The Conference Board

Is the US heading for a recession???GDP growth below 1% could be an early warning sign—but is it enough to call a recession? In the latest #CSuitePerspectives podcast, Steve Odland and Yelena Shulyatyeva, CFA, Senior US Economist at The Conference Board, break down what to watch. ?? What really defines a #recession? ?? Why #inflation and growth patterns don’t always align ?? The biggest risks facing the #economy today ??Listen now:? Website: https://lnkd.in/ePQjSVU2 Apple: https://apple.co/3J0xrhQ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3vAxkGM #CSuitePerspectivesPodcast #RecessionRisk #EconomicTrends #BusinessLeadership

The policy and economic landscape has been shifting daily—even hourly—over the past two weeks. Need to catch up? Read our #CSuiteInsights newsletter, featuring five key developments every business leader needs to know: ?? From beef to bourbon, #EU retaliatory tariffs signal new stage in #TradeWar ?? Expect less engagement with #ESG topics this #ProxySeason as new #SEC guidance takes effect ?? #DOGE extends its reach into the #regulatory sphere—a significant expansion of #ExecutivePower into agency and personnel decisions ?? How #employers can be a rock of stability and trust for their workforces in uncertain times ?? Understanding and managing legal risk in Corporate #DEI For daily updates, follow The Conference Board on LinkedIn or visit our #NavigatingWashington homepage: https://lnkd.in/ePiWm4Ns

?? What are the #ESG regulatory shifts on corporate radars? In our latest #CEOInsightMinute, Christine Guinessey talks about key trends related to ESG regulation, including the federal slowdown, state-level divergence, and international disclosure. Read the full report, produced with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP: https://lnkd.in/eRqDMkUb #regulation #sustainability #businessinsights #corporategovernance #compliance #climatepolicy #reportingstandards #riskmanagement?

#NavigatingWashington ????On January 20, 2025, the new administration issued an #ExecutiveOrder requiring federal government employees to come back into the office five days a week, with few exceptions.? ?? Why it matters ??? This return-to-office (#RTO) mandate significantly impacts federal workers and will also have repercussions for private sector workers. Leaders in both sectors can take specific actions to help their workers and organizations navigate the mandate and its ripple effects.? ?? #TheTCBTake ??? ?? Federal government leaders can improve workers’ experience and performance during and after this transition by showing they care and investing in #ChangeManagement.? ?? Private sector leaders must prepare for ripple effects, including added momentum for RTO mandates, a need for proactive communication with workers, and an opportunity to attract top talent from the federal government.? ?? The federal mandate, together with recent RTO plans announced by high-profile companies such as JPMorgan Chase, might impact private sector RTO decisions, even as #HybridWork rates have held relatively steady over the past year. ? ?? It is likely that the federal RTO mandate will cause a significant number of federal workers to look elsewhere (as reflected in the 75,000 who have opted for voluntary resignation). https://lnkd.in/ePiWm4Ns

The early actions of the new administration point to significant changes in the operation and composition of the federal workforce. Allan Schweyer explains how CHROs can take advantage of the wave of available talent leaving the government. https://lnkd.in/eK3_b-A8 #federalworkforce #talent #skilledtalent

?? How do businesses move from making public commitments to fully integrating corporate responsibility into their core strategy? Webster Bank, a 2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards recipient, has done just that—making philanthropy, sustainability, and community investment central to its business strategy. Join Steve Odland and Marissa Weidner, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at Webster Bank, as they discuss: ?? Why corporate responsibility = accountability ?? How businesses can align responsibility with success ?? How Webster Bank’s Finance Lab is creating measurable impact ?? Listen now: https://lnkd.in/eU8THf6j #CorporateImpact #Leadership #ESG #SustainableBusiness #CorporateResponsibilityAwards #tcbPodcast

?? The #ESG regulatory landscape is increasingly fragmented—federal #climatedisclosure rules are stalled in the US, while state-level mandates gain momentum and EU regulations face uncertainty. How can companies navigate this ever-changing landscape? Read our report, produced with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP: https://lnkd.in/eRqDMkUb #regulation #compliance #sustainability #corporategovernance #businessinsights

This #proxyseason, use TCB Benchmarking to compare your company’s #executivecompensation strategies against industry standards, sectors, or custom peer groups, ensuring alignment with #shareholder expectations. Join our complimentary demo next week and learn how TCB Benchmarking can help transform your approach to executive pay design. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eG2X_--B

#NavigatingWashington ????As the US withdraws support for the UN Sustainable Development Goals, what does it means for business?? ? Earlier this month, the US government withdrew its support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (#SDGs)—the 17 global objectives adopted in 2015 to address economic, social, and #environmental challenges. The move reflects the Administration’s broader shift toward limiting multilateral commitments and prioritizing national sovereignty in global governance.? ?? Key developments ??? ?? On March 4, the US announced at the UN General Assembly that it would no longer support the SDGs, calling them an expansion of “soft global governance” that undermines national decision-making.? ?? The move breaks with past bipartisan US support for global development frameworks and reduces US engagement in multilateral #sustainability initiatives.? ?? Pulling back from the SDGs also reflects the new Administration’s early priorities on #climate and #diversity; the statement to the UN, as originally prepared, called for “a clear and overdue course correction on gender and climate ideology.”? ? #TheTCBTake ??? While the withdrawal has #geopolitical implications, it is unlikely to significantly alter corporate sustainability strategies. Most US companies have treated the SDGs as a reference point rather than a core #ESG framework, with priorities driven by financial performance, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder expectations.? ?? However, the move signals growing scrutiny of climate, #DEI, and corporate ties to multilateral frameworks, along with widening divergence between the US and other jurisdictions. Business leaders should keep ESG efforts aligned with business value, operational relevance, and legal defensibility while navigating shifting political and stakeholder landscapes.? ? Read our report on US policy shifts and corporate ESG ?? https://lnkd.in/e5vEHMk7 ?

?? Declining shareholder support this #proxyseason: A sign of “proposal fatigue”? Average support for shareholder proposals peaked in 2021 and has steadily declined since. Institutional investors and companies alike report growing frustration with the volume and declining quality of proposals—especially on environmental, social, and human capital topics. Many say proposals have been overly prescriptive, leading to waning support. Try out our benchmarking tool, #tcbBenchmarking, to see real-time proxy season trends: https://lnkd.in/gtsHDJru Read more in our latest report produced with ESGAUGE - ESG Intelligence & Analytics, Russell Reynolds Associates, and Rutgers Center for Corporate Law and Governance: https://lnkd.in/gmE_zjU3 #corporategovernance #ESG #proxyseason #businessstrategy #stakeholderengagement #shareholderactivism