The periods where growth comes for tremendous effort are long gone. Stock market dividends are no longer the method for a company to make money. Companies are nowadays judged by how well they treat their workers, communities, shareholders and the environment.
In 2020, the double tragedy of the Covid 19 pandemic and racial indifference only made things shift towards responsible capitalism. According to Just 100 journal, Just Capital, a partner, made a poll of 110,000 people on the different sides of corporate behaviour.
Objectively, Just Capital graded America’s largest public enterprises on how they served critical stakeholders. The top-rated and ranked companies termed 2020 challenges into lasting and positive changes for companies.
John Stankey
As the CEO of AT&T, a telecom company, John Stankey, notes that the company treats its customers with immediate action, especially those who need emergency concerns. The Dallas based wireless network landed its top ten in Just 100 list thanks to fast wireless internet. John notes that the company used its prowess in the wireless networks to help first response teams to communicate effectively. The network also facilitates people to communicate appropriately during a crisis.
AT&T has heavily invested in disaster recovery. The 650 million dollar program sends drones to boost service for customers who lost cell service connectivity after wildfires of hurricanes. The CEO took the leadership role from Randall Stephenson, and the wireless firm is worth 180 billion dollars. John notes that the company is working with policymakers to ensure internet availability and affordable for everyone.
Margaret Keane
Margaret Keane is the CEO of Synchrony, a financial call centre. In spring of 2020, many workers were laid off in spring. However, the financial call center is not among the people who were laid off. Contrastingly they all received bonuses.
According to Keane, making the bounty available to the customer care team wasn’t easy. But it was the right thing to do at the moment. Margaret also organized a 1.5 million emergency fund for employees who needed help with Covid related medical help.
These humane decisions mad Synchrony rise in the revenue list to position 20 on the Just 100 list. The company also chipped in to support working parents. The company based in Connecticut gave leave for 12 weeks in January 2020 and come June, Synchrony decided to provide children and a virtual summer camp for employees’ children.
Margaret Kean maintains that the company is cultivating an environment where employees are trusted and valued.
Doug Baker
Ecolab came back to the list of Just 100 in 2020 since it was ranked last in 2018. The company made 15 billion in revenue last year. The money mostly came from selling cleaning supplier and water treatment chemicals, including hand sanitisers to companies like Colgate-Palmolive and Microsoft Inc.