If you’ve read our blog before, you might know we’re on the journey of becoming a certified B Corp. We started on this path over a year ago, and since then, have been busy learning about social responsibility in business, how to walk the walk of being a business for good, and why it matters. We wanted to share an update of where we are in the process and some of our big wins along the way.
What is B Corp?
B Corporation is a certification awarded by the organization B Lab. From their website: “Certified B Corporations are a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. They are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. This is a community of leaders, driving a global movement of people using business as a force for good.”
How do you become certified?
To become certified, you must achieve a certain score on the B Impact Assessment – a test that evaluates your company’s impact in four categories: workers, customers, community, and environment. When we first took the test, we had a long way to go to reach the minimum score. Luckily, the assessment serves as an excellent roadmap for new, innovative ways of improving your impact as a business.
Our Big Wins
Through this process, we’ve implemented several new programs and policies. Here’s a sample of some of our favorites:
- Anti-Racism training at our all-staff retreat
- Bike and public transit subsidies
- Company-wide Volunteer Day
- Increased PTO, and extended to part-time employees
- Banking with a local credit union
- Personal finance workshop
- Inclusive hiring policy
In addition, we got to celebrate some of the things we were already doing, such as:
- Charitable programs, like our Grant and Scholarship
- Environmental policy and committee
- Remote work flexibility
- Excellent high to low pay ratio
- A high percentage of women in management
- Retirement account contributions, including Socially Responsible Investing Options
What’s Next?
After over a year of hard work, we submitted our application to B Labs! We are currently waiting to have our answers verified. We’re closer than ever to certification!
This process has been challenging, but extremely rewarding. Every change we implement makes us a better company: for our workers, customers, community and environment. We are thrilled to be well on the way to joining a community of leaders who use their business as a force for good.
