I recently sat with my friend in a Comm 101 class, and she came up with what I believe is a genius idea for an iPhone application. I told her I could design the graphics using her idea – but I didn’t have enough knowledge in coding to help materialize her brainchild, and unfortunately, she did not either. This is exactly why I was so glad when I heard how Google was implementing strategies in order to encourage more female employment within their company.

By launching the $50 million initiative “Made with Code”, Google hopes teach young girls coding and give their parents resources to encourage their girls in participating in computer-science courses.

This initiative reminds me of the many ways businesses can choose to reach out towards their communities by creating positive movements without losing sight of company values. Through this project, Google can to integrate important social changes while redefining company values.

This also goes back to Class 15 when we discussed CSR and how it is incredibly significant in business. A company with a positive social standing and reputation can lead to not only incredibly loyal customers, but also loyal employees – who all trust the company, and in turn trust their products.

It’s because of initiatives like this that help propel Google as consistently one of the companies with the best CSR reputation.

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Further reading:

https://www.madewithcode.com/

http://time.com/2901899/google-made-with-code-girls-in-tech/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/10/02/the-companies-with-the-best-csr-reputations-2/

Since elementary school, I have learned a lot about aboriginal issues in Canada; at one point, I was even pen pals with a girl my age in the Cree tribe. Her community was kind enough to send us flags, pins, and information pamplets about their culture in order to broaden my understanding of Canada as they saw it. When I think about the issues being boiled down – I can only come up with one word: ignorance.

Racism, discrimination, hateful and hurtful behavior stems from ignorance. In the article about the Tsilhqot’in people declaring the New Prosperity mine as their tribal park in order to preserve the land and the nature with the boundaries, I read the comments section and was surprised at the amount of hatred that was voiced. One particular commenter said:

That must be real nice! Just go and make a plan on whatever piece of property you happen to like and call it a park….Voila it becomes yours! (…) Sick and tired of this inequality (…) Time to put a stop to it! For good.

That comment shocks me for a number of reasons – but the foremost thing is how ignorant this commenter is. It’s extremely ironic that she mocks the Tsilhqot’in people for taking “whatever piece of propery [they] happen to like” when that was exactly what the white settlers did to them to begin with. And inspite all the hurt and pain the aboriginals have been through, they have reached an agreement to collaborate and partner up with the government in order to find a solution.

When it all boils down, I think the true issue behind this matter and any other conflicts behind professional relationships (partnerships) is the refusal to reciprocate and compromise between two parties.

Source:

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/metro/Unilateral+park+declared+Tsilhqot+includes+Prosperity+mine/10192766/story.html

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Premier+urges+cooperation+more+litigation+government+natives+reach+fork+road/10194776/story.html

Continuing from last week’s post, I decided to read more about employment issues: this time, in Canada. I’m sure everyone remembers the strike that IKEA employees went on a year ago; it is in fact, still happening. A family friend who was employed at the bistro told me that her labor union paid her more per hour than IKEA ever did, and ironically, her striking schedule was a lot more secure and stable than her working one. That strikes me as being both sad and a very difficult pill to swallow.

A recent article touched on this event briefly – and expanded further more on the other problems part-time workers had. One interviewee says “I know I should [just] be happy I have a job,”. Her attitude – desperately trying to make ends meet, yet never once giving up – reminds me of the woman I mentioned last post. Their circumstances have driven them to a wall, and they’re not alone in this. 27.3% of part time workers are unwillingly part time, but have to do so in order to just simply be employed.

I want to know if there’s something to be done for those who are obviously working hard to provide for their families and their retirement plans. It just doesn’t seem fair that whenever firms and companies need to cut costs, low-wage workers are the first to go when they can barely stay afloat with a part time job.

Source:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/the-15-hour-workweek-canadas-part-time-problem/article20926986/