EVENTS: Sustainability Careers for MBAs

Are you a current MBA student or recent graduate who is struggling with the independent job search that comes along with looking for a career that matches your passion for making a difference in the world? Are you confused about how to position your pre-MBA experience to help get you to where you want to be next? Or do you not even know what career options might be available to you and where to find sustainability job listings? We can help!

Join us for an interactive webinar discussing Sustainability Careers for MBAs. We'll cover:

• An overview of career opportunities across common MBA concentrations such as marketing, finance, operations, and other areas -- customized according to the interests of the call participants.
• An overview of generalist (or sometimes not so "generalist"!) career opportunities such as sustainability managers and consultants.
• How to position your pre-MBA experience to get your foot in the door with the type of organization best suited to your background and career plans. Plus, learn to guard against the #1 mistake made by job seekers in this field.
• Key job-search resources as well as resources to stay on top of your game and not be overwhelmed. Also, learn a surprising fact about recruiting for sustainability careers.

Please note that while this seminar is geared toward current MBA students and recent graduates, all are certainly welcome to join.

The webinar is hosted by Karen Seeh, Principal of jihi Consulting and an SSC Associate. Prior to her move into independent consulting, Karen worked for 10 years in the public, private, and non-profit sectors - starting as an early promoter of the triple-bottom-line and then moving into CSR as well as exploring hybrid business models. She has an MBA in International Business and Sustainable Enterprise from UNC-Chapel Hill and a BA in Political Science and Environmental Studies from IU-Bloomington. Throughout her career, she herself has explored many avenues in sustainability and has provided advice to hundreds of students and job seekers.

Cost: $50

Sign-Up on Our Website for a Live Session
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Download a Recorded Session from Our Online Store

Space is limited to 8 people to ensure an interactive experience where you can ask questions and get real answers, so reserve your space today. Once you've signed up, you'll receive an email with log-in and call-in details.

If you have any questions, feel free to email SSC at info@sustainabilityconsulting.com or call us at 202-470-3248. We look forward to seeing you soon!

NEWS: College students are concerned about the environment more than jobs.

A survey was conducted of more than 400 college students of the class of 2011 and their parents to determine whether or not there has been any change in overall attitude over a generation. The study found that while parents were more concerned about post-graduation employment, the college students were, in fact, more concerned about the environment. Both groups were equally concerned with making enough money to be self-sustained, good grades, and keeping up with schoolwork. Of the students polled, 18% stated that the environment was their biggest social concern. Also, 91% stated they would pick an employment position they were passionate about over earnings. When the class of 2011 graduates, time will tell if these ideals hold true.

EVENT: Webinar - Creating a Family Friendly Workplace

Job sharing, telecommuting, and even lactation rooms—companies all over America are instituting policies and programs that benefit employees with children. Family-friendly benefits not only make working parents happy, but they also improve job efficiency and reduce employee turnover.

Employees are seeking out organizations that have better work-life balance policies, and organizations stuck in the old model are losing out on talent and productivity. But how exactly do you create a "family friendly" workplace?

SSC is pleased to offer Creating a Family Friendly Workplace, an interactive "webinar" focusing on simple and cost-effective ways to assist working parents while also improving productivity and job performance. This webinar will cover:

-- The benefits of a family friendly workplace for both employees and your organization.

-- The key policies involved with making your workplace “family friendly” and ensuring a healthy work-life balance.

-- Resources to help you make smart policy decisions and examples of successes in workplaces

-- How to not leave out the single/childless employees, and ways a "family friendly office" can benefit all employees.

Strategic Sustainability Consulting is pleased to have Lori Kitchen facilitate this workshop. Lori is SSC’s Special Projects Manager and will be receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from American University. Along with her B.A. she is also receiving a special certificate from AU’s Women and Politics Institute in Women and Politics, Policy, and Political Leadership. Lori is a member of the Women & Politics Institute's Young Women Leaders Board Political Training Program. As such, Lori is very interested in women in the work place and has devoted much of her study to the topic of family friendly workplaces and work-life balance.

Cost: $35

Register at: www.sustainabilityconsulting.com (click "Events")

Space is limited to ensure an interactive experience where you can ask questions and get real answers, so reserve your space today. Once you've signed up, you'll receive an email with log-in and call-in details.

RESOURCES: How Green Is Your Meeting?

Now, your company can measure its environmental impact, thanks to a new service called the MeetGreen Calculator. This web-based service allows anyone to measure their meeting practices against green best practices. MeetGreen Calculator will give the user help in meeting these green standards. Examples include having attendees walk or use mass transit, buying food locally and donate left-overs to local food banks, using reusable cups and large-capacity water jugs rather than individual water bottles, and the like.

The results can lead to cost reduction, waste reduction, helping local communities, and the environment. The MeetGreen Calculator was recently used at the World Urban Forum. Ginny Stratton of Globe Foundation of Canada stated, “We are ecstatic to know that the host of practices we employed resulted in the highest possible MeetGreen rating and hope that the results of our efforts will create a legacy for future organizers of the World Urban Forum.” Some major companies that have employed the MeetGreen Calculator are the Sierra Club, US Green Building Council, Globe Foundation of Canada and the Business for Social Responsibility.

NEWS: Lack of Incentives Prevent Employees Going Green at Work

It appears that UK employees are looking to their employers to lead the social responsible movement by example. This comes in major contrast to individual efforts at home to ease the environmental footprint. At home, 91% of the UK public turn off lights not in use, and 54% use only enough water for what they need, whereas only 10% of employees employ such practices. This could be the result of the 43% who believe that their employers talk the socially responsible talk, but don’t walk it. An astonishing 49% of employees believe that their employers waste too much electricity, and 37% of employees said they would like more job-training on being environmentally friendly.

Chris Gabriel, head of Solutions Marketing, Logistics UK, believes, “This research shows that 2007 must be the year for turning well-meaning talk into action.” UK Logistics, along with a government environmental charity Global Action Plan, recommends some key steps in getting companies to get their employees to follow suit:

• Incentives – companies need to offer employees incentives to bring environmental actions into the workplace. These include, but are not limited to, a better work-life balance, and energy saving profit sharing. Governments should also offer tax incentives to companies working to become green. This will help jump start compliance.
• Leadership – employers must show commitment to environmental responsibility before employees will themselves commit. Employees are less likely to follow through if they know their employers don’t care.
• Innovation – Besides traditional approaches to environmental responsibility, like recycling, employers should invest in better building design, or automatic heating and cooling systems.
• Technology – employing strategies like eco-friendly kettles which use less energy to heat up, or video conferencing, which reduces employee travel, can help employers cut costs and save the environment.
• Education – teaching employees about environmental responsibility, as well as encouraging eco-friendly attitudes and practices at work. This includes small steps like putting computers in “stand-by” or “hibernating” modes to big steps like employee seminars.

By following these ideas, companies can better themselves and their employees. Read more here.

NEWS: In the War for Talent, Good Companies Finish First

The Good Search, a search practice that works to recruit for companies that attempt to be better businesses, recently released a survey about companies that are embracing social responsibility, and how employees feel about socially responsible companies. The survey results emphasize what Strategic Sustainability Consulting already preaches: social responsibility pays --in dividends.

Almost all respondents stated they would like to work for a successful company that was also “good.” About 92% stated they would trust a “good” employer, and would feel better and happier about themselves if they worked for a “good” company. However, only 36% of the respondents felt that they currently worked for a “good” company that had established corporate social responsibility reports. Furthermore, 9% felt that they worked for “bad” company with dubious ethics. Also, 91% believe that working for a “good” company reflects positively on them, as well as reinforces their ethical ideals. About 68% felt that having a “bad” company on their resume would reflect poorly on them and their careers.

A “good” company was defined by the following: Positive Work Environment (92% ), Family Friendly Benefits (73%), Profit-Sharing (67%), Superior Wages (59%), Superior Benefits (58%) and Wage Fairness (44%). Of the respondents, 44% wanted to work for an environmentally friendly company, and 37% wanted to work for a company that made socially responsible goods.

There is a growing population of workers who want to work for socially responsible companies. As the business environment shifts, the best way for companies to retain their employees, and attract qualified applicants, companies, if not already, should begin to focus on becoming more socially responsible.

RESOURCES: Making an Employee Handbook

One of the biggest challenges facing small business is finding the balance between flexibility and formality—between innovation and stability. When is it okay to fly by the seat of your pants, and when are rules and guidelines necessary for success?

While each situation is different, one area is clear: when it comes to managing a successful workplace, an employee handbook is essential. And this article from Inc. will show you how to go about constructing a solid handbook that benefits you and your employees.

An employee handbook should explain more than rules. It offers you the opportunity to set expectations and communicate your company's mission and culture as well. What is an employee handbook? Is it the rules you expect your employees to follow? Is it a marketing piece designed for future employees? Or does it provide a roadmap to make business decisions that impact employees? It all depends on the message you want to deliver.

What should you include? The article suggests the following outline to get you started:

-- Introduction

-- Employment Policies

-- Employee Conduct

-- Compensation

-- Benefits

-- Leaves of Absence

-- Health and Safety

-- Employment Separation

Read the article for more information, and get started on your employee handbook today!

VIEWS: Finding Work-Life Balance

I've been thinking a lot about work-life balance lately, both in a personal and professional sense. There's just something about the start of the New Year that makes me take stock. This year in particular, I'm inspired to do more at work (SSC's new "webinars" are my latest endeavor) AND take more time for myself (I've made a commitment with a good friend to visit a museum once a month). But I'm finding that there's rarely enough time to do both.

I'm not the only one struggling with work-life balance, but at least it looks like more workers are getting the chance to take an active role in the endeavor. According to a recent Inc article:

More professionals are finding a way to achieve work-life balance without giving up pay…Seeking a better work-life balance, more and more mid- and senior-level professional women are successfully negotiating flexible work schedules without cutting back income.

And it looks like women are particularly benefiting from flexible work arrangements:

Of more than 400 female workers polled nationwide, more than 90 percent said they have opted for flexible work arrangements at some point in their careers, including telecommuting, flexible hours, or simply limiting tasks that require working evenings or travel. A full 88 percent said flexible work arrangements allowed them to continue working full-time despite managing complex personal lives.

It's not just low-paying work, either. About 85 percent of the survey's respondents were responsible for at least half of their household incomes.

But it's not all sunbeams and roses for women seeking work-life balance. According to a recent Catalyst survey:

…while approximately one in four lawyers in law firms report having used a flexible work arrangement, the majority of those surveyed see it as a career limiting move. More than half of the female lawyers surveyed believed that their use of flexible work arrangements limited their professional development and made them appear less committed to their firms, versus 21 per cent of men who used the same arrangements.

What's the message? While we're increasingly seeing employers offer flexible working arrangements—and employees are jumping to take advantage of them, the long-term career impacts are still in doubt. But that doesn't mean it's not worth exploring now!

…more than 60 percent of the survey's respondents said they were more loyal to employers offering flexible schedules, telecommutes, and other options.