Happy Monday!
Buckle up, y'all - we've got a content-rich B Keeper this week! This will also be the last B Keeper sent to US/Can staff as we shift to supporting that team in a different way. (Don't worry, US/Can, you'll still get tweets/Tiktoks and dumb jokes from me on Slack.) (And work-related updates too, I guess 😉)
💖 Cassy
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Dispatches from People & Ops
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Insights from B Lab town hall feedback
 Thank you for joining us for last month's “Inside the Lab” town hall (and the complementary conversation with US/Can staff). You can find all materials in Thinkific.
Thank you to everyone who shared their roses, buds, and thorns, as well as general feedback. You can view a synthesized version of the collected feedback here. This feedback has also been shared with the transition team and will inform both 1) the next steps for reintegrating the Trust, POps, and Global and 2) the search for B Lab’s next CEO.
In the meantime, you can drop any reflections, thoughts, interesting articles you find, or other useful tidbits of inspiration for our leadership transition into this Slack thread in the #questions-that-matter channel. This thread is optional and open to anyone to participate (seriously, come join me! 🗣️). More to come soon!
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Changes coming to POps communications this week
(See Video Explanation here)
As you know, the US/Can team is evolving to become more operationally independent and the Trust, Global, and POps are working to reintegrate as a single organization. For now we (Trust, Global, and POps) will refer to ourselves together as “B Lab,” subject to change at a later date.
The POps team is continuing to adjust and adapt our support for both teams in accordance with those shifts, including changes to our employee communications strategy that will be starting this week. Key changes coming this week:
- A new Slack channel called "b-lab-team" for all Trust/Global/POps staff
- #pops-announcements will be archived
- All announcements from POps will come via #b-lab-team and/or #us-can-team
- B Keeper and Managers Need to Know emails will be targeted only to B Lab (Trust/Global/POps) staff after this week
- The tech and product teams will be rolling out a new, single channel to replace all the #support- channels on Slack along with clearer instructions for when to take it to a FreshDesk ticket
Check out this post on Slack for more details and let me know if you have any questions.
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Digital safety for staff
B Lab periodically receives email messages, phone calls, and/or physical mail from external sources that may be perceived as derogatory, abusive, or threatening. Though not a common occurrence, it has happened when the organization and/or employees have published, written, or spoken on issues on behalf of B Lab, particularly related to JEDI and anti-racism. We wanted to send a reminder to all staff about what to do if you receive a threatening email either to a B Lab account you manage or to your personal B Lab email.
What do I do if I receive a threatening message or call?
If you receive a concerning message of any kind, do not respond. Please alert Sue and Vale and forward the message(s) to them immediately.
What does B Lab do if we receive threatening messages?
Sue and Vale will first monitor messages - in collaboration with John Vitelli and our tech team for digital matters - to assess what kind of action is needed, including alerting other staff. Though this has not been our experience to date, if we witness a pattern of concerning messages or something considered to be a credible threat, we will elevate these to the proper authorities. In the event we believe a staff member’s personal information may be compromised, we may engage an external firm to support a digital security review.
What if I need support myself after receiving one of these messages?
Please reach out to our People & Culture team and/or to B Lab’s in-house therapists who are available to support our staff’s mental health and wellbeing.
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2021 employee evaluation cycle
This month, we will be beginning the 2021 performance evaluation cycle with minor changes to last year. Our review process is an integral part of our compensation and development strategy, which is why these regular checkpoints are so important!
The 2021 cycle will consist of 3 evaluation checkpoints:
- The opening performance evaluation cycle for 2021 will begin on February 10th and will end on March 5th.
- The mid-year cycle will be June 1 - June 21 and will include self-reflections, a mid-year evaluation, and peer / employee and team feedback.
- The final year-end cycle will be Oct 5 - Oct 25 and will include self-reflections, manager requested feedback, and a year-end evaluation.
If you would like assistance with your self-reflection, check out the Culture Amp on-demand course for employees.
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Update on work travel in these COVID times
 In light of continued COVID realities and aligned with our office closure plan, B Lab employees should NOT plan any business travel until July 1, 2021 at the earliest.
That date could be pushed back as we move through the year and learn more from the CDC and other information sources. B Lab's insurance coverages and 2021 operating budget have been formulated within these boundaries.
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Questions for us? Submit a ticket (or use the lightning bolt ⚡on Slack!)
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This digest is intended to highlight our work, share how it's making an impact, and help us stay connected to our vision/mission and to each other.
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Climate justice playbook for business
B Lab launched a practical guide for business leaders to understand the intersection of climate action and social justice and to advance a justice-centered approach to climate action. The playbook was a collaborative effort between B Lab (led by members of the B Global Climate Task Force), B Corp leaders within the global B Corp Climate Collective, the COP26 Climate Champions Team, Provoc (a B Corp), and the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Oxford. Check out the press release and find more information on Slack!
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The Case & Process for Adopting Benefit Governance
To help business leaders navigate the journey to adopt benefit corporation status as a requirement of B Corp Certification, B Lab US/Can (thanks to the leadership of Andy and Holly!) released a new downloadable resource last week, the Board Playbook, to lay out the process and demystify the risks.
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B Lab Taiwan in the spotlight
B Lab Taiwan's advocacy for the benefit corporation gets a shout out in the book Glimpses of Utopia, written by the Deputy Mayor of Sydney, Australia, Jess Scully 🎉 More on Slack in case you missed it here.
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Is this section missing an important highlight? Tag us on Slack using #bkeeper or tell us directly.
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Events & Opportunities
The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity
February 25, 7-8pm ET
Listen to a panel of experts discuss family traditions, brothers and sisters, power couples, and community in this National Archives Museum Online event, presented in partnership with the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
Demystifying Islam & Muslims (JEDI training)
March 3, 4:30pm ET
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Resources
📝 Send audio messages on Slack
Struggling to explain something complicated over Slack but want to avoid needing to schedule a whole meeting for it? Try an audio message! All you need to do is type "/vm" and hit enter to get started.
📝 Why Friendships Among Remote Workers Are Crucial
Be honest: when is the last time you had a virtual coffee or happy hour with your work bestie? Here's a sign to schedule it today! 🥰 |
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Best for Last 🎉 Black Heritage & Black Futures
The "Best for Last" section of each newsletter aims to bring some levity and fun to your Monday, with a special edition every few months 👀
Happy Black History Month! We'll be sharing some resources and ideas to help you celebrate Black heritage and Black futures this and every month 🤎
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Start here: What is Black History Month and Why is it in February?
This YouTube video from the History Channel provides insight into the tradition of Black History Month - how it got started and why it remains important today.
Looking for more ways to celebrate and support Black art, Black creators, and Black joy this month? Here's a few to get you started:
MoviesEducators & Content Creators
Who are we missing? Share your favorites with us by replying to this email and we'll be sure to highlight them later this month!
📍Antiracist Checkpoint
Black History Month is also a great reminder to reinvigorate and build upon your antiracist journey. Fortunately, the US/Can team pulled together an extensive list of opportunities to do just that! Check it out for a reading list; articles and digital resources; and films, videos, and music. And remember, celebrating and honoring Black joy and Black futures is a critical part of the journey!
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