Did You Know? offers a quick look at the broad scope of activities underway within the ANSI Federation, highlighting the people and initiatives making waves in standardization.
FTC Issues Revised "Green Guides" for Clarity in Environmental Marketing
The Federal Trade Commission, a government member of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), has issued revised Green Guides on the use of environmental marketing claims. The guides are designed to help marketers ensure that the claims they make about the environmental attributes of their products are truthful and non-deceptive.
The revisions to the FTC's Green Guides reflect a wide range of public input, and include clarifications to sections of the previous guides. Also provided is new guidance on environmental claims that were not common when the guides were last reviewed, including sections on certifications and seals of approval, carbon offsets, "free-of" claims, "non-toxic" claims, "made with renewable energy" claims, and "made with renewable materials" claims.
The revised Green Guides are available here.
Consumers Union Offers Free Guidance for Consumers on Healthcare Reform
ANSI member Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, has released a free brochure outlining the consumer benefits and protections of the Affordable Care Act. The guide also offers a long-term view on what consumers can expect when additional changes begin in 2014, and helps to clear up common myths and questions. Consumers can find out more about new ways to buy and afford insurance, changes for employers, how Medicaid is changing, and how the "mandate" will affect them.
To download a copy of Health Reform: Seven Things You Need to Know, visit www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org/freeguides. The guide is also available in Spanish at www.ConsumerReportsenEspanol.org/salud.
Consumers Union is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves. Consumers Union's staff of lobbyists, grassroots organizers, and outreach specialists work with more than 600,000 online activists to change legislation and the marketplace in favor of the consumer interest.
SHRM Survey on Job Satisfaction Shows Changes in Employee Attitudes
ANSI member the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has released the results of a survey on employee job satisfaction that highlights a shift in priorities from job security to job satisfaction. According to the SHRM 2012 Employee Job Satisfaction and Engagement survey, "opportunities to use skills and abilities" now holds the top spot on the list of job satisfaction drivers (63 percent), with job security (61 percent) in second place for the first time since 2007.
The other three aspects of job satisfaction that made the 2012 top five include: compensation/pay (60 percent); communication between employees and senior management (57 percent); and relationship with immediate supervisor (54 percent). In addition to examining 35 aspects of employee job satisfaction, SHRM researchers explored 34 aspects of employee engagement - their commitment and connection to their work, and the factors that motivate them to work harder.
The report is available for free download here.
Representing more than 250,000 members in over 140 countries, SHRM serves the needs of HR professionals and advances the interests of the HR profession. Founded in 1948, the association has more than 575 affiliated chapters within the United States and subsidiary offices in China and India.