News & Insights

Even in challenging economic headwinds, companies performing well in JUST’s Rankings are demonstrating that following through on values does not mean sacrificing returns.

Our latest analysis finds an increase in the number of climate commitments from Russell 1000 companies alongside a dichotomy between emissions and ambition levels within industries.

Across every demographic group we surveyed, whether political affiliation, race, gender, age, or income group, Americans are united in wanting companies to prioritize workers and pay a fair, living wage.

The JUST Jobs program will build on in-depth survey research on what Americans across all demographics value most in jobs today and robust job quality frameworks, with the goal of strengthening businesses, the economy, and the livelihoods of people around the country.

In the face of the backlash against ESG and stakeholder capitalism, have companies eased off in their actions to become more just? Our latest corporate engagement data suggests not. 

Our Data review period with corporate representatives is an essential aspect of our annual Rankings, and this year participation is up 373% over 2017.

Ahead of Labor Day, let’s take stock of where things stand for the American worker. 

It’s a story that captures almost every aspect of the business zeitgeist in America today – workers’ quest for fair pay, good jobs, and better conditions; unions; community support and survival; COVID; health and safety; climate change; ESG; shareholder activism; the corporate profit imperative; and, of course (inevitably), politics. 

We heard from Mastercard Chief Inclusion Officer, Randall Tucker, on how the company made diversity a priority for its 25,000 global employees.

American Electric Power DEI managers Kimberly Hughes and Alyvia Johnson share key lessons from the energy company’s journey to increase equity and career mobility.

On the third anniversary of the Business Roundtable’s embrace of stakeholder value creation, we’ve taken a closer look at how that statement’s signatories have performed over that time across our key stakeholder categories. 

The ESG blowback is here, and it’s real.

Bank of America Chief Diversity & Inclusion and Talent Acquisition Officer, Cynthia Bowman, shares how the company’s taking a data-driven DEI approach to tackle systemic barriers to hiring and mobility.

HBS’s George Serafeim discusses his new book, “Purpose and Profit,” and what debates around Tesla and Danone can teach us about sustainability and ESG.

The pressures inflation heaps on business does not mean stakeholder value creation needs to take a back seat. On the contrary, it can be a time for just companies to shine.

Our new polling research finds large majorities of Americans believe companies should be taking care of their workforces during high inflation.

Amid new and compounding challenges to Americans’ health and well-being, we’re highlighting the top 100 companies that are stepping up for workers and their families, and communities across the U.S.

With the heat index through the roof, melting runways, buckled train lines, and travel chaos more broadly bring significant disruptions to logistics and the physical movement of people and goods.

The American public is navigating tough times. As prices are going up, wages aren’t keeping up. And the reality is that job growth is very different from quality job growth

We’ve collected key takeaways from the U.S. Department of Labor and Families and Workers Fund’s Good Jobs Summit, where public and private sector leaders discussed how job quality needs to be paramount in this tight labor market.

Of the 100 largest American public companies by workforce size, 43% disclose that they have conducted a pay gap analysis by race and ethnicity (up from 34% last year), and 22% disclose the actual results (up from 14%).

Companies seeking to do right by their stakeholders will have their mettle tested in the weeks and months to come. Let’s start with wages…

On Friday, the Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade – a decision that will demand critical leadership not only from the public sector, but from the private sector as well. To understand how the landscape will shift for the American workforce, we will be tracking how America’s largest companies respond to the ruling.

We spoke with business consultants Susan McPherson of McPherson Strategies and Mackenzie Long and Caty Gordon of Evergreen Strategy Group about guidance they have been sharing with companies in response to the overturning of abortion as a federal right.

Investing in local communities, especially those that need it the most, is one area where the private sector can have a huge positive impact during a downturn.