5 Things / Uprising
This week, in the middle of an in-person workshop, a participant raised their hand and said, “What’s the point of this? We did a workshop like this last year, and nothing changed. Leadership still sucks.” Many nodded. A few laughed. More hands went up.
It was a minor uprising, so I pivoted. The next 20 minutes became an impromptu focus group. What I heard, over and over, was about a lack of trust and psychological safety. Later, in a separate session with people leaders, we worked through those concerns together.
The good news? Most of these problems are fixable with more transparency, humility, and accountability. I saw leaders willing to try the ARC Method®. And when I spoke to the CEO afterward, I felt urgency in making it right.
Here’s the truth: you can’t claim to be “people-first” when your people have stopped expecting you to keep your word. You might find yourself facing a minor uprising.
This Week's Good Vibes:
Hot Flashes Meet Hot Policy
Rhode Island just became the first state in the U.S. to legally require workplace accommodations for employees experiencing menopause, aligning these protections with those for pregnancy and childbirth. This move dismantles long-standing stigma around a natural life stage that has disproportionately silenced and sidelined women, especially women of color who statistically experience more severe symptoms and face greater barriers to care. This is a landmark law that may spark similar legislation nationwide. ♐ Audit your policies now: if you’d make it for pregnancy, make it for menopause.
Bo-Linda Bids Bienvenidos
Bojangles is setting a new industry standard by rolling out Spanish-language ordering across its app, website, kiosks, and AI-powered drive-thru assistant, “Bo-Linda,” at over 400 locations. This makes it one of the first major chains to offer bilingual ordering at this scale. For the 42 million Spanish speakers in the U.S., this initiative signals that they aren’t an afterthought. It’s a reminder that inclusion often starts with meeting people in their own language. ♐ Audit customer touchpoints for language gaps. Even small translations—signage, menus, digital prompts—can make a brand measurably more welcoming and inclusive.Where Every Sense Gets a Seat
Pittsburgh’s new $1.5M Sensory Nature Trail at Frick Park redefines accessibility in public spaces. Purpose-built for visitors with varied mobility and sensory needs, it features elements like high-back seating, sustainable fountains for tactile play, quiet birding spots, wide wheelchair-friendly paths, and large restrooms—amenities often overlooked in outdoor design. ♐When designing spaces, ask directly: “Who’s excluded by default?” Build features that serve those users first—you’ll make it better for everyone.Bathroom Ban Flushed in Hong Kong
In a landmark ruling, Hong Kong’s High Court struck down criminal provisions barring trans women from using women’s public bathrooms, affirming the right to facilities that match gender identity. While the court suspended enforcement changes for 12 months to allow legislative review, the ruling dismantles a discriminatory barrier that has long endangered and stigmatized trans people, particularly trans women, in public life. ♐ Audit your facilities and policies for gender inclusivity. Bathroom access is a baseline right.Tampon Tax Tossed in Missouri
Missouri has slashed its state tax on menstrual products and diapers from 4.225% (luxury rate) to 1.225% (necessity rate), aligning them with groceries. The change recognizes these items as health essentials, not luxuries, an important shift for low-income families, who often stretch supplies at the expense of comfort and health. The law marks progress in dismantling gendered and class-based inequities in how necessities are taxed, part of a growing U.S. movement to end the so-called “tampon tax.” ♐ Review workplace and community donation drives—include menstrual products and diapers, and make them free and accessible year-round.
Good Vibes to Go: