Corporate Reputation
Goldman employee criticises firm for ripping off clients
A departing Goldman Sachs Group Inc. employee mounted an unprecedented public attack on its “toxic and destructive” culture in a New York Times opinion piece, becoming the first serving insider to openly criticise the firm. The attack adds to criticism from politicians and protesters who blame the company for triggering the financial crisis and profiting at clients’ expense. Goldman Sachs has faced congressional hearings probing its role in the financial crisis and paid $550 million in 2010 to settle a lawsuit accusing it of misleading investors in a collateralised debt obligation.
PepsiCo Australia & New Zealand (ANZ) has been recognised for the second consecutive year by the Federal Government’s Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency as an Employer of Choice for Women (EOWA). This citation is a prestigious acknowledgement by EOWA of organisations that are recognising and advancing women in the workplace. “We take our commitment to diversity and to our female employees very seriously,” said Alejandro RodriguezBas, chief executive officer of PepsiCo ANZ. “We have demonstrated policies and practices supporting women across the organisation, which achieve positive outcomes for both our female employees and our business.”
Pepsico http://www.pepsico.com/Story/PepsiCo-Australia–New-Zealand-receives-Employer-of-Choice-for-Women-citation-fo03142012.html
Volunteering
Ernst & Young LLP receives US President’s Volunteer Service Award from Junior Achievement
Ernst & Young LLP announced that Junior Achievement USA (JA) recognised the firm with a Bronze Level 2010-2011 United States President’s Volunteer Service Award for its contribution of more than 5,000 volunteer hours. Gary Kozlowski, the firm’s Americas Relationship Partner for Junior Achievement said “Ernst & Young LLP is proud to be recognised for our employees’ outstanding contribution to the welfare of local students and our communities. We’re glad that the work readiness and entrepreneurship provided by JA and our volunteers have made a difference in the lives of many of our communities’ youth.”
3BL Media http://3blmedia.com/theCSRfeed/Ernst-Young-LLP-Receives-US-President%E2%80%99s-Volunteer-Service-Award-Junior-Achievement?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Employees
Unemployment rate hits 17-year high
The UK unemployment rate increased to a near 17-year high today after another rise in the jobless total and a huge fall in public sector employment amid more grim news on jobs. Unemployment increased by 28,000 between November2011 and January 2012 to almost 2.7 million, while the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance increased for the 12th month in a row, up by 7,200 in February to 1.6 million, the worst figure since the end of 2009.
The Independent p14 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/unemployment-rate-hits-17year-high-7566096.html
Mayor of London in new jobs and skills drive
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, yesterday announced a vital funding boost of £6 million to help small and medium sized companies in the capital offer apprenticeships to young people in search of work. The Mayor revealed that small and medium sized businesses will be entitled to apply for a £1,500 incentive payment if they employ an apprentice aged 16 to 24 as part of a new Government initiative managed by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS). The new grant, known as AGE 16 to 24, means that a further 4,000 new apprenticeship opportunities could be created in London, a significant boost towards the Mayor’s target to create 100,000 apprenticeships by the end of this year.
London.gov http://www.london.gov.uk/media/press_releases_mayoral/mayor-london-new-jobs-and-skills-drive-0
Environment
Sierra Club spurns $30 million gift as fracking turns toxic
Environmental and health groups are calling for tougher United States regulation of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, turning on a one-time donor to their causes: Chesapeake Energy Corp. The Sierra Club, the largest United States environmental group, is rethinking early support of natural-gas development after activists and scientists linked the drilling to tainted water and increased air emissions.
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