global frameworks. But some of the most inspiring lessons come from within the B Corp community itself: • JBM Packaging, an Ohio-based manufacturer, has pioneered fair-chance hiring by employing individuals returning from incarceration. The company backs this with in-house life coaches, financial literacy programs, and mental health first aid training. • The Human Beauty Movement, a purpose-driven beauty company, builds wellness into its culture through “Soul Care Sessions,” giving employees space for reflection, coaching, and connection. • Even B Lab itself has walked the talk. In the U.S. and Canada, staff enjoy sabbaticals, wellness weeks, and a four-day work week—programs designed by employees to support holistic balance. This emphasis on well-being recognizes that productivity, innovation, and resilience all stem from a healthy and supported workforce. ELEVATING FAIR LABOR AND INCLUSION ACROSS THE SYSTEM Equity is not a single policy—it’s a thread running through multiple areas of the new standard. • The JEDI Topic requires inclusive hiring practices, mentorship pathways, leadership training in equity fluency, and governance structures that reflect community demographics. • The Fair Work Topic demands transparency around wage-setting, elimination of wage history in hiring, and annual measurement of gender and racial wage gaps with expectations of progress. • The Human Rights Topic expands accountability to supply chains, asking companies to identify living wage gaps in contracted services and ensure workers have access to collective bargaining or income support. Taken together, these expectations transform certification from a one-time score into a continuous improvement process. Companies must not only meet the bar at certification but also demonstrate ongoing progress in order to recertify every three years. RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION AND EVOLVING STANDARDS The pace of technological change raises new challenges, from artificial intelligence to blockchain and automation. While the current standards do not directly evaluate how companies adopt emerging technologies, B Lab has made adaptability a core principle. The standards are governed by an independent Standards Advisory Council, informed by community 54 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 08
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