B Lab U.S. & Canada

What happens when a company like OpenAI—now worth as much as Goldman Sachs—shifts from nonprofit to for-profit? Can it still uphold its mission to "benefit all of humanity," or will profits take precedence over purpose? In his recent op-ed for The New York Times, Andrew Kassoy, co-founder and co-chair of B Lab Global, explores the challenges ahead for OpenAI, why becoming a public #benefitcorporation is just the first step in holding AI companies accountable to society, workers, and the planet—and why OpenAI needs more than good intentions to fulfill its potential for positive impact. From setting rigorous standards for transparency to drawing lessons from purpose-driven companies like Patagonia, Andrew lays out how OpenAI could lead the way in ethical AI—but only if it commits to real accountability. "Every day, by applying these same principles, thousands of certified #BCorps show that business can be a force for good to create high-quality jobs, rebuild strong communities and solve environmental crises — all while making money for investors. Surely OpenAI, with its ingenuity and newfound resources, can match their efforts." — Andrew Kassoy. 📰 Read the full op-ed here: https://nyti.ms/3Yn22yz #ArtificialIntelligence #AIEthics #OpenAI #BCorp #Sustainability B Lab UK B Lab U.S. & Canada B Lab Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand B Lab Africa B Lab Europe Sistema B

🗳️ Calling all businesses! 🗳️ Join us on October 23rd from 5:30-7 PM ET for The Business of Civic Engagement: Election Essentials for Businesses. Learn how to empower your team and community to engage in the upcoming November election. 🌍💼 This virtual training will feature Philadelphia Council Member Jamie Gauthier and CEO of Pixel Parlor, Jenn Richey Nicholas. Led by the Committee of Seventy, we'll cover key election insights and practical strategies for making a civic impact. Hosted in partnership with SBN and B Local Philadelphia. 📅 Register now! https://lnkd.in/enWMvrsr #CivicEngagement #BusinessForGood #Election2024

As we near Election Day, the stakes couldn’t be higher for businesses, communities, and individuals alike. The decisions made at the ballot box will directly impact not only our personal lives but also the future of our businesses and the planet. 🌍 For B Corps, voting with intention means standing up for the issues that shape a more inclusive and equitable economy. Here are some of the key issues at stake this election season and how they relate to the work we do: 🚨Reproductive Rights & Freedom Access to reproductive healthcare and freedom of choice affect employees’ well-being and the workforce as a whole. Businesses thrive when employees are healthy and supported in making decisions about their bodies. 🌈LGBTQ+ Rights Inclusive workplaces are core to B Corp values, and protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals ensures that all employees can bring their full selves to work. Policies that discriminate against LGBTQ+ communities hurt both individuals and the businesses that employ them. 🌎Climate Policy With environmental stewardship at the heart of the B Corp movement, climate policy is a business issue. The decisions we make today about energy, sustainability, and environmental protections will impact the future of our planet and economy. Businesses have a responsibility to advocate for a livable future. 🛑 Immigrants’ Rights Immigration policies affect both the workforce and the diversity of talent within companies. B Corps value inclusivity, and supporting the rights of immigrants helps build stronger, more resilient communities and businesses. ⚖️ Criminal Justice Reform Policies around criminal justice reform directly affect the ability of formerly incarcerated individuals to re-enter the workforce. Fair-chance hiring practices can only thrive if the system is reformed to allow for equitable opportunities for all. 💼Labor Laws Fair wages, worker protections, and labor rights are crucial to building businesses that benefit everyone. B Corps are already leading the way, and progressive labor laws ensure a fair and sustainable economy for all. 📉Economic Policy for Small & Medium Businesses Taxes, access to capital, and small business protections are on the line. Supporting policies that uplift small and medium businesses helps strengthen local economies, creates jobs, and fosters innovation. Here’s what B Corps can do to get ready: 💼Employers: • Share resources that explain how these issues affect your business and employees. • Host conversations or share content that helps employees understand the impact of their vote. 🙋♀️Employees: • Stay informed on how the issues that matter most to you are reflected on the ballot. • Take time to research where candidates stand on these key topics that impact your workplace and community. For more resources to share with your team & community visit: https://lnkd.in/g3R7GKd5 #Voting #BCorps #BtheChange

We are in the swing of election season and it’s crucial to remember that businesses play a pivotal role in policy advocacy—not just for their own interests but for the well-being of people and the planet. According to the Edelman Trust Barometer, businesses are more trusted and seen as more competent than politicians. In fact, 76% of people expect business leaders to take action on societal issues. Preparing to vote is just one step in making sure our voices are heard at the polls—and the work doesn’t stop there. B Corps, your leadership in this space matters now more than ever. Here’s how B Corps can lead the way in supporting voter participation this election season: 💼 Employers: • Encourage employees to take time off to vote or volunteer at their local polling locations. • Share resources on voter registration, key election dates, and polling locations. • Offer paid time off for civic engagement and make voting a priority in the workplace. 🙋♀️ Employees: Have questions about voting at work? Here are some QTNA (Questions That Need Answers) to ask your employer: • Will we get time off to vote? • Are there company resources to check voter registration or polling locations? • Is there support for volunteering at polling locations? Let’s all play a part in ensuring every voice counts this election season! Voting is the first step—building a better future continues long after Election Day. Visit https://lnkd.in/g3R7GKd5 for more resources, and share these tips with your team! ✔️ #VoteReady #BTheChange #BCorps

Are you thinking of submitting an application for B Corp Certification? Want to make sure you are adequately prepared to go through the review process? Join B Lab U.S. & Canada for a B Corp Certification Readiness Webinar on Thursday, October 24, at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET to discuss the certification requirements and what to expect during the review process. Register here 👉🏽 https://lnkd.in/eHrpq9sK to attend and share with your colleagues if you’d like them to attend. Completion of the “Becoming a B Corp” course https://lnkd.in/gNrS8vK2 prior to attending the webinar is strongly recommended. After attending this webinar, you will walk away with clarity on timelines and processes and an understanding of the common roadblocks companies may face during the review process. Have questions? Email us 👉🏽 certify@bcorporation.net.

At B Lab U.S. & Canada, we understand the unique pressures that come with centering social impact while running a business and navigating daily life. As mission-driven organizations, the drive to improve continuously for people and the planet can be both fulfilling and exhausting. That’s why this year's Champions Retreat focused on the theme of Restoration—encouraging leaders to embrace personal and collective healing as the foundation for sustaining our work in social impact. As a community, we explored how regeneration and interdependence can unlock new ways to thrive, both for ourselves and for the planet. The reality is that burnout is a growing concern across industries, with 48% of employees reporting feelings of burnout. This has a profound impact on businesses, leading to an estimated $190 billion in annual productivity losses due to stress, absenteeism, and turnover(Worldmetrics)(Runn). For entrepreneurs and changemakers in the B Corp community, the stakes are even higher, as the mental and emotional toll can directly affect the well-being of their teams, their companies, and the broader movement for social good. Addressing mental health is not just about individual well-being—it’s a strategic imperative for building resilient organizations. When we prioritize the mental health of our people, we create a ripple effect that improves the way we serve our communities, manage our businesses, and protect the planet. Let’s continue to lead with care, ensuring that as we continue improving our impact to be a force for good, we take care of ourselves and each other along the way. Share how you encourage your employees (or yourself) to prioritize your mental health & well-being while still getting the work done! #WorldMentalHealthDay #BCorp #MentalHealthMatters #CollectiveCare #SustainableImpact

🎉 We are proud to be a community partner for #GreenBiz25 (Feb 10-12, Phoenix, AZ) —the premier annual event for sustainable business leaders, hosted by Trellis Group 🌍 Elevate your company’s impact alongside a growing community of 3,000+ professionals. Join over 60+ sessions, including “Advanced Perspective” sessions to learn what’s next in decarbonization, supply chain, biodiversity and much more. 💸 Register by Nov. 17 to save $750, and use the exclusive code GB25BL for even more savings — totaling over $1,100 off the Final Rate of the All-Access Pass! Secure your spot now and maximize your savings: https://buff.ly/4gubsPV

B Lab U.S. & Canada is excited to announce the launch of our website’s new resource library! The library is a collection of resources for businesses looking to improve or deepen their impact, for companies certifying or recertifying, and for B Corps to leverage their certification. Thank you to our partners at Provoc for supporting our vision and building a user-friendly library and website where businesses can find what they need to pursue their impact goals. Explore the resource library. https://lnkd.in/e67gFJBe

Even for someone very familiar with hurricanes, it's been scary and heartbreaking to see what Helene has done to southern Appalachia, especially my beloved western North Carolina. When I was young, my family had season passes to Chimney Rock, spent summer vacations in Maggie Valley. The Smoky Mountains section of the Appalachian Trail is where I learned to love forests, and few things can match a vivid, autumn drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We were out of contact with my parents for an anxious few days before my sister and brother in law could reach them; thankfully, they got away with just a bit of flooding on the first floor, and none of the giant trees that fell around them struck the house. Many were not so fortunate. Countless have still not heard from loved ones or confirmed their safety, and needs are massive across the region, including Asheville, a sister city to Portland and one of the most unique places in the South. You've likely seen the section of I-40 that collapsed, but aid and resources will be even slower to arrive to Spruce Pine, where my parents live, and other small communities that are now isolated because of washed out mountain roads and bridges. If you are looking for opportunities to donate, here are a few in and around Spruce Pine, where the entire downtown was under 10ft of water: Neighbors Feeding Neighbors: https://lnkd.in/gBBFwu8x Mitchell Yancey Habitat for Humanity: https://lnkd.in/g-Fqck-5 Spruce Pine Main Street Association: https://lnkd.in/gwVnmdMC Grateful for such a caring professional network and all the kind messages during the last few days ❤️

🚨 Asheville B Corp Community Fundraiser Details 🚨 It's hard to imagine that just three weeks ago, we were in Atlanta celebrating all of the beauty that was BLD Southeast. Last week, Hurricane Helene ripped through our region and greatly impacted seven of our states, but no one was more deeply devastated than our friends in Asheville and Western North Carolina. Homes and businesses were destroyed, towns were swallowed whole by massive flooding, and many are still cut off and without power, gas, water, and basic shelter. B Local Asheville Chair Adrianne Gordon has been communicating their needs and the list is overwhelming. In the short term, they need basic supplies. And she is currently driving back and forth between South Carolina and Asheville to bring much needed supplies back to her neighborhood on the edge of Biltmore Village, which was badly flooded. They've received zero supplies or assistance yet, and she is one of the lucky ones whose house is OK and car is drivable. 👉 For immediate assistance, you can venmo Adrianne at Adrianne-Gordon-4 (last four 2643). 👉 She also mentioned BeLoved Asheville as another organization on the ground doing the work that can use the funding. https://lnkd.in/e8ecd78k Either way, your contribution will go a long way to get people the basic necessities (food and water) that they need to survive. 👉 Since internet and cell service are still nonexistent, if you have immediate questions, you can reach out to Nathan A. Stuck, MBA or Kaley Cross Warner, who is from Asheville and making supply runs back and forth from her home in Raleigh. In addition to this, there are also 15 B Corps in this region, and many of them are small businesses that will go months without revenue, need to rebuild, restock, and so much more. In a town full of incredible artists, delicious craft breweries, and world class restaurants, there is also a need to take care of team members who will be out of work for the foreseeable future. With that in mind, we created a Small Business Relief Fund for you to contribute to. Adrianne and her board will determine the greatest needs and the best ways to support our fellow B Corps and beyond. 👉 DONATE HERE: https://lnkd.in/dVPPsPkJ Let's step up for our community and wrap our arms around this region and these people. ❤️ 🤗