Obama: Restricting access to green energy is ‘not the American way’
US President Barack Obama on Monday accused fossil fuel interests and other critics of his energy policies of trying to restrict consumers from accessing solar, wind and other renewable sources in order to protect the status quo. “That’s not the American way,” Obama said in a speech at a green energy conference in Las Vegas. “This is about the past versus the future. America believes in the future.” The president questioned the ideological consistency of those who champion free-market solutions – except when the free market is pointing to the wisdom of renewable energy. He singled out billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, who are major donors to Republican political candidates. Obama used his appearance to announce new executive actions and other efforts aimed at making it easier for homeowners and businesses to invest in green energy improvements. (NBC NY)
Employees
Standard Life first in private sector to join Living Wage ‘Friendly Funder Scheme’
Edinburgh-based insurance giant Standard Life has announced that it has become the first private sector company to receive recognition as a “Living Wage Friendly Funder” in the UK from the Living Wage Foundation. Standard Life employs over 5,000 people in the UK and all of its employees receive the Living Wage as a minimum. It also ensures that its interns and contractors based on its premises receive the Living Wage. Now, Standard Life has committed to helping those charities it has funding relationships with to pay the Living Wage for any grant-funded posts. Rhys Moore, director of the Living Wage Foundation said: “We are delighted to recognise Standard Life as a Living Wage Friendly Funder. The leadership shown by Standard Life demonstrates a commitment to tackling the serious problems that low pay brings to our communities.” (Scottish Financial News)
Corporate Reputation
H&R Block accused of lobbying to make taxes more complicated
US tax preparation company H&R Block, which provides tax services such as online filing, is known as one of the loudest voices on Capitol Hill arguing against measures that make it easier to pay taxes. H&R Block and its competitor Intuit are blamed for preventing the introduction of automatic tax filing, which would save millions of Americans time and energy every year. But the company is now under fire for apparently lobbying to make taxes even more confusing for poor people. At the company’s instigation, the Senate Appropriations Committee has passed a funding bill covering the IRS, with an accompanying report instructing the agency to quadruple the length of the form that taxpayers fill out to get the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which specifically targets poor families. In a statement, H&R Block says that it is “committed to doing the right thing”, and that its lobbying is “not about competitive business interests”, but about reducing EITC fraud. (Vox)
Target pays $2.8 million to settle discrimination lawsuit
US retailer Target has agreed to pay $2.8 million in a discrimination suit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) the agency revealed Monday. According to the EEOC, it was discovered in 2006 that some of Target’s employment assessments disproportionately screened out applicants based on race and/or gender. The agency also found that, as part of the pre-hiring process, consultants who were also psychologists were brought in to perform assessments on applicants – a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act. In addition, the EEOC alleged that Target did not maintain appropriate records to analyse the effects of its hiring processes. Upon the EEOC’s initial investigation, Target immediately chose to stop using the assessments in question. Target also agreed to more closely monitor its hiring practices as well as any potential impacts they have. (Diversity Inc.)
Health
Sustainable community pharmacy network launched in Kenya
Pharmnet-branded pharmacies in Kahawa West, located on the outskirts of Nairobi, are fast becoming beacons of quality assurance for surrounding communities. Pharmnet is piloting its marketing strategy and innovative group purchasing business model – developed with technical assistance from the Private Sector Innovation Programme for Health (PSP4H), which aims to give low-income communities value for money in healthcare spending. With 100 pharmacies already branded in Nairobi and Mombasa, and a further 250 to be branded in other counties over the next quarter, Pharmnet officially launched on 20 August, 2015. Pharmacies are the first point of contact for the majority of Kenyans seeking healthcare. Yet according to research by PSP4H, only 4,000 of the 12,000 pharmacies in Kenya are licensed with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board. As the Pharmnet brand spreads throughout Nairobi and is scaled up nationwide, low-income communities will be able to clearly identify the means to access affordable, quality-assured medicines and healthcare. (The Guardian)
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