| CIOs still excluded from the boardroom
A seat in the boardroom remains elusive for most CIOs as businesses continue to exclude IT chiefs from high-level strategic planning, according to new research. The picture is even bleaker for European companies who lag behind organisations headquartered in north America and Asia-Pacific when it comes to putting an IT executive at the top table. The research, A Missing Competency: Boardroom IT Deficit, by public relations company Burson-Marsteller reviewed Fortune Global 500 organisations to determine those with a technology expert - either a current or former CIO - on their boards. It is the second time the research has been carried out and, compared to the earlier 2003 findings, it showed an increase from five per cent to eight per cent in the number of organisations globally with a CIO on the board.
Whistleblower legislation being readied
At least two lawmakers are working on a drafts for the next legislative session to address the state's protection of its whistleblowers.Rep. Tracy Potter, D-Bismarck, submitted a draft of a bill to the Legislative Council in an effort to better define the winding path a state employee must go down when reporting perceived violations in the workplace.Rep. Pam Gulleson, D-Rutland, also is drafting a bill that "ensures the law is meaningful in terms of providing protection ..."Currently, a state employee is ensured protection under the North Dakota Century Code, chapter 34-11.1, the public employees relations act; the act says an employee may report, without fear of reprisal, in writing to the employee's respective agency head, a state's attorney, the attorney general or an employee organization a job-related violation or misuse of public resources.For doing so, an employer should not retaliate against an employee.But the law seems to provide little by way of protection, perhaps only leaving an employee who may have been a victim of retaliation to follow up with a civil suit or to wait to see if the complaint of retaliation will be investigated and prosecuted.Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and Burleigh County State's Attorney Richard Riha have cited conflicts of interest with at least one agency that's seen the most recent eruption of whistleblower requests - Workforce Safety and Insurance.Five employees have filed for whistleblower protection from WSI, the state's workers' compensation agency, citing concerns of retaliation for reporting a myriad of issues.One, Jim Long, chief of support services, was put on paid administrative leave shortly after sending a 30-page document, which outlined perceived violations, including open meetings circumvention and disclosure of confidential information, among others, to the North Dakota Highway Patrol.Another whistleblower, Todd Flanagan in the special investigations unit, was fired in early December.Shortly thereafter, Stenehjem requested a highway patrol investigation into whether there was evidence of retaliation; that investigation, along with Long's 30-page document, was given to Grand Forks' State's Attorney Peter Welte.Welte, who was at the North Dakota State's Attorneys Association conference in Mandan this week, said his office has just begun reviewing the investigation."We haven't had time to completely review it, but we're in the process of doing that,"he said.Afurther section of North Dakota employment law, NDCC 34-01-20, provides only for private employees, ultimately allowing for civil action or mediation by the Department of Labor; however, the Department of Labor has no authority to investigate or enforce a complaint, only to act as a mediator between the company and the employee, said Lisa Fair McEvers, commissioner of the Department of Labor.The department does, however, investigate retaliation in relation to other complaints, but not for whistleblowers, she said.The two bills would seek to change the Department of Labor's role.Potter's bill would actually require the employee report the initial violation to the state auditor's office, which would be given the authority to investigate the claim.
ITEX Corporation Retains Two Top Chicago Marketing Firms to Expand ...
BELLEVUE, Wash., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ITEX Corporation (OTCBulletinBoard: ITEX) , The Membership Trading Community(SM), a leading marketplace for cashless business transactions in North America, today announced it had retained two top Chicago marketing firms -- The Goodness Company and Sigale Public Relations -- to provide additional professional assistance to its franchisees in the rapidly expanding Chicago region by promoting member registrations. The Goodness Company will assist and support the ITEX franchise network in building their local businesses. The Goodness Company will begin by creating instrumental PR tools such as a PR Tool Kit and Press Kit, and will direct a monthly franchisee conference call in addition to developing tips on how to help franchisees secure optimal public relations and publicity for their businesses.
Surveillance, Schmurveillance?
Wal-Mart's apparent research and surveillance activities geared toward shareholders raises troubling, but perhaps fleeting questions about trust. SocialFunds.com -- The recent scandal involving Wal-Mart's surveillance activities raises complex questions about the level of trust that must exist between publicly traded companies and their stakeholders.
Although the current situation is the latest in a list of revelations that include the head of Hewlett-Packard ordering surveillance of some of HP's Board members and Cintas's lawsuit against shareholder Tim Smith, the Wal-Mart (ticker: WMT) case is fundamentally different. In this case, the scandal may have little consequence for company-stakeholder relations.
The story initially broke when the Wall Street Journal reported on April 4 that Wal-Mart runs a "Threat Research and Analysis Group" at its Bentonville, Arkansas headquarters.
SCI FI Channel Names Howe President
NEW YORK, January 17: Dave Howe, currently the general manager and executive VP of SCI FI Channel, has been named president of the NBC Universal-owned network. Howe will oversee original development, programming and marketing, global brand strategy and market development, strategic planning, media relations and SCI FIs recently launched public affairs initiative, Visions for Tomorrow. He will also oversee SCI FI Magazine and SCI FI Digital, the division that operates SCIFI.COM, SCI FI Pulse and DVICE.com. Additionally, Howe is tasked with launching a new global brand identity for SCI FI and driving the brands expansion and diversification strategy beyond broadcast and digital media. The company has plans to expand into new areas such as video gaming, mobile, licensing and merchandising and the youth market.
CSR Certificate Program at St. Michael's College
(CSRwire) A few places still available. The University of St. Michael's College invites applications to its innovative CSR Certificate program. Program begins in Toronto October 18-20, 2004. Unique in Canada, the Certificate program blends theory and practice in a relaxed, conversational atmosphere. Designed in collaboration with the Conference Board of Canada for practitioners, managers and leaders in CSR, community investment, ethics, environmental reporting, human resources, purchasing, communications and public relations. For description visit www.utoronto.ca/stmikes/csr Graduates gave glowing reviews to the program and to its award winning learning tool, a web based simulation that allows participants to strategize, select tactics and get feedback on a complex CSR problem faced by a fictitious GPS company.
Sarah Catz Joins MWW Group's Irvine Office as Senior Counselor
IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- MWW Group (www.mww.com), one of the nation's top 10 public relations firms, announced today that Sarah L. Catz has joined the company as Senior Counselor in its Irvine, CA office. Catz has served as California's acting Deputy Secretary of Transportation, as well as project manager for The Commission on Building for the 21st Century, California's infrastructure commission. While with the Governor's Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, which oversees the activities of 12 state departments, including CalTrans, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Housing and Community Development and the California Highway Patrol, Catz helped secure state funding for critical infrastructure projects throughout California. "Sarah is a powerhouse in transportation and public policy.
CHEFS DIET(R) Introduces My Solution
NEW YORK, Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Chefs Diet(R), the leading meal delivery service provider based on the Dr. Sears' Zone Diet in the nation, announces the launch of My Solution -- a nationwide program that provides chef-prepared, gourmet frozen meals for as low as $9.99 per day*. Chefs Diet(R) created My Solution in an effort to offer programs that meet a wider variety of dieters' needs. Daniel Taugher, Director of Public Relations for Chefs Diet(R), recognized the need for a diet food delivery service for consumers seeking more economical alternatives to the company's higher priced fresh food alternatives. "Over the past two years, we have received hundreds of requests from people who want to be on our program but were concerned with the financial commitment of our more comprehensive, fresh food services," said Taugher.
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