B the Change Weekly: January 3, 2020
Delivered on Fridays, B the Change Weekly delivers the most important and most relevant stories about people using business as a force for good. The newsletter features a weekly note from the B the Change team alongside insight and context on the stories we share here on Medium. Below is our latest roundup. To receive these insights directly in your inbox, sign up for B the Change Weekly today. Now on to the good stuff:
The new year naturally brings an opportunity to reflect, recharge and renew. At the start of 2020, the global community faces many challenges — a worsening climate crisis, growing income inequality, shifting job markets — and the Certified B Corporation community has a unique opportunity to lead by example.
Through a business structure that considers all stakeholders, B Corps make decisions that balance profit and purpose to benefit more than the bottom line. By prioritizing the people at the heart of their operations, B Corps maintain a human touch that builds loyalty with workers, customers and business partners.
This week and this month on B The Change, we’ll share how B Corps are buckling down to make positive change, with a special focus on the role of each individual employee in building a better world through business. Let’s get to work!
Building More Than a Bank Account
At B Corp Technicians for Sustainability, one worker’s financial crisis inspired the company to create a small-dollar loan program with a local credit union. Through the program, workers are able to obtain small, emergency loans at a fair rate while building their credit and savings account after the loan is paid off — creating more agency of their financial life.
Creating Stability for the Refugee Workforce
In his work as a social entrepreneur, Chris Chancey has honed his vision to create greater stability for the 70 million refugees around the world while also benefiting local economies.
A Mindful Take on Workplace Stresses
A mindfulness practice that Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini began to deal with pain from a serious ski injury eventually began to benefit his work life in more subtle ways. In addition to being in less pain than he might otherwise have been, he was less stressed, even as his responsibilities mushroomed. After seeing the benefits of his experience, Bertolini encouraged Aetna to begin offering yoga and mindfulness in the workplace.
Stay in the Know
Here’s your chance to catch up on all the good stuff we shared recently:
- A Year of Business as a Force for Good: 2019 in Review: Celebrating Major Shifts Toward a More Inclusive and Regenerative Economy
- Would You Like 2020 Vision? Start of New Decade Provides New Opportunities for Reflection and Goal-Setting
- Balancing Profit with People and Planet: One Company’s Journey to Use Business as a Force for Good
- What’s a Differentiator? Impact-Driven Business Coach Guides Clients to More Fulfilling, Meaningful Work — and ‘Differentiation’ is the Key
B the Change gathers and shares the voices from within the movement of people using business as a force for good and the community of Certified B Corporations. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the nonprofit B Lab.
The Future of Work Is Now was originally published in B the Change on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
