Environmental, Social & Governance Briefs

Most European countries went into a second lockdown in November. How will this lockdown impact economic growth, jobs and business confidence? The short answer is: milder than feared.

Jeff Hoffman shares six ideas for how companies' corporate citizenship and philanthropy function can finish 2020 strong using any remaining funding they have.

As the COVID-19 pandemic and recession put more pressure than ever on donors and nonprofits, it’s urgent that we talk realistically about what it takes to solve society’s problems. The Impact Genome Project's Price of Impact Index can help with these discussions.

Jeff Hoffman speaks with Gerard Dehrmann, SVP, Public Affairs & State and Local Government Relations, Walmart Stores, Inc. and Kabir Kumar, Senior Director, Community, Walmart.org. to explore the dynamics of the relationship between company’s government relations and corporate citizenship functions and how they can work together to greater effect.

The Covid-19 pandemic is leading to what may end up being the deepest economic recession since the Great Depression. But eventually, a vaccine will be found, and the fear of the virus will dissipate. How different will the US economy look, say five years from now?

One of the categories that experiences the largest decline in a typical recession is consumer spending on goods. The US is now enduring the worst recession in 80 years: Employment in July was about 13 million below February’s number while GDP dropped by 11 percent in the first half of 2020. Yet in June, consumer spending on goods was 5 percent above pre-Covid-19 levels. Why?

In an interview with prepaid-card solution Soldo, Klass de Vries explains the prospects for European productivity levels in the wake of this spring's lockdowns. Discover why he believes recovery is likely as businesses everywhere adjust to COVID-19 safeguards.

A recently released study found that workplace giving programs are growing in popularity and acceptance as companies look for more ways of investing in communities that are key to their business.

What community relations have long practiced is even more critical after the death of George Floyd. We often talk about the authenticity of “bringing our whole selves to work;” the concept works with bringing our whole company to the community. Beyond basic business functions, we bring our core competencies, and our corporate citizenship strategies to the community through cash, in-kind and product donations along with expertise; much of it delivered through our amazing employee volunteers.

There are financial, social, and health implications for companies, employees, and communities as we think about reopening the economy. Recovery will be a long and winding road, and companies have an opportunity not only to help lead but to help take us to a more green, humane, and thoughtful world.