Konsistent TL;DR helps you stay up to date on the top news from the business and diversity & inclusion sector.

Let’s take a look at what made headlines over the past seven days, for the week ending February 17, 2023.

Amazon marks an end to remote-friendly work policy

Amazon is ordering thousands of workers back to the office starting May 1, marking the end of its previous remote-friendly work policy. This comes just a month after Amazon confirmed plans to lay off over 18,000 workers this January. The news has left many workers wondering what comes next for them—and if their job is even safe.

This sudden shift in policy has also prompted debates around the role of corporate culture, with some believing that having a physical presence in the office can foster closer relationships and spark better ideas. On the other hand, staying remote provides more flexibility and allows people to work from wherever they are.

The decision has sparked conversations around diversity and inclusion, too. As companies grapple with the idea of going “back to normal” (or something akin to it), there is a fear that workers who do not fit into the mold of what makes a “good” employee in the traditional office setting—those who can’t afford to live in expensive cities, those with disabilities, etc.—will be disadvantaged.

Read more about how Amazon’s decision will affect the future of remote work

CNN anchor Don Lemon under fire for sexist comments 

CNN reported Don Lemon’s apology after his sexist comments about the female anchor at a rival network went viral. “I want to apologize for my comments on air last night,” Lemon said in an official statement. “It was inappropriate and offensive, and I take full responsibility.”

This apology comes after Lemon made sexist remarks during a morning show about when women are “in their prime”. Lemon made the comments during a conversation about former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley’s presidential candidacy.

During her run for presidency, Haley called for mental competency for any candidates over 75 years of age – in which Lemon stated that Haley “isn’t exactly in her prime herself”. Lemon attempted to support his argument by stating that women are in their prime in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, and that Haley would be considered “past her prime”.

This incident sparked an outcry from the media, with many calling for Lemon’s resignation. It also raised important questions about how we view female candidates, especially those who are over 50—a conversation around gender biases in the workplace that is long overdue.

Check out the full story on CNN

US Congressman reports being bombarded on Twitter with antisemitic tweets

US Congressman Jared Moskowitz says Twitter “has become a hate-filled playground for Nazis and anti-Semites”. Moskowitz, who is Jewish, reported being bombarded with hundreds of “atrocious and vile” antisemitic messages a day.

The online attacks have been going on for months, but the Congressman said they intensified after he spoke about the problem of antisemitism on Twitter at a House Oversight meeting last week. Moskowitz reports then being flooded with even more antisemitic tweets, some of which included death threats.

This is just one example of the rise in antisemitism that has been happening all over the world, especially in the US. Last year, there was a sharp increase in attacks against Jews and Jewish institutions, with many attributing this to the normalization of antisemitism as a result of public figures making offensive comments and spreading conspiracy theories. Moskowitz also cited statistics from the Anti-Defamation League, stating there has been a more than 60% increase in antisemitic comments on Twitter since Musk took over the platform.

Many have spoken out against the attacks, but it is clear that more needs to be done in order to challenge antisemitism and create an open dialogue about its impact.

Read more at CNN

CVS Health CEO says it’s time for business leaders to get serious about mental health

CVS Health CEO Karen Lynch made a bold statement this week, calling for business leaders to get serious about addressing mental health issues.

People are reporting “alarming” levels of stress, according to the American Psychological Association, and suicide is a leading cause of death in the US among children and adults – with nearly 46,000 people dying by suicide in 2020.

Mental health has been the collateral damage of the pandemic, but the uncertainty and social isolation of this time has at least raised awareness and increased our willingness to openly discuss things like depression, loneliness and burnout. A once hidden, private and even shameful topic, our mental health and the steps we take to preserve it has become a much more regular part of our daily lives, discourse and decisions.

But, even as we’ve learned to seek treatment for mental health challenges more readily, it’s clear that our needs are outpacing the growth of quality care solutions.

“Business leaders have a tremendous role to play here. They have an opportunity to not only do the right thing for their employees, but also serve as a catalyst for change in how mental health is recognized as an everyday health issue,” Lynch says.

Lynch feels businesses need to shift how we think about mental health — away from crises and toward mental well-being.

Read more about the steps she recommends to help move our collective mindset in that direction: