“What exemplifies a sustainable workplace?” We argue this is one of the most important questions every business owner should ask themselves, no matter what life stage their business is, because the question inherently defines a company’s culture. Sustainability in the workplace has a multitude of layers, focusing on both environmental practices and personal well-being of employees. Having one without the other can often lead to an imbalanced seesaw effect. Here are some tips in each sustainability category that foster a well-rounded workplace environment:...

Communication is as simple as it is complicated. We are almost certain most people would agree that this statement could not be any truer with today’s rapid technological advances. It is a foundation for success in both our personal lives and work endeavours and therefore many tech leaders have interesting viewpoints regarding the broad topic of the evolution of communication. TED, a nonprofit organisation devoted to spreading ideas in the form of short, powerful talks, has many influential leaders leading the conversation in the diverse telecommunication realm. We’ve collected our favorite Ted Talks that shed light on the telecommunication industry in 3 very distinct and thought-provoking ways....

Gone are the days when you and your co-workers are sitting side by side in an office. Virtual workspaces are the new normal and sometimes a better option due to increasing advancements of cloud technology andtelecommunications. Whether you are spearheading a startup company lacking initial resources, a freelancer based at home, or a team member working remotely, the fact is the idea of a physical “office” has changed and our workstyles must adapt too. Here are 3 tips to tackle a more productive virtual workspace:...

This was originally posted on TechSoup.org as a guest blog post. The following is an overview of a BetterWorld customer, HealthRIGHT 360 and interview with Dave Dayter, IT Director of HealthRIGHT 360 discussing their experience with BetterWorld and the TechSoup VoIP Donation Program. BackGround HealthRIGHT 360 is an impressive and complex organization, the combination of two renowned community nonprofits, Haight-Ashbury Free Clinics and Walden House. Haight-Ashbury Free Clinics was the first free medical clinic in the country, serving its first patients in 1967. ...

The Salvation Army is such a reputable institution, they don’t really require an introduction. With a worldwide footprint of 1.5 million in 126 countries, the Salvation Army provides services across the spectrum with thrift shops, shelters, disaster relief and humanitarian aid....

[As originally in Virginia Business by Nicole Anderson Ellis] In 2002, Matt Bauer’s telecommunications career was at a crossroads. In the wake of Enron’s collapse and more than a trillion dollars in global write-offs, the industry was slogging through what Bauer calls its “darkest period.” He’d had enough and faced a choice: leave the field or change it. ...

It’s high time to re-imagine how and where we work By Matthew Bauer As originally in the May/June Sustainable Industries Issue, Bridging a Digital Divide If you have been following the news as of late, it is likely that you have seen one or more articles on the virtues or the downside of telework, all taking cues from Yahoo!’s (Nasdaq: YHOO) recent decision to recall its teleworkers back to the “factory.” The debate has covered the pros and cons extensively, so I will spare you the emotion here and focus on the past, present and future of work as we know it, and where it’s going, whether you like it or not. Just the facts, ma’am! ...

BetterWorld was happy to speak last week at ASBC’s outreach event about the important role that businesses can play to support a just and sustainable economy. Sponsored by BetterWorld, CAMEO, AquaBella, and the Green Chamber of Commerce at New Resource Bank, the gathering attracted many Bay Area sustainable leaders, including many BetterWorld customers and partners....

Computer skills in today’s world are not optional, in fact, even those seeking help and training are often hampered by resources designed for them that exist online....

It’s that time of year again, time to reflect back at the last twelve months and take a big picture view of what lies ahead, in 2013. There were lots of great numbers in 2012:...

The Bay Area is famous for a high number of both technology companies and nonprofits working on causes all over the world. But there is one new customer we’re thrilled to welcome aboard that does both, Benetech harnesses technology in the service of humanity....

BetterWorld was honored to speak recently, as part of a panel at Net Impact’s annual conference, Net Impact 2012, in Baltimore, Maryland. Net Impact is a global nonprofit that works to inspire the next generation to work beyond business for a more sustainable future through chapters, events and professional development. Nearly 2,800 attendees converged to help celebrate Net Impact’s 20th anniversary conference. As an organization that apparently started in a hot tub as a conversation between visionary business leaders, Net Impact has grown up considerably, with over 30,000 members and widespread recognition. ...

We were inspired and touched recently at the annual Ella’s awards ceremony put together by the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights (a BetterWorld customer)....

BetterWorld recently co-hosted the first Market Street Forum, a new quarterly gathering of Bay Area leaders, with a focus towards the intersection of the broadband economy + future of work + the resulting benefits for our society and environment. In collaboration with Varsity Technologies and the American Sustainable Business Council, BetterWorld launched Market Street Forum with featured guest speaker, President of the Board of Supervisors of San Francisco, David Chiu. ...

The Hub is a worldwide network of over 25 collaborative work spaces that provide a creative environment as well as a professional infrastructure to work, meet, learn and connect. As their credo declares, “The Hub is designed to facilitate the creation of sustainable impact through collaboration.”...

BetterWorld was out making change with fellow local businesses at this year’s BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies) conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The 2012 BALLE Business Conference: Real Prosperity Starts Here conference connected more than 700 community innovators, business owners, and investors to people, resources and ideas to unleash local prosperity....

BetterWorld Telecom was excited to attend the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) Business Summit this past June in Washington DC. ASBC is an organization dedicated to the creation of public policy that acknowledges the large and growing community of sustainable and socially responsible enterprises. ...

Business and commutes are at a standstill today after an extreme fire in West Oakland put the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) system completely out of service between the East Bay and San Francisco. The resultant traffic and chaos from commuters attempting alternate methods of ferry, buses, and carpooling will likely result in something of a local holiday – as highways turn into parking lots. The growing density of the Bay Area and many urban corridors, puts individuals and businesses at the mercy of transit systems that are both fallible and already pushed to capacity....

“Innovation is an unreasonable request” says Adam Lowry, Co-founder of Method, the ground-breaking San Francisco-based company who has taken soap to heights of “coolness” normally reserved for electronics and pop culture. Lowry was just one of many business leaders in discussion at the inaugural Sustainable Corporation conference, put together recently by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and held at Oracle’s campus in Silicon Valley....

BetterWorld was out supporting locally made industry and products yesterday at SFMade’s Ramp It Up celebration at SpeakEasy Brewery in San Francisco....

Being a good business is like being a good gardener. Or so says William Rosenzwieg, 2010 recipient of the Oslo Business for Peace Award. Rosenzwieg is the Co-founder at Bay Area-based Physic Ventures and works with purpose-driven businesses like Recyclebank, Revolution Foods, GoodGuide, and Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy....

Board of Supervisors Unanimously Approves City Incentives for New Type of Socially Responsible Corporations Legislation Provides Bid Preferences to Benefit Corporations Contracting With the City San Francisco, CA – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted unanimously to support an ordinance sponsored by Board President David Chiu that will provide bid preferences on City contracts to Benefit Corporations, a new form of a corporate entity recently authorized by the State of California. The ordinance will be voted on for a second time next Tuesday, April 24, with passage expected....

As originally featured in SustainableIndustries.com by BetterWorld President Matthew Bauer. A three part series: Reading the tea leaves, accepting the inevitable and bringing focus to the most promising sector of our economy. _Part One discussed how we got to where we are. Part Two focused on Trends and Facts helping support the shift to a small business-focused economy, Part Three now pulls it all together and discusses concrete solutions for moving forward into the new Access Economy. _ All too often we are just looking at the issues in silos and not seeing the opportunity for truly shifting our economy, society and our species’ detrimental and growing impact on the earth’s biosphere. Taking a page from the wisdom of E.O. Wilson, his book, Conscilience, touches brilliantly on a new approach – managing strategy and policy across multiple silos of specialty at the same time....

The BetterWorld Forum kicked off yesterday with the first of many events focused on the cross section of the new broadband economy, the future of work and the opportunities that exist for businesses and communities in this field. The inaugural event was hosted at the new BetterWorld headquarters in San Francisco, in partnership with Varsity Technologies. Joining in the discussion on the future of work were seasoned experts including:...

It’s National Telework Week next week March 5-9th, where individuals and organizations pledge to telework for one week. In celebration, BetterWorld is offering special pricing and discounts in both of our donation programs for nonprofits for the full month of March. ...