Working 9 to 5? 'Out of Office' author says maybe it's time to rethink that; NPR, Fresh Air, December 13, 2021

Terry Gross, NPR, Fresh Air; Working 9 to 5? 'Out of Office' author says maybe it's time to rethink that

"In the new book Out of Office, Petersen and her partner and co-author, Charlie Warzel, make the case that the pandemic has created a rare opportunity to rethink the shape of work life — including the 9-to-5 workday. 

"The status quo of us being in offices from a certain time to a certain time every day ... [is] very arbitrary," Petersen says. "It's based on rhythms that are no longer ours. It's based on an understanding that there is a caretaker at home for most families in the United States, and that's not necessarily the case."

Now, as workplaces begin to reopen, it's a good time to revisit what she calls "arbitrary understandings of how many hours your butt should be in a chair in the office." After all, she says, "You don't need to be in an office to answer emails.""

E-commerce and China: Strategies for fighting online counterfeits, Part 2; United States Patent and Trademark Office Webinar: Thursday, December 2, 2021 9 AM - 10:30 AM EST

United States Patent and Trademark Office Webinar; E-commerce and China: Strategies for fighting online counterfeits, Part 2

"E-commerce now accounts for nearly 14% of all retail sales, and continues to grow at a healthy rate. But U.S. businesses engaged in e-commerce, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), face a number of challenges in protecting their intellectual property (IP) on e-commerce platforms.

Register now for this free program to learn proven strategies for protecting and enforcing your IP rights when selling on e-commerce platforms.

Part 2 of the two-part series will focus on administrative and judicial mechanisms for enforcing IP rights and combatting the sale of Chinese counterfeits on e-commerce platforms in China. The program will feature presentations by senior United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) IP attorneys with extensive China IP experience and experts from Mattel, Specialized Bicycles, and Amazon.

Topics to be covered include: 

• overview of administrative, civil, and criminal IP enforcement
• strategies for collaborating with e-commerce platforms
• industry perspectives and experiences
• establishing a criminal case

During the program, participants can submit their questions to a dedicated email box. There will be time allotted to respond to participants' questions.

(Note: Although some advanced IP topics may be touched upon in the webinar, the materials presented are intended for representatives from SMEs with limited experience in IP protection and enforcement in China.)"

Register today

CNN suspends Chris Cuomo ‘indefinitely’ after documents detail help he gave his brother; The Washington Post, November 30, 2021

 

Sarah Ellison

 and 

Jeremy Barr

 

, The Washington Post;  CNN suspends Chris Cuomo ‘indefinitely’ after documents detail help he gave his brother

"News organizations typically try to maintain clear boundaries between journalists and newsmakers, in an effort to maintain their independence. It’s considered a breach of ethics for a journalist — including those who engage primarily in giving their opinions — to support a source or public official, whether financially or in an advisory role."

193 countries adopt first-ever global agreement on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence; UN News, November 25, 2021

UN News; 193 countries adopt first-ever global agreement on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

"Artificial intelligence is present in everyday life, from booking flights and applying for loans to steering driverless cars. It is also used in specialized fields such as cancer screening or to help create inclusive environments for the disabled.

According to UNESCO, AI is also supporting the decision-making of governments and the private sector, as well as helping combat global problems such as climate change and world hunger.

However, the agency warns that the technology ‘is bringing unprecedented challenges’.

“We see increased gender and ethnic bias, significant threats to privacy, dignity and agency, dangers of mass surveillance, and increased use of unreliable Articificial Intellegence technologies in law enforcement, to name a few. Until now, there were no universal standards to provide an answer to these issues”, UNESCO explained in a statement.

Considering this, the adopted text aims to guide the construction of the necessary legal infrastructure to ensure the ethical development of this technology.

“The world needs rules for artificial intelligence to benefit humanity. The Recommendation on the ethics of AI is a major answer. It sets the first global normative framework while giving States the responsibility to apply it at their level. UNESCO will support its 193 Member states in its implementation and ask them to report regularly on their progress and practices”, said UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay."

Final Report: Commission on Information Disorder; Aspen Institute, November 2021

Aspen Institute ; Final Report: Commission on Information Disorder

"Information disorder is a crisis that exacerbates all other crises."

How to Ethically Respond to Negative Online Reviews; ABA Journal, August 23, 2021

 Andrew K. Robertson, ABA Journal ; How to Ethically Respond to Negative Online Reviews

ABA opinion offers best practices for handling online criticism while complying with the professional duty to maintain client confidentiality

"Lawyers receiving a negative online review now have additional guidance for deciding whether or how to respond. In Formal Opinion 496, the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility sets forth best practices for attorneys to address criticism while fulfilling ethical duties to clients. ABA Litigation Section leaders caution that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, however."

Barbara Ringer’s Legacy of Fighting for Equity at the Copyright Office: An Interview with Amanda Levendowski; Library of Congress, November 19, 2021

 Steve Andreadis, Library of Congress ; Barbara Ringer’s Legacy of Fighting for Equity at the Copyright Office: An Interview with Amanda Levendowski

"Forty-eight years ago today, November 19, Barbara Ringer was appointed the Copyright Office’s first female Register of Copyrights. She spent her career fighting for equity within the Office and beyond and led the way for the four women who have since served in the role. In 1995, the Library of Congress awarded Ringer its Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her lifetime contributions to the field of copyright and the Library.

To commemorate Ringer’s legacy, I spoke with Amanda Levendowski, associate professor of law at Georgetown Law and the founding director of the Intellectual Property and Information Policy (iPIP) Clinic, about the inspiration Barbara Ringer provides to those in the field of copyright. Through articles and events, Levendowski has shined a light on a visionary leader who continues to inspire current and future intellectual property professionals."

NY ethics commission rescinds approval for Cuomo book deal; AP, November 16, 2021

 Marina Villeneuve, AP; NY ethics commission rescinds approval for Cuomo book deal

"Republican Commissioner David McNamara said state property, resources and personnel were used to prepare, write, edit and publish the book “contrary to the representations” made on Cuomo’s behalf.

Cuomo has acknowledged that state employees helped with tasks including editing the manuscript. 

But he’s claimed that those employees were “volunteering.”"

Why Culture And Ethics Are More Important Than Ever; Forbes, October 28, 2021

 Roger Trapp , Forbes; Why Culture And Ethics Are More Important Than Ever

"In an interview on the eve of the document’s publication, Ty Francis, chief advisory officer of LRN, a consultancy that advises organisations around the world on ethics and regulatory compliance, said that people working in the lower reaches of businesses often did not feel the culture in ways that middle managers and above did...

LRN claims the new report — The LRN Benchmark of Ethical Culture — breaks fresh ground through, in addition to setting out how a strong culture improves business performance, providing a framework for measuring it. Its ethical performance model looks at such aspects as the extent to which an organisation is purpose-driven and ethical, whether ethical behaviour is a factor in rewards, whether standards of conduct are applied consistently across the organisation, levels of trust and transparency and whether the leadership models an ethical culture. It also assesses such areas as employee loyalty, customer satisfaction, innovation, adaptability and business growth. LRN’s extensive surveys have led it to divide organisations into four groups, or archetypes, depending on their progress towards achieving ethical cultures. These range from Inspired in that they exemplify all aspects of an ethical culture, through Competent, which covers organisations that are well on the way towards Inspired through building the right structures and the like, and Requisite, which have established cultures but do not inspire employees, to Nascent, which lag behind the others and can actually be toxic, with employees unable to agree that corporate ethics, leadership support or a healthy work atmosphere are present. Those at the top outperform the others according to conventional business criteria by about 40%, thus making a strong case for investment."

Facebook runs the coward’s playbook to smear the whistleblower; The Verge, October 5, 2021

 Elizabeth Lopatto, The Verge; Facebook runs the coward’s playbook to smear the whistleblower

 

"Facebook has chosen to respond to whistleblower Frances Haugen in the most cowardly way possible: by hiding Mark Zuckerberg, the man ultimately responsible for Facebook’s decisions, and beginning the process of trying to smear and discredit Haugen.

This is some Big Tobacco bullshit — precisely what sleazeball PR guru John Scanlon was hired to do when Jeffrey Wigand blew the whistle on tobacco company Brown and Williamson. Scanlon’s task was to change “the story of B&W to a narrative about Wigand’s personality.”

Of course, that strategy “backfired completely,” Vanity Fair reported in 2004. It probably won’t work here, either. One senator, Edward Markey of Massachusetts, has already called Haugen “a 21st-century American hero,” adding that “our nation owes you a huge debt of gratitude.”...

But the funniest part is the absence of Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s CEO and the only shareholder with the power to replace himself. Zuckerberg started Facebook as a Hot-or-Not clone — which almost certainly would negatively affect teen girls’ self-esteem. (At least he is consistent, I guess.) The decisions Haugen alleges, which put profits ahead of morals, have also enriched him more than anyone else. The buck stops, quite literally, with him. So where is he?"

The Opportunity for an Ethical Fire Service; Firehouse, June 2, 2021

Kris Blume , Firehouse; The Opportunity for an Ethical Fire Service

Ethics are an integral part of today’s fire departments, and Kris Blume argues that without a consistent and modern ethical framework, departments will decline.

"Inclusivity

Ethics are an integral part of a 21st century fire department and can help to lessen the negative effects that many departments face today. With a consistent ethical framework, departments can become coalescent and create an inclusive working environment for everyone, from probationary firefighter to fire chief. The reciprocal benefit will be demonstrated by each member of the department and the community that’s served. Without this approach to ethics, departments throughout the nation will continue to decline amid higher urban populations that stress outdated ethical frameworks."

Belarus’s dictator isn’t winning. He’s desperate.; The Washington Post, May 25, 2021

   

David Ignatius, The Washington Post; Belarus’s dictator isn’t winning. He’s desperate.

"Dissident journalist Ihar Losik had been arrested in June 2020, but Protasevich continued a blog called Nexta on the encrypted social media app Telegram. The KGB beat and arrested people, but the young journalists and their followers continued to share the truth...

One American who has met with Protasevich recently explained: “What I took away is that he is committed to the integrity of the journalistic profession. He’s willing to work in the most dire situation. This isn’t just a hobby for him. It’s a mission to provide information direct to the people.”"

‘Inconceivable’: why has Australia’s history been left to rot?; The Guardian, May 22, 2021

Elias Visontay The Guardian; ‘Inconceivable’: why has Australia’s history been left to rot?

Historians are aghast that the National Archives have had to resort to crowdfunding to protect irreplaceable historical records

[Kip Currier: This report on the deplorable state of archival management and preservation by Australia's National Archives is a call-to-arms case study exemplar of abject information preservation dereliction of duty and responsibility. Kudos to those who are mobilizing to endeavor to avert this archival dis-management catastrophe.]

"The Guardian requested an interview with director-general David Fricker or another member of the National Archives. A spokeswoman said no one was available."

Big pharma executives mocked ‘pillbillies’ in emails, West Virginia opioid trial hears; The Guardian, May 16, 2021

Chris McGreal, The Guardian; Big pharma executives mocked ‘pillbillies’ in emails, West Virginia opioid trial hears

"Paul Farrell, a lawyer for a West Virginia county, put it to the executive that the emails reflected a culture of contempt."

Frank Stephens Jr.: Beloved Mt. Airy artist and Free Library 'pioneer'; Chestnut Hill Local, April 8, 2021

 Len Lear, Chestnut Hill Local; Frank Stephens Jr.: Beloved Mt. Airy artist and Free Library 'pioneer'

"[Frank Stephens Jr.] then began his career at the Free Library of Philadelphia as an illustrator and in 1965 was promoted to Exhibits Manager. He ascended through the ranks and was appointed Library Arts and Graphic Administrator in 1990. He became the first African American male ever to serve on the Free Library’s Management Team. He was the principal creator of over 300 major exhibitions and used his talents in particular to highlight Black artists, visionaries and African American history.

Over his career, Stephens was awarded over 35 graphic, community and civil awards including two gold medals for graphic design, one gold model for art direction from the Graphic Arts Association of Delaware Valley and the “Best of the Best” award presented by the Philadelphia African American Museum. His work has been cited by countless artists, educational and cultural institutions, civic and community organizations."

Our greatest libraries are melting away; The Washington Post, April 7, 2021

 David Farrier , The Washington Post; Our greatest libraries are melting away

 

"Spending time in the library of ice reminds us that our history is bound up with that of the planet. As that library comes under ever increasing risk, we should remember the fate of another great library. Legend tells that the Library of Alexandria burned to the ground, but the truth is less spectacular. As the Roman Empire fell into decline, people simply neglected to protect and preserve the fragile papyrus manuscripts that were stored in the Library of Alexandria. Gone with it were the greatest treasures of the ancient world: hundreds of years of civilizations’ stories, memories, knowledge and wisdom.

The greatest library in history was lost to neglect. Unless we act now, the library of ice will meet the same fate."

Emerging technologies pose ethical quandaries. Where does IT leadership fit in?; CIO Dive, February 22, 2021

 Katie Malone, CIO Dive; Emerging technologies pose ethical quandaries. Where does IT leadership fit in?

""More organizations are seeing that trust is a measurement of profitability, of organizational health, of success," said Catherine Bannister, Tech Savvy and ethical tech leader at Deloitte. "This notion of ethics is becoming much more visible to stakeholders across the board and they are using that as a measure of trust, both internally and externally."

But there's no common definition for what ethical technology looks like and the conversation is ongoing. Instead, CIOs and other members of IT leadership are responsible for figuring out what tech ethics mean for their organizations in the near- and long-term. 

If an organization doesn't do its ethical due diligence, customers will catch on and trust will be diminished, according to Bannister."

DU discusses Catholic universities, LGBTQ+ community; The Duquesne Duke, February 25, 2021

  Kellen Stepler, The Duquesne Duke; DU discusses Catholic universities, LGBTQ+ community

"How can Catholic universities welcome LGBTQ+ students?

On Feb. 24, Duquesne’s Faculty Senate, Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Gumberg Library held an event on Zoom with keynote speaker the Rev. James Martin titled, “Catholic Universities Welcoming LGBTQIA+ Students.”

Martin is the editor-at-large for the Jesuit Review magazine America and a consultor to the Dicastery for Communication of Vatican News. He shared practices to help Catholic colleges sustain an environment where LGBTQ+ students feel welcomed while honoring a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

“Duquesne is already doing such wonderful work. Even by having a conversation like this shows that they are open and welcoming,” Martin said. “But we can all improve; everybody can sort of do better.”"...

Martin encouraged Catholic institutions to be clear and creative with programs that welcome LGBTQ+ individuals, to stand with them and to make the whole school a place where LGBTQ+ individuals can feel safe and supported.

“It’s important for gay students to know that they are not alone, that there are others like them on campus and for them to form a support,” Martin said.

Being open to learning new things, asking questions when you don’t understand and educating yourself and the school can also make an environment feel more inclusive."

Warren Buffett Says These Often Ignored Traits Separate Successful Leaders From All Others; Inc., January 18, 2021

Marcel Schwantes, Inc.; Warren Buffett Says These Often Ignored Traits Separate Successful Leaders From All Others

"2. Value your employees' whole being.

I have found that leaders of the best organizations value the whole person -- their emotional, mental, physical, and even spiritual well-being -- to achieve outstanding business outcomes. The evidence overwhelmingly asserts that a more humane and human-centered approach to leadership will produce great results.

3. Lead with empathy.

An empathetic leader is important in keeping employees engaged. Empathetic leadership involves investing in the individual contributors on the team and listening and acting on employee needs. However, if managers are not trained to understand how to recognize and respond to these needs, it can negatively impact employee engagement."