Business
Looking for positive and inspiring business stories? From green operations to employee rights, from innovative corporate structures to diversity and inclusion, the Business section at The Optimist Daily has got the latest innovative solutions from the corporate sector.
The pandemic is expected to make businesses more socially responsible
The corporate world has long been under the radar to do its part in tackling issues like inequality and climate change. Now as businesses struggle to survive the pandemic, some might emerge with better social and environmental practices. At least that’s what Harvard Business School professor Read More...
A major whaling company in Iceland is hanging up its harpoons for good
For decades the whale populations have been in decline, but this past year has seen a number of key developments that suggest whale populations are rebounding. In October, we published a story about southwest Atlantic humpback whales, which have returned from the brink of extinction after excessive Read More...
Why reopening will look different for every state
States across the US are facing the difficult decision of how and when to reopen society. States like South Carolina and Georgia are moving to reopen businesses this week while others, like California and Washington, are warier of reducing social distancing. Here’s why the post-COVID-19 plan Read More...
Does music help you focus? It depends
Sheltering in place has all of us asking how we can better work and learn from home. We’ve talked about strategies for creating a more productive home workspace such as putting on real clothes, maintaining a schedule, and eating meals away from your desk, but what about music? When it comes to Read More...
How animal rescue groups are finding homes for dogs via virtual adoptions
While much of the country is under orders to shelter at home, pet rescue groups across the country have reported skyrocketing interest in adoption and fostering. But considering that in most cities pounds and rescue groups are deemed nonessential businesses, the organizations have had to get Read More...
How the coronavirus is forcing us to reconsider how we measure productivity
Since the period of the industrial revolution, we’ve used one primary scale to measure productivity: hours. But is this really an effective way to gauge actual performance or output? Not exactly. Measuring productivity in hours alone can discourage workers from being more efficient with their Read More...
California will be the first state to pay restaurants to feed seniors
As we all know by now, the coronavirus pandemic has been devastating for the service industry, causing restaurants to close their doors and lay off workers. In a novel attempt to get restaurants rehiring workers right away, California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a new aid program in which Read More...
Soon you’ll be able to order your everyday products waste-free
If you’ve started buying basic supplies like shampoo and toothbrushes online during the pandemic, you may notice that you’re creating a lot of extra waste in your house. But soon you’ll also be able to buy versions that come with sustainable, reusable packaging. Loop, the milkman-style Read More...
Publix is buying excess food from farmers and donating it to food banks
The coronavirus has been especially hard for farmers around the country. With schools, restaurants, and other institutions closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, farmers have been forced to dump milk and waste fresh produce. Fortunately, there are organizations around like supermarket chain Publix Read More...
Senate approves additional Paycheck Protection Program funding
The initial $349 billion fund allocated for economic relief for small businesses facing COVID-19 challenges ran out in just two weeks, but an additional $320 billion in funding was approved by the Senate Tuesday afternoon and is set to pass through the House. The money will go towards the Read More...