assisted declaration image analysis capability, you can automatically extract data and information from sustainability declarations regardless of format.

This helps cut review time, eliminate manual error risk, and ensure your reports are ready for required external audits.

Without AI, it takes roughly five minutes to review, extract, and post information from declarations. With AI, it’s just 20 seconds.

3. Permit management

SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, EHS environment management, AI-assisted permit management can read hundreds of pages in seconds, extract the compliance requirements, and propose clear tasks to meet permit requirements.

This AI-assisted capability can save days of permit review and interpretation, remove the need to hire external consultants, and lead up to an 80% reduction in environmental penalties and fines.

Your personal AI carbon consultant

4. Emission factor mapping

With SAP Sustainability Footprint Management, SAP’s AI-enhanced solution, users can calculate product and corporate carbon footprints. Where actual supplier emissions data is given, it can retrieve that information from SAP Sustainability Data Exchange and other systems. When estimates are required, the solution can automatically find the most accurate emissions factors from databases and map those to products.

Audit-ready emission factor mapping can turn a 10-minute manual task into a two-minute verification.

5. Report generation

In the SAP Sustainability Control Tower solution, you can generate comprehensive ESG reports in just a few clicks:

• Automatically generate reports that align with internal sustainability strategies and meet external requirements such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
• Take data collection from a half hour to a half minute and report creation and drafting from 30 hours down to just five hours, all the while eliminating confusion and the risk of manual errors.

6. Carbon emissions analysis 

From reporting on today to planning for tomorrow, Joule, SAP’s copilot, can take current carbon emissions data and return actionable insights that help reduce emissions and guide corporate sustainability strategies.

By combining financial and carbon data, Joule can create carbon intensity KPIs and can be your ultimate corporate sustainability consultant.

The AI safety officer for your EHS team

7. Safety observation reporting

Complex safety reporting procedures dissuade employees from reporting potential hazards. With the SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, EHS workplace safety, AI-assisted safety observation reporting capability, basic users can input safety observations in natural language, and the AI model can process that into a formal incident report, prompting the user for any missing details.

This can increase the likelihood that employees report safety hazards and helps prevent severe incidents by identifying potential safety issues in advance.

8. Safety instruction generation

Your AI safety officer can generate clear safety instructions for specific equipment based on the latest risk assessments and job hazard analyses.

With SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, EHS workplace safety, AI-assisted safety instruction generation, the time and effort of manually prescribing and updating safety instructions can be dramatically reduced.

Solve today’s sustainability challenges while preparing for tomorrow

The right AI integration can ensure you future-proof your operations while shining a light on the path that drives competitiveness.

What sets SAP apart is our suite-first, AI-first approach that helps ensure sustainability isn’t an add-on, but a strategic enabler that can deliver measurable outcomes at scale. SAP’s one sustainability data model can drive consistent reporting, deeper insight, and confident decisions across every sustainability process, product, and partner network.

With a responsible AI partner, businesses can realize measurable financial returns on AI investments and unlock sustainability benefits; automate manual-heavy paperwork; identify emissions hot spots and steer their business toward a decarbonized economy; and make environmental impact tracking visible to all lines of business based on a reliable single source of truth. With an integrated set of capabilities, SAP Sustainability solutions help businesses address their sustainability needs holistically and across topics. The result is speed, trust, and traceability, which turn sustainability into strategy, not just compliance.

Get in touch to find out how SAP can help your business power on with sustainability solutions.

Monica Molesag is global head of Sustainability Communications at SAP.

Last week, the Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA) hosted its 2025 Women in Semiconductor Hardware (WISH) Conference in San Jose, bringing together trailblazers from across the industry to share lessons on leadership, resilience and the urgent need to expand the talent pipeline. I had the privilege to attend this event alongside a distinguished group of AMD women engineers. I felt fortunate to be included among such inspiring peers.

The main sessions underscored three clear themes: the power of mindset in overcoming adversity, authentic leadership in times of change and collective action to address the workforce challenges shaping the future of semiconductors.

Fireside Chat: The Trailblazer’s Mindset

Sylvia Acevedo, former NASA rocket scientist, CEO and current board member at Qualcomm and Credo, shared insights from her book The Trailblazer’s Playbook. In a conversation with GSA CEO Jodi Shelton, Acevedo described how clarity, courage and conviction helped her turn barriers into stepping stones throughout her career.

From being told “girls like you don’t go to college” to becoming one of the first Hispanic women to earn an engineering graduate degree at Stanford, Acevedo emphasized the importance of resilience, persistence and authenticity. Her stories from NASA and corporate leadership illustrated how setbacks can fuel growth if approached with curiosity rather than frustration. She also reminded attendees that strong leaders can be both competitive and compassionate, and that opening doors for others is an essential part of building a legacy.

Leadership Lessons: Authenticity and Advocacy 

A panel of senior executives, including leaders from Broadcom, Arm, Cirrus Logic, Cerebras and more, explored what it takes to lead in times of rapid change. The discussion highlighted that kindness should not be mistaken for weakness, and that leaders must balance being approachable with delivering results.

Panelists stressed that authenticity is a powerful differentiator: leaders who retain their identity and use their natural strengths, whether humor or empathy, are more approachable and effective. They also spoke candidly about visibility and advocacy, reminding the audience that career advancement is not only about what you know, but also who knows you. 

Key advice included:

• Speak the language of leadership by framing contributions in terms of strategy and value.
• Understand how your work fits into the bigger picture of an organization.
• Be proactive in sponsoring unseen talent, especially women and underrepresented voices.
• Teach people how to treat you by setting boundaries and articulating your vision.

The conversation underscored that building a legacy means lifting others as you climb, creating opportunities that only leaders on the inside can unlock. 

Talent and Workforce: Inspiring the Next Generation

The semiconductor industry plays a critical role in modern life, from powering smartphones to enabling AI, and this theme was at the center of the final main session on talent. Leaders from TSMC, GlobalFoundries, Micron Technology, Marvell and San Jose State University discussed the workforce challenges and opportunities shaping the industry.

Panelists emphasized that careers in semiconductors provide high impact, intellectual challenge, long-term stability and a strong sense of societal purpose. To address the talent gap, companies are investing in university partnerships, K–12 educational programs, apprenticeships and collaborations with groups like the Girl Scouts and First Robotics. They also emphasized broadening recruitment beyond elite universities, valuing potential and diverse backgrounds over pedigree.

The collective message was clear: building a skilled, diverse and inspired workforce is both a challenge and an opportunity that the industry must meet together. 

AMD Contributions

AMD was strongly represented throughout the event. Liya Liu, senior member of AMD technical staff, spoke in the AI breakout session on accelerating formal verification workflows. Sharon Zhou, AMD vice president of AI, joined a panel discussion on AI and the future of hardware engineering. Isabelita Camaclang, MTS silicon design engineer, and Manvitha Pannala,  technical program manager, from AMD delivered test and validation track presentations on using AI for DFT optimization and improving SERDES margin analysis with Power BI and Snowflake. Sangeeta Raste, AMD senior manager of PMTS silicon design, spoke in the design technology breakout session on innovative approaches to low-power design. In addition, the 2025 Female Up and Comer Award was presented to Yanfang Le, AMD principal network architect.

I am proud that AMD was a sponsor of this year’s WISH conference and plays an active role in the GSA Women’s Leadership Initiative, reinforcing its commitment to supporting women leaders across the semiconductor industry.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 WISH Conference showcased the leadership, grit and collaboration driving the semiconductor industry forward. From personal stories of resilience to candid conversations on authenticity and talent, the sessions highlighted the responsibility and the opportunity to create pathways for future generations.

As Sylvia Acevedo put it, trailblazing is not just about creating a path but building a highway for others to follow. Last week’s conversations made it clear: the future of semiconductors will be shaped not only by technology, but by leaders committed to unlocking opportunity for all.