Each Friday, we’ll bring you a round-up of positive news about how Chamber members are making a difference in our community.
Allied Universal
As workplaces and schools begin to reopen, many organizations will need a lot of support staff, be it essential security staff or janitorial. Allied Universal®, a leading security and facility services company with 235,000 employees and revenues exceeding $8.5 billion, has offered support for schools and universities to prepare for a safe and secure environment in the upcoming academic year. Allied Universal Chairman & CEO Steve Jones sat down with Yahoo Finance to share tips for office buildings and other commercial spaces to open safely amid COVID-19. Jones shares how the company introduced onsite “CARE Ambassadors” to help guide employees to PPE and disinfectant while also enforcing social distancing requirements. All the while, the company is proud to recognize its own essential employees – with a special shout out from the Conshohocken Shared Services team.
First Step Staffing
As an employment provider for men and women experiencing homelessness, the COVID-19 crisis significantly impacted First Step Staffing. While some job sectors saw early closures at the onset of the pandemic, the organization is seeing an increased demand to staff essential businesses. To ensure their clientele still had the opportunity to get to and from their workplaces safely while practicing social distancing, First Step Staffing increased the number of vans they provide to shuttle nearly 600 homeless, returning citizens, and veterans. As our region begins to reopen, the organization believes it is well-positioned to provide a vital service connecting those in need to available jobs during the economic recovery.
Lavazza
“A new world is waiting for us on the horizon, ready to welcome in a rediscovered humanity that looks to the future with a positive attitude by redefining the relationship between individual and collective.” Through their new global communication campaign, #TheNewHumanity, Lavazza aims to take a stand and engage in dialogue with employees, customers, and the wider community to build a “new humanity” for which progress, sustainability, and tolerance are the foundation. #TheNewHumanity is the concept that will provide inspiration going forward for multiple Lavazza projects – including the recent launch of the Good Morning Humanity commercial in the U.S. this past Monday, July 20.
Mobiquity
At a time when it seems like every business and organization is transitioning to digital platforms and processes, Mobiquity, a digital consultancy, has brought resources to businesses across the world and the Greater Philadelphia region to improve their online products and services in a radically changing environment. While supporting its clientele, the firm’s Philadelphia location is ensuring its employees are well equipped to live and work in this “new normal.” One particular initiative includes staff-led Zoom calls to do reading time with employees’ children – a fun way to help employees juggle parenting and working, among other HR led initiatives.
Philadelphia 76ers
76ers fans across the region are anxiously awaiting the team’s return to the court on August 1. While the athletes are in Florida training for their first match-up, the team behind-the-scenes has been working to support its community back home. Alongside NovaCare, the Philadelphia 76ers announced the donation of 10,000 masks to areas of need in Philadelphia and Camden, N.J. The donation is in partnership with the Sixers Youth Foundation and will reach various organizations who have demonstrated need, especially with the mandatory mask order in place for the city of Philadelphia and other regions.
University of Pennsylvania
With businesses across the region struggling to make ends meet during the COVID-19 crisis, the University of Pennsylvania is doing its part to support its surrounding community. At the onset of the pandemic, Penn made the decision to provide $5 million in emergency financial support to employees in need, the PHL COVID-19 Fund, third-party full-time and part-time contract workers, independently-owned retail tenants, to the Enterprise Center of West Philadelphia, and the University City small businesses. In partnership with University City District (UCD), Penn arranged grants for 135 West Philadelphia retailers and restaurants in the community that UCD then awarded and distributed to keep their neighbors in business.
Interested in sharing your story? Contact your member engagement representative to let us know what your organization is doing to make a difference in our community.
