91视频

People interested in learning about the social consciousness of firms they are interested in joining or working with now have a new tool.

The , which is administered by the International Living Future Institute, is a voluntary disclosure program for a wide range of business aspects. Companies report information regarding workplace diversity, worker benefits, equity, local benefits, safety and stewardship.

Currently, Portland-based firms Bora Architects, Hennebery Eddy Architects, Ankrom Moisan Architects, Opsis Architecture and Yost Grube Hall Architecture are taking part in the program.

鈥淲hen we conceived the program in 2014, we wanted to provide a third-party framework and tool to take a look at the HR policies,鈥� Just program manager Francis Janes said. 鈥淲e wanted to help companies deepen their engagement with their employees.鈥�

Nationwide, approximately 500 companies have registered for the program. Around 70 have navigated the entire process and received a Just label, which is valid for two years. Companies pay the International Living Future Institute a processing fee ranging from $500 to $25,000, depending on the number of employees.

鈥淛ust was already associated with the construction industry,鈥� Bora Architects interior designer Amy Running said. 鈥淚t had the advantage being within our industry and sphere.鈥�

Unlike the B-Corp movement, the Just program doesn’t give official certifications. Instead, each company seeking to participate submits information about its activities in each one of Just’s six categories. The group then takes that data and compiles it into a social justice label similar to a nutrition label used for food and beverage products. Each company can get a maximum of three squares in each area. The better a company rates in a particular area, the more squares it gets.

鈥淧art of the goal of being part of this is to provide a road map of where we want to go,鈥� said Pat Sanchez, associate principal and business manager at Opsis Architecture.聽鈥淚t helps tell us where we are and where we want to go.鈥�

One of the biggest areas that many metro-area architecture firms seek improvement is gender diversity. Hennebery Eddy Architects and Ankrom Moisan Architects were the only local firms to get the maximum three-square rating in that particular area.

鈥淚f you are going to build a diverse and rich workforce, you have to be mindful every step of the way,鈥� Hennebery Eddy Architects President Tim Eddy said. 鈥淵ou have to think about what each hire brings to the recipe of the company. That is a really big deal for us.鈥�

The label serves as a tangible reminder for companies to make sure that policies discussed in boardrooms are put into action. YGH has taken part in the Just program since 2014 and was one of the first local firms to receive a label.

鈥淭his helps when we look at how we pay both genders and promote to ownership,鈥� said Leslie Maynard, human resources director at YGH. 鈥淚t helps to benchmark how you have been doing and where we want to go in the future. It is a good reminder to work toward your goals and not put them in a drawer.鈥�

One of the biggest benefits provided by the Just program is allowing participants to measure goal pursuits in concrete ways. Also, companies can compare themselves to others within their industry.

鈥淚 think we will see dividends from being part of the program over the next few years,鈥� Eddy said. 鈥淐lients are not looking at it yet. I can imagine that for some of our socially conscientious, cultural and public clients, it may become important to them. It will be more meaningful to prospective staff.鈥�