Volvo’s Latest Ad Campaign Has Got a Lot of People Talking

Volvo is the latest large company to jump on board the trend of progressive ad campaigns, the likes of which please many – while also riling up some in the process. Gillette’s recent campaigns discussing body positivity and toxic masculinity have received a decent amount of backlash, but clearly that’s not stopping other companies from testing the waters.

Image Credit: Facebook

Recently, Volvo stuck a toe in with the ad above, revealing their new parental leave policy. It features an illustration depicting same-sex parents…and some of Volvo’s fans on Facebook are less than thrilled.

Image Credit: Facebook

Volvo’s idea is simple:

“Being the human-centric and progressive company that we are, our EMEA team wondered: Can we extend those benefits to our employees outside Sweden? Turns out we can. To start with, we now introduce a paid, gender-neutral parental leave policy for all our sales company employees in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) offering parents a total of six months of leave with 80 percent pay.”

The head of the company’s HR department added that the initiative is “one of several activities with the aim to create an inclusive culture and attract and retain a diverse set of people. It improves life-work balance, boosts family time, and fits with a progressive, human-centric company like Volvo Cars.”

It’s worth noting that there were also plenty of people applauding the company’s forward thinking ad.

Image Credit: Facebook

Volvo explains they’re hoping to erase discrepancies between men and women across the board while boosting the labor market and career opportunities by “reducing career and pay gaps.”

Nice!

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4 of the Biggest Lies Told By HGTV

Just as doctors despise when patients quote WebMD or Grey’s Anatomy, and lawyers roll their eyes when someone brings up Law & Order (or one of the other 100 million legal dramas), real estate agents are having to bite their tongues and smile when people claim to know what they’re doing because they spend a lot of time watching HGTV.

Image Credit: OnSizzle

Now, I watch a ton of HGTV. Property Brothers, Fixer Upper, House Hunters, Love It or List It – I’ve seen them all (and most of the episodes, too), and I know I’m guilty for thinking that I know about the biz because of it.

Which means I need to check out these 4 falsehoods perpetrated by television dramatizations of house hunting, just the same as the rest of y’all.

So, let’s do it.

#1. If everything isn’t exactly the way you want it, keep looking.

Image Credit: OnSizzle

In reality, you’re probably not going to find a house that’s updated to the nines and within your budget, so keep in mind that you’ll probably live there for several years – enough time for you to make changes over time as you can afford them.

#2. You’ll only have to look at like 3 houses before you find “the one.”

Image Credit: OnSizzle

If you’re not a first time home buyer, you likely know this already. My search took months and dozens of tours before a decision could be made.

#3. Renovations happen quickly.

Image Credit: OnSizzle

The longest timeline I’ve seen on any of those shows is like 7 weeks to completely overhaul a house from the studs on up. In reality, those types of renovations can take months, or even years. Contractors are just not that into you, I promise.

#4. Going over your budget is no big deal.

Image Credit:

It really is, and you and your co-buyer (if applicable) should sit down before you even start looking to determine what size mortgage you can afford without struggling down the road. (Just think back to 2009…)

All of a sudden I’m less pumped about moving later this year. Oh, well.

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5 Extremely Creative Ways to Recycle

People everywhere are taking heed of what climate scientists have to say about the dire state of our planet. We have a long way to go as far as reducing waste, but one day  – and one idea – at a time, right? To that end, below are 5 interesting, out-of-the-box ways people are trying to save the planet.

#1. Turning trash into treasure.

In Eskilstuna, Sweden, they’re taking the phrase “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure” to the max in a shopping center that sells only upcycled, recycled, or sustainable merchandise. Patrons can drop off objects they no longer want and mall customers can shop for everything from furniture to clothes and sporting equipments.

#2. It’s gone to the hogs.

Image Credit: Farragutful

The Mall of America is the largest shopping center in the States and it’s also perhaps the greenest. They’ve got LED garage lighting, water-efficient toilets, air-purifying plants and trees, and they also recycle more than 2400 tons of food waste by donating it to local hog farms.

It also recycles about 60% of its total waste – 32,000 tons!

#3. Dirty diapers can still be useful.

Canadian company Knowaste was founded in 1989 and recycles diapers and other absorbent hygiene products by stripping them of their plastic and fiber and turning them into composite construction materials, pet litter, and industrial tubing.

It’s a dirty job, saving the Earth!

#4. Old crayon, new crayon.

Crayons are cheap, which makes them easy enough to toss when they’re down to nubs (or your adorable toddler goes through their “break everything” phase). They aren’t biodegradable, though, so a North California nonprofit called The Crayon Initiative melts them down and turns them back into new crayons.

They then donate them to children’s hospitals.

#5. It’s getting hairy.

If you’ve been throwing out your (or your pets) clumps of hair, you’re doing it wrong – Matter of Trust, a San Francisco based charity, collects hair and fur and uses it to make oil-absorbing mats and other tools used by Hazmat teams to clean up oil spills.

We can only do it together!

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You Can Now Buy Matching BFF Necklaces For You and Your Dog

WHERE HAS THIS BEEN ALL MY LIFE?

Ok, so I’ve only been a puppy parent for a few months now, but still, I need this in my life.

You’ve no doubt seen those necklaces that two human BFFs wear so they can always be thinking of their partner in crime. Well, now you can do the same thing with your dog! Because let’s be real, human friends are fine and everything, but our dogs are our real best friends, no doubt about it.

Photo Credit: Max Pixel

You can get these matching necklaces/dog collars from an Etsy vendor named SlashpileDesigns.

The human (that means you) gets an 18″ chain with a silver dog bone attached, and your doggo gets a cool collar pendant with the bone silhouette. Together forever, right?!?!

Photo Credit: Etsy

You can also get a heart design as well.

If you want to engrave your new set of jewelry, it’ll cost you an extra $25.

I think both you and Fido will be very happy with this purchase.

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10+ Hiring Managers Share Small Things That Make Them Say “No” to Potential Employees

Job hunting is rough. It’s basically a full-time job in and of itself, and any little edge you can get over your competition helps.

Read through these 15 “small” transgressions so you can earn a “yes” instead of a rejection,

#1. Using vague language.

The biggest one for me was always whether they were responding thoughtfully and specifically to prompts or just using vague interviewy language.

#2. Improving telekinesis.

Talking about your broccoli and chocolate diet to improve your telekinesis.

This happened about 15 years ago.

#3. Hard pass.

When the interviewee ignores the person who asked the question and instead talks to the person they “think” has the most power in the room. This has happened in entry level positions, but I also helped interview for a position that would be working at my same level, as a partner. My manager told me the decision was ultimately up to me, because I knew what I was willing to work with, and what was needed for the role. I had a man come in and he wouldn’t look at me, didn’t shake my hand, and every time I asked a question, he looked to my manager for approval. Yeah… Hard pass. I don’t want to work with a guy who has no respect for me.

#4. Don’t smoke weed before interviews.

Being stoned. Don’t smoke weed before interviews. It doesn’t relax you. You just look and sound weird.

#5. It’s happened more than once.

People that showed up to an interview in dirty sweatpants and a hoodie or whatever, and had no idea what the position really was. (Pharmacy Tech/Assistant) It happened more than once.

#6. It’s fair game.

If you have something on your resume, it’s fair game for me to ask you about it. If you struggle with basic questions about it — game over.

#7. Unlucky people.

From a post on 4chan I saw once:

“Be me, hiring manager. First thing I do when I get a stack of applications is throw half of them in the trash. I don’t want any unlucky people working here.”

#8. It’s a one-time thing.

I’m reading this thread as a hiring manager for more or less janitorial position and we are so badly hurting for employees at that spot that we’ll pretty much hire anyone that applies so long as they clear the background check and drug screen.

Raggedy clothes? You’re hired Don’t really have great answers to questions? You’re hired Can’t really explain or give a reason for the stuff on the application? You’re hired You physically showed you to the interview? Hired.

It’s crazy that the people that interview the best, show up dressed as well as they can be in their means, and clearly want the (any) job are more often than not the ones that get shot down because of background.

Sucks that the ones getting hired over them quit two weeks in because they don’t like cleaning things up.

Edit: it’s not my idea to have the drug screen, and it is a one time thing

Edit 2: it’s no minimum wage. It’s not the best, but it’s competitive for the area

#9. Don’t Google every question.

For phone / skype interviews: don’t Google every question I ask you to get the ‘right’ answer. It’s a dead giveaway when after every question there’s 10 seconds of umming, and then a textbook answer. You’ll be surprised how often this happens.

#10. Showing up late.

Showing up late for an interview already puts you in the hole. Not addressing it or apologizing for it will make it complete. Turn a negative into a positive and show you have accountability. Not addressing it shows you don’t have respect for me and my time.

#11. Just a few things.

Check your grammar and punctuation over and over. Correspondence via emails should be professional, too. It’s not a time to use shorthand, like you would in a text message to friends. Bad grammar in emails usually catches my attention right away (in a negative way).
There was a young woman interviewing for a position with me who was very creative and extremely qualified. However, her written correspondence was so poor with me that I knew she’d do the same thing with external clients and she didn’t get the position because of this.

I’ll usually hire someone who is coachable and has a great attitude over someone who might have more experience, but doesn’t get along well with others. One’s attitude really is a game-changer and I’m more prone to hire those with a positive outlook on life.
If you want an “in” with a company – don’t always go straight to the top. Maybe reach out to a lower-level employee and learn from them and get tips. I always take a look at candidates referred to me by internal employees, no matter how high they rank in the company.
Be genuine and authentic. I love candidates who straight up tell me: “look, the last few years have been really hard for me. I jumped around jobs and looking back, I realize I could have stuck them out longer. But I learned from the experience and I want to do better.” We are humans, too. We get that life can be tough, so I appreciate people who are real and authentic.
And lastly, don’t be an excuse maker and go on and on about issues. This makes me think you’ll do the same in our corporation; during the interview process, be open and authentic, yet to the point and matter-of-fact. I believe every question can and should be answered in 30 seconds or less.

#12. Don’t add filler.

If you put it on your resume, I’m going to ask you about it. So don’t add filler.

#13. Everyone but the hiring manager.

Treating everyone but the hiring manager disrespectfully.

I was in a management position in fast food. I didn’t do the hiring, but one minor responsibility was accepting applications that people brought in and answering any initial questions. The hiring manager ALWAYS listened to the other managers initial impressions of the applicants. So many applications were thrown out of the stack without ever being considered because the applicant didn’t think anyone mattered but the person that made the final decision. I even had one lady come in and basically tell us that she would definitely be hired and be placed over us in management and that she planned on “cleaning up our act”. We had a good laugh with the hiring manager before tossing her app in the trash.

#14. What annoys me most.

I just look for honesty and some self respect . The roles I hire for and fairly entry level so you dont need to be amazingly qualified or anything . I get a lot of young people for interviews and what annoys me the most is when they arrive dressed in casual clothes , I dont disregard their application over clothes, but I do sit and wonder why their friends or parents or partners let them come to an interview in such sloppy clothing.

That said, I did have a weird one, i hired a guy from a group like session , as he was probably the best and most confident person on the day. After hiring a few weeks in he starts to become unreliable with his late finishes. When I ask him what’s up with that, he comes in one day on his day off and says he needs to speak to me. He then tells me that he will be resigning becuase he cant make the later working hours , and that hes sorry for letting me down and appreciates us giving him a chance , then he lifts up his Jean leg and shows me a electronic tag on his ankle . Turns out he was released from prison 2 days before my interview, and said he never brought it up becuase in a room full of people why would anyone employ the ex con.

When I thought about it , hes probably right me and my colleague who were interviewing probably would have influenced our decision on him if we knew and he said he just wanted a fair chance .

So the tag prevented him from being outside his home after 7pm as he was charged for supply when younger . I ended up calling the parole officer and the HMRC and eventually altering his curfew on the basis that I said he would have to be jobless if they didn’t and if you dont allow him to have a legitimate job , what are the chances of him re offending gonna be.

Ended up being one of best employees for a while.

#15. Never tell your employer.

We were looking for engineers, and we had this guy apply.​

He had a pretty sizable amount of relevant experience to the job despite being a fresh graduate and had experiences and training in other fields related to the production industry.

I asked him what position he was applying for and offered him the Assistant Production Engineer based on his credentials alone. He looked at me with a disgusted face, like I just insulted him. I asked him what was wrong, and he replied “Nothing really. It seems like a pretty good position, but I want something better, because I can clearly see you are impressed by my resume”

I took the bait, and partly also due to our immediate need for engineers, asked him what his preferred position would be. He immediately answered that he wanted a supervisory position, like the General Production Manager. I asked him why he wanted such a position.

His reply? “Seems like one of those jobs where I can sit in the office and play games on my phone all day without having to actually do anything”

I quickly gave an excuse to end the interview right there and just told him we would call him. We didn’t

Moral of the story? Never tell your potential employer you just want to sit on your ass all day and do nothing.

Petty, maybe, but good to know!

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Nabisco Sets Animal Crackers Free from Their Circus Cages

It’s a symbolic gesture, but an important one, nonetheless. After 116 years, the famous Barnum’s Animal Crackers have a brand new box design – and the details are important.

To refresh your memory, here’s what the old box looked like.

Photo Credit: Public Domain

Now here’s the new design for the packaging.

After 116 Years, Barnum's Animal Crackers are…

Posted by I LOVE DESIGN DGO on Sunday, April 21, 2019

That’s right, the animals have been “freed” – they are no longer in cages and behind bars. A push from folks at PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) helped to spark the change.

The new design shows the animals walking across the savannah with no bars, cages, or chains in sight. PETA’s people got in touch with the company back in 2016 and suggested it might be a good idea to show the animals in their natural environments.

Several companies make animal crackers, but Nabisco’s Barnum brand has been the most popular for decades. The brand was named after the legendary P.T. Barnum, and Nabisco started manufacturing the cookies in 1902. Obviously,  attitudes towards animals have changed since then.

Times have changed so much that in May 2017, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus closed business for good.

Photo Credit: Public Domain

In a statement, PETA said, “The new box for Barnum’s Animals perfectly reflects that our society no longer tolerates caging and chaining exotic animals for circus shows.”

Bravo! Any progress is good these days…

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Guinness Goes Green: Beer Giant to Stop Using Plastic Packaging

Plastic waste is one of the biggest environmental issues of our time, and one of the most famous beer brands in the entire world is taking a huge step towards being part of the solution: they’re going to stop using plastic packaging materials altogether!

The manufacturer of Guinness, Diageo, announced that they’re getting rid of their plastic beer packaging and will replace it with cardboard that is 100% recyclable or biodegradable. That’s great news!

Guinness maker Diageo removes plastic from multipacks: http://ow.ly/Ytv430or4iN#NoPlastic #NoWaste

Posted by Love Clean Streets on Monday, April 15, 2019

The company also announced it is investing $21 million (U.S.) into the new project, and that getting rid of plastic rings and shrink wrap will remove the equivalent of 40 million plastic bottles from its operations.

Diageo owns Harp and Smithwick’s as well and plans to move away from plastic on those brands, too. The sustainable beer packs are supposed to debut in Ireland in August 2019 and expand to the rest of the world in 2020.

Guinness is good for you ? The maker of Guinness is eliminating all plastic packaging for its products. ? https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/guinness-diageo-beer-plastic-free-packaging-a8869941.html

Posted by Marm O'Melia on Thursday, April 18, 2019

Oliver Loomes, the director of Diageo in Ireland, said, “Managing our environmental impact is important for the planet and the financial sustainability of our business. We already have one of the most sustainable breweries in the world at St. James’s Gate and we are now leading the way in sustainable packaging. This is good news for the environment and for our brand.”

Good work Guinness! Now head to the pub and order a couple to celebrate!

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10 Secrets Starbuck Employees Want You To Know

I. Love. Starbucks!

I know how ridiculously expensive it is to go there almost daily… but I still do it because – and I cannot overstate this enough – the coffee is AMAZING.

Running over 24,000 retail stores, Starbucks ranks high on many people’s lists of the best coffee around. But have you ever thought beyond the cup and noticed the actual people behind the magic of that espresso pour?

Here are a few behind-the-scenes secrets of how Starbucks makes their magic bean juice.

Photo Credit: Pexels

1. Green aprons have meaning

You may think the grass green aprons are tied to the branding colors of Starbucks, but that color goes a little further. Think about a hospital. You might see people in blue scrubs, green scrubs, and white coats. It often correlates to status or position. Starbucks adopted a similar technique to help their senior members stand out. According to another partner,

“Black aprons were given during a time when something called a Coffee Master program was in effect. People with those aprons worked very hard to learn everything about coffee through Starbucks. Starbucks had a program partners could receive certification through that involved lots of courses and training and coffee tastings. They’re the people to ask about types of coffee beans and teas. It’s also an indicator they’ve been with Starbucks a while because the program has been cut, at least in the U.S.”

Photo Credit: Pexels, Negative Space

2. Beans can be green, too

“Green Beans” are new employees of Starbucks. Those wide-eyed newbies are a part of the company-wide training program to keep turnover low. Each Green Bean is paired with a senior employee who shows them the ropes of all things coffee. This is a big job for trainers! Starbucks finds that the more dedicated and patient the senior member, the longer the retention of the new employees.

3. Don’t call them baristas

The Starbucks company refers to its people as partners. You might wonder why the professionalism of the boardroom makes an appearance at the counter. Well, the execs actually use this terminology correctly:

“We’re referred to as ‘partners’ because a year into our employment, we get a small percentage in the company, so we’re all stock partners,” says AJ, a partner in Florida.

And that’s not all. Partners receive health care and 401k benefits, and in some areas can cash in for courses at an online university. Not too shabby!

4. Funny names are, well, not funny

I’m sure the partners of Starbucks have heard every possible answer when they ask, “What’s your first name for your order?”

But when it comes to names such as Superman, Batman, and “Daddy”, the baristas don’t want to hear it. So much so, that you may never hear your fake name called – they will simply read off the drink order. Be unique, give your real name.

5. “…Where everybody knows your name.”

Hearing the Cheers theme song? I’m sure you have, when walking into your favorite Starbucks to order for your Venti, half-caff, soy Latte, not one-degree over 120. Which, of course, they are already making before you hit the counter to order. And as they ask you how your daughter’s prom went and how “Johnny” did at the basketball game, it makes you warm and fuzzy inside that they remembered. All of this is what Starbucks strives for — “customer connections.” It’s all about being genuine, and employees are actually rated on this.

6. They are not “Coffee Artists”

Coffee art is all the rage, from four-leaf clovers to simple hearts made in latte foam. Partners can make these on request, but it isn’t their forte. Because of the size and shape of their pitchers, the milk froth isn’t at spec for beautiful designs. So save the special requests for your drink, not the foam.

7. Don’t fret about drink sizes

Venti? Grande? What are these sizes? After all these years, it is still completely normal for customers to be confused. But don’t fret, the partners won’t hold it against you. They understand they have been criticized for these faux-Italian terms, and if you order a small or large, they will still get you the right size.

8. Revenge is best served decaffeinated

No partner of Starbucks would ever mess with your brew in a bad way. But it has been said that rude customers sometimes feel a little less than energized after finishing their supposedly high-octane venti. If so, they may have been subject to “decaffing.” When your attitude really annoys the barista, they may swap  your beloved caffeine with decaf.

Ouch.

 9. Dog-friendly

Starbucks is dog-friendly, at least in the drive-thru. They can provide a free puppacino to the four-legged friend in your back seat – all you need to do is ask! The only ingredient: whipped cream. A delicious treat for any dog, and it helps the employees to alleviate the temptation of petting the furry friends. For safety/health regulation reasons, they can’t touch the dogs, but they can give them a treat!

10. Employee Bean Perks!

Forget the 401k package and stock shares – bring on the FREE coffee! This may be one of the biggest perks for employees and also the biggest downfall. Whether the employees are trying new drinks or refreshing themselves = after filling orders, a new employee’s caffeine intake can skyrocket! How do they sleep at night?

“On days I don’t work, I still drink one to four cups a day or I’ll get a splitting headache,” M (a partner) says. “On days that I work, it can be the same to more, but the caffeine doesn’t help with alertness anymore. It’s lost its benefit.”

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Outdoor Brand Patagonia Will No Longer Sell to Clients Who Wreck the Environment

The Midtown Uniform Instagram page has been amusing its followers for some time now. The page skewers NYC finance bros on the basis of their almost identical style choices – namely, a button-down shirt, slacks, and a Patagonia fleece vest.

The page’s name actually comes from the fact that SO MANY of these professionals wear that exact look that it may as well be considered an official uniform.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

I refuse to live in a world where I am killing it with my boys at joshua tree and am forced to go home at 4 am #midtownuniform

A post shared by Midtown Uniform (@midtownuniform) on

 

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This photo was found next to the term “squad goals” in the dictionary. #midtownuniform

A post shared by Midtown Uniform (@midtownuniform) on

That may not be the state of things for long, however. You see, Patagonia recently announced that they’ll be ditching clients in the corporate world in favor of clients whose interests more closely align with the company’s new mission to “save our home planet.”

This policy became public after Binna Kim, president of a communications agency named Vested (ironic, right?) tried to place an order of Patagonia vests for a client and received this rejection letter:

Basically, Patagonia is no longer accepting potentially lucrative deals from clients whose businesses support or condone practices that are destroying the environment.

It’s a move that may very well cost the brand quite a lot of money in short-term sales, but in the long run it’s a smart move for the outdoor-friendly company: they are making sure their brand is still associated with the great outdoors.

Talk about putting your money where your mouth is!

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5 Industry Secrets Funeral Directors Want to Keep Buried

No one likes talking about funerals or thinking about the end of our lives (or the lives of our loved ones), but the hard fact is that we’re all going to have to face death, and that often involves a funeral.

So it’s best to be informed when it could mean thousands of dollars and your eternal resting place, right? Yes. And below are 5 things funeral directors would really rather remain a secret.

#1. Embalming is optional.

If you plan the viewing and burial (or cremation) quickly enough, embalming is an extra, not a requirement.

#2. So is having the deceased present at the funeral.

They charge you extra to have your loved one’s body present at the funeral, but it’s not actually required. Consider this: a celebration of life might be more convincing if people weren’t staring at the dead person, rather than remembering them alive.

#3. Caskets don’t have to be super expensive.

Funeral directors want to steer you toward mahogany and bronze, but the fact is, you can pick one up at Costco, Walmart, or Sam’s Club for a much more reasonable price (if you don’t mind sailing into the afterlife in a more modest boat).

#4. In fact, you can even rent them.

It might sound squicky at first, but if you’re a practical person who realizes that your body is eventually going to turn back into dirt and dust, anyway, you can rent your casket. The body rests in a cardboard liner inside the casket and then is buried (or cremated) without it.

#5. Their “bells and whistles” options aren’t what they appear.

They might try selling you a “protective casket” that includes a rubber gasket to seal the casket so tight it will slow or stall decomposition. Not only is the opposite true – moisture and gases get trapped inside and some caskets have even exploded because of it – but, I mean. Why delay the inevitable?

The more you know – your grandkids could pay off some of their student loan debt with the extra cash!

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