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The stories in this week's edition all touch on reflection in some way. Whether we reflect on the choices we make as consumers, the messages we believe in our social media feeds, or the trade-offs we make to earn a living, companies are increasingly inviting reflection.
With that said, companies and the individuals who lead them need to engage in reflection too. Your remote employees may be "happier," but are they treated equitably? Do your well-intentioned holiday messages hurt more than they help? As the final two stories below prove, the answers are neither simple nor easy. And as the world continues to evolve, the practice of regular self-evaluation is becoming imperative for companies that want to stick around.
It's time to detox your feed. That's the message behind the latest iteration of Dove's long-running Self-Esteem Project, which aims to inform and empower women to be more confident. #DetoxYourFeed explores the often-toxic nature of beauty "advice" on social media — some of which can be harmful not just to self esteem, but to human health. We love this new campaign for its subject matter, but also because Dove engaged with experts and conducted research to ensure its messaging and resources were accurate, authentic, and truly helpful.
Dove: #DetoxYourFeed with the Dove Self-Esteem Project
PRNewswire: New Study from the Dove Self-Esteem Project Finds 1 in 2 Girls Say Idealized Beauty Advice on Social Media Causes Low Self-Esteem
Support (the) Amazon, says eco-conscious footwear company Allbirds. In a tongue-in-cheek new campaign, Allbirds urges consumers to "Keep the Amazon prime" with a spoof website and infomercials that poke at today's "need it now" mindset. While the campaign isn't necessarily a dig at Amazon — which is undertaking significant steps to address its carbon footprint — it encourages consumers to take better care of the eCommerce giant's namesake. Embedded in the campaign are statistics about the importance of protecting the Amazon rainforest and a call to donate to Amazon Watch, a nonprofit working to protect the rainforest and advance the rights of Indigenous peoples in the region.
AllBirds: Keep the Amazon Prime!
Amazon Watch: About
Mental health and DEI are increasingly connected. While we applaud all the companies making greater investments in their diversity and mental health initiatives, these efforts too often remain siloed. Recent research is uncovering growing inequalities between in-person and remote/hybrid employees, with women and BIPOC individuals in particular being left behind. Experts warn that such marginalized employees will face greater mental health challenges, and urge companies to address this convergence of issues.
Triple Pundit: Companies Committed to DEI Can't Move Forward Without Taking Employees' Mental Health Seriously
Axios: Women, people of color happier working from home
What's the harm in saying 'Happy Mother's Day'? For many, Mother's Day (and similar holidays meant to celebrate friends and family) is not happy. Consider the woman whose child was stillborn, the daughter estranged from her mother, or the son whose mother recently passed away. For these individuals, the barrage of Mother's Day balloons, flowers, and promotional emails can be triggering at best, and devastating at worst. Companies can honor these individuals—while still running holiday-related messaging and promotion—by getting "grief smart," say the experts at Experience Camps, a nonprofit that champions the nation's grieving children.
Sustainable Brands: Why More Brands Should Get Grief Smart This Mother's Day, and Every Day