Corporate Responsibility Programs

Numerous studies have shown that racial and ethnic minorities, as well as women, are still woefully underrepresented in technology roles. However, the retail tech industry doesn't just have a diversity issue; there's an inclusivity issue as well. At a session focused on diversifying your tech workforce during last month's Total Retail Tech event in Nashville,…

Footwear and apparel company Adidas announced Tuesday that it has cut ties with the musician Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, following antisemitic comments and hate speech he recently posted on social media. Adidas, known for its sporting goods wear based out of Germany, had a nearly decade-long partnership with Ye that included his Yeezy…

The Home Depot launched a new jobseeker marketplace created to connect skilled tradespeople to hiring trades professionals in the construction and home improvement industries. Skilled trades jobseekers can visit PathtoPro.com to create a profile, upload their resume and add photos of their work to connect with The Home Depot's Pro customers looking to hire in…

Walmart announced on Tuesday the launch of the Walmart Healthcare Research InstituteSM (WHRI) to increase community access to healthcare research that may help lead to safer, higher quality and more equitable healthcare. WHRI will be focused on innovative interventions and medications that can make a difference in underrepresented communities, including older adults, rural residents, and women and…

Amazon.com announced Wednesday it would spend $150 million in venture capital funds on firms that are backing companies founded by underrepresented founders. The online retail giant dubbed the initiative "Amazon Catalytic Capital" and expects to support more than 10 funds and over 200 companies through the next year, it said in a press release. The company…

REI is encouraging its employees to exercise their right to vote this November by delaying the opening of its stores by two hours on Election Day, reports Footwear News. On Nov. 8, every employee will receive paid time off as part of the outdoor retailer's Your Vote Can’t Wait campaign. REI has also created an election resource hub…

Is this brand using sustainable business practices? Is this retailer aware of its social impact? What values am I supporting when I buy from this brand? Many of us have probably asked ourselves these questions before making a purchase. In fact, as of 2019, 70 percent of consumers take the social impact of a brand…

Every organization should be on an ever-evolving environmental, social and governance (ESG) journey. In this video, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Kathleen Carroll, senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Grainger, a leading business-to-business (B-to-B) broad line distributor. Carroll discusses Grainger's portfolio of environmentally preferable products (EPP), why the business focuses on environmental sustainability, and…

Nike is making a full exit from Russia three months after suspending its operations there, the U.S. sportswear maker told Reuters on Thursday, as the pace of Western companies leaving the country accelerates. Nike said on March 3 it would temporarily suspend operations at all its Nike-owned and -operated stores in Russia in response to…

Ever since the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed rules governing climate-related disclosures from all public companies on March 21, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting has become a necessary part for retail company corporate boards to address, especially in today’s environmentally and socially conscious world. Whether it’s understanding how the retailer is combatting…