RB Expands Parental Leave to Employees

Hi Love!

RB Announces Expanded Parental Leave Policy Industry-leading program reflects commitment to diverse workforce

PARSIPPANY, N.J., January 12, 2016 – RB, a leading consumer health and hygiene company and the maker of popular brands including Lysol, Mucinex, and Clearasil, announced today a significant expansion of its global parental leave policy.  Effective late 2015, all RB employees, including the more than 2,200 employees in the United States, will benefit from a new, fully paid 16-week, parental leave policy.

The expanded program was developed to better support RB’s global workforce and their families, and reflects the company’s culture which encourages a healthy work-life balance.  The policy also supports RB’s ongoing initiatives to ensure talent density at mid- and senior-level positions.

“At RB, we support a creative and entrepreneurial culture that helps our employees realize their professional goals quickly, while also balancing the demands of a happy and healthy home and family. The decision to expand our parental leave program was an important one, particularly for our employees residing in the U.S., to ensure we can continue to support our employees across all aspects of their lives,” said Alexander Lacik, president of RB North America.  “Our people are at the heart of what make RB and our culture so special. This new policy is simply one way we can remind them of that.”

This new parental leave policy places RB as a leader among CPG industry employers in the United States.  In addition to the expanded paid lead, RB announced that employees can take up to an additional 36 weeks unpaid parental leave, fathers who are not primary caregivers will receive one weeks’ paternity leave at full pay, and introduced a mentoring program for women returning from maternity leave.

“Celebrating and empowering employees in all aspects of their career at RB will allow us to continue attracting and retaining the top talent in our industry,” said Emanuele Celani, director of Human Resources for RB North America.  “This policy is an exciting expansion of the RB benefits package that reflects our innovative and supportive culture.”

For more information about a future career at RB, please visit http://www.rb.com/careers/why-join-rb

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About RB

RB* is the world's leading consumer health and hygiene company. The company has operations in over 60 countries, with headquarters in London, Dubai and Amsterdam, and sales in most countries across the globe. The company employs approximately 37,000 people worldwide.

Inspired by a purpose to deliver innovative solutions for healthier lives and happier homes, RB is in the top 20 of companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. We are the global No. 1 or No. 2 in the majority of our fast-growing categories, driven by an exceptional rate of innovation. Our health, hygiene and home portfolio is led by our global Powerbrands including: Nurofen, Strepsils, Gaviscon, Mucinex, Durex, Scholl, Clearasil, Lysol, Dettol, Veet, Harpic, Cillit Bang, Mortein, Finish, Vanish, Calgon, Air Wick, Woolite and French's. Our Powerbrands represent 80% of our net revenue.

RB is redefining the world of consumer health and hygiene. Our people and unique culture are at the heart of our success. We have a drive for achievement and a passion to outperform wherever we focus, including sustainability where we are targeting a 1/3 reduction in water impact, 1/3 reduction in carbon and 1/3 of net revenue from more sustainable products. We are proud to be Save the Children's largest global partner, with a new vision to radically reduce one of the world's largest killer of children under 5, diarrhea.

For more information visit www.rb.com.

*RB is the trading name of Reckitt Benckiser group of companies -- Love Rae

Black Women Are Among The Greatest Leaders In History (Part 1)

Hi Love!

Some of the Greatest Leaders in History are Black Women

If they say you aren’t smart enough or you aren’t strong enough… If they say it can’t be done, just ignore them!  They haven’t got a clue!  

Some people may be surprised and happy and others might be surprised and astonished to find that there have been plenty of creative black  women and men in history who have not only ruled nations for hundreds of years but did things that changed the world. 

Two long-time California educators, Constance F. Gipson and Dr. Hazel Mahone, have always been fascinated by the creativity, innovation and accomplishments of their black ancestors. 

Over ten years in the making, their book Legacies: A Guide for Young Black Women in Planning Their Future contains an amazing array of stories about African Queens in history along with the life stories and accomplishments of dozens of successful black women. Each page reveals the stories, the challenges, and the strength and courage that comprises the remarkable heritage Included are the life stories, experiences and advice of international lawyers, money managers, astronauts, doctors, ministers, police officers, scientists and more.

“Throughout the ages, black women have used their ingenuity, their beauty, and their negotiation skills to raise armies, create inventions, and lead countries in war and peace throughout the ages. They have taken part in every sector of society--from the farm to the city, from the home, and to the offices of the world’s leaders.

“They hail from every income bracket and occupation,” say the authors, “and are a smart, spunky, and intelligent”. 

Legacies examines the accomplishments and rich heritage of African-Americans through the voices of sixteen African Queens and nearly forty successful contemporary black women.  Lavishly illustrated with beautiful artwork in full color and interspersed with poems that resonate, the book offers guidance as well as practical and thought-provoking interactive exercises that will help young women with life skills they need to succeed and maximize their impact on society. 

Legacies juxtaposes story after story about black women who changed the world then and now.  Here’s a sample: 

Ahmose Nofretari

“Let me tell you who I am. Long ago there was a powerful black kingdom called Kush. It was located in what today is known as Sudan. Kush was part of an area called Nubia, which was near Egypt. Sometimes Egyptians raided Kush for slaves. A group called the Hyksos invaded Egypt and ruled Egypt for more than 100 years until the Kushite soldiers helped drive them out. My father, King Sequenenre was king of Egypt. He was killed in battle against the Hyksos. My mother, Queen Ahhotep, saved the kingdom. My brother, Ahmose, became the pharaoh and chased the Hyksos out of Canaan. I married my brother, as was the custom of our country. After he died I ruled with my son Amenophis I. Our people worshiped Ra, the sun god. Ra was joined with Amon. I worshiped the god Amon and made sure that the temples honoring him were raised again. I controlled the daily life of the kingdom and was known for my serenity and beauty.”

Dr . Omowunmi Sadik

Omowunmi Sadik was born in Lagos, Nigeria. She is a Professor of Chemistry at State University of New York at Binghamton (SUNY-Binghamton). She received her Ph.D in Chemistry from the University of Wollongong in Australia and did her postdoctoral research at the US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Sadik has held appointments at Harvard University, Cornell University, and Naval Research Laboratories in Washington, DC. Sadik’s research currently centers on the interfacial molecular recognition processes, sensors and biomaterials, and immunochemistry with tandem instrumental techniques. Her work utilizes electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques to study human exposure assessment, endocrine disrupters, and toxicity of naturally occurring chemical compounds.

Dr. Sadik developed a prototype sensor that can be used instead of drug/bomb-sniffing dogs. Using a combination of laboratory polymers and specially developed software, Sadik and co-workers have created an autonomous biosensor that uses microelectrode arrays to mimic the way mammals detect odor, thus allowing the sensor to mimic scents, detect explosives or illicit drugs and biological molecules.

Please continuing reading more about Black Women as leaders in part 2. 

-- Love Rae

Revival After Being Cheated On - How To Help Yourself

Hi Love!

Never give up, female author Tracy Schorn sheds light on rebuilding your life after a breakup.

Tracy Schorn’s LEAVE A CHEATER, GAIN A LIFE: The Chump Lady’s Survival Guide (Running Press, May 2016), is a snarky, no-nonsense self-help guide on how to bounce back and get on with your life after you’ve been cheated on. This is not a book about reconciling, saving your relationship, or making nice with your cheater, but rather a how-to guide for picking yourself up off the floor and taking back your power. Tracy Schorn is a journalist who runs the successful infidelity blog Chump Lady, and whose snarky wisdom and cartoons have helped thousands of chumps leave cheaters. Tracy is a regular contributor to Huffington Post Divorce, was recognized by Babble as one of the “Top 10 Relationship Bloggers of 2013,” and is a relationship blogger for the BlogHer/SheKnows network.

-- Love Rae

Engineering for Kids: Female Leaders

Hi Love!

Dori Roberts taught high school engineering for 11 years. To fill what she saw as a void in STEM education, the mother of two started an after school club that participated in various STEM-based competitions. After membership hit 180 students and the group won multiple state championships, she expanded the program and devoted 100 percent of her time to develop Engineering For Kids (EFK).

Engineering For Kids began operating out of Dori’s Virginia home as she introduced her programs to local recreation centers. As demand for the programs increased, along with Dori’s desire to impact as many youth as possible, she began franchising Engineering For Kids in 2012. Today, the company operates over 140 franchises in 32 states and 19 countries.

COMPANY INFO:

·         Geared to kids ages 4-14, EFK offers after-school programs, camps and classes.

·         While other programs focus on LEGO kits, students enrolled in Engineering For Kids’ aerospace engineering programs design and build rockets, parachutes and lunar landers. Students enrolled in mechanical engineering programs design and build rollercoasters, sails and catapults.

·         EFK has a proprietary curriculum with over 300 lessons in 19 different curricular areas.

·         Nearly doubled system-wide sales; 2014 $5M – 2015 $10M

·         25 new franchises planned for 2016

-- Love Rae

Finding New Love Online

Hi Love!

Dating Online is new, if you want to know how to succeed please check out the lessons from female author Lisa Hoehn.

YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN’T WRITE THAT:  Tips and Tricks for Creating an Online Dating Profile That Doesn't Suck (January 2016) by Lisa Hoehn, founder of ProfilePolish.com. Isn't online dating supposed to make finding love easier? Enter Lisa Hoehn, your ultimate online dating wing woman, and her book, YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN’T WRITE THAT. It's a complete guide to creating and revamping your perfect profile, from picking the right username, to choosing the right photos (good photos are more important than being good looking!), to helpful hacks for being witty and interesting. Lisa Hoehn is a freelance writer and the founder of Profile Polish, a personalized online dating profile makeover service that's been featured in The Guardian, New York Magazine, Business Insider, XoJane, more. She lives in New York where she's consumed innumerable glasses of wine in search of the perfect date.

-- Love Rae

American Masters Premieres New Doc Spotlighting Singer Carole King

Hi Love!

THIRTEEN's American Masters Premieres New Documentary Carole King: Natural Woman February 19 on PBS in Honor of 45^th Anniversary of Her Landmark Album Tapestry

Four-time Grammy Award-winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, recent Kennedy Center Honoree and the first woman to be awarded The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, Carole King's (b. February 9, 1942) career as a singer-songwriter is unparalleled. To date, more than 400 of her compositions have been recorded by more than 1,000 artists, resulting in 100 hit singles, including songs co-written with Gerry Goffin: "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" (The Shirelles), "Up on the Roof" (The Drifters) and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Aretha Franklin). Now, King tells her own story in the new documentary American Masters -- Carole King: Natural Woman,premiering nationwide Friday, February 19 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) as part of the 30^th anniversary season of THIRTEEN's American Masters series. This year also marks the 45^th anniversary of King's landmark solo album Tapestry, which was released February 10, 1971, and spawned the hits "It's Too Late," "I Feel the Earth Move," "You've Got a Friend" and "So Far Away."

Weaving previously unseen and rare performances and home movies with a new, exclusive interview with King, American Masters -- Carole King: Natural Womandelves into her life and career. New interviews with friends and colleagues, including fellow songwriters Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, Tapestry producer Lou Adler, drummer Russ Kunkel, guitarist Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar, daughter and manager Sherry Goffin Kondor, lyricists Toni Stern and Carole Bayer Sager, and former manager Peter Asher, complete the biographical tapestry.

Director George Scott (Rufus Wainwright - Prima Donna, Great Performances"Elizabeth Taylor: England's Other Elizabeth") journeys through King's Brooklyn childhood, her early success co-writing some of the best-loved pop songs of the 1960s with then-husband Goffin for Aldon Music, and, following their divorce, her move to Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles with two young children. There, she achieved solo success and became a central figure in the 1970s singer-songwriter movement, along with her contemporaries James Taylor and Joni Mitchell. King speaks candidly about her abusive marriage to Rick Evers, life on a ranch in Idaho, eco-activism, and initial hesitance about Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Douglas McGrath, writer of the Broadway musical's book, and author/music critic Anthony DeCurtis provide additional insights.

"Carole King has provided the soundtrack to so many Americans' lives, and her music remains current - when Aretha Franklin sang 'Natural Woman' last week, it trended on social media," said Michael Kantor, executive producer of American Masters.

Launched in 1986, American Masters has earned 28 Emmy Awards - including 10 for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series and five for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special - 12 Peabodys, an Oscar, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards and many other honors. The series' 30^th anniversary season on PBS features new documentaries about Mike Nichols (January 29), B.B. King (February 12), Fats Domino (February 26), Loretta Lynn (March 4), Janis Joplin (May 3) and The Highwaymen (May 27). To further explore the lives and works of masters past and present, the American Masters website (http://pbs.org/americanmasters) offers streaming video of select films, outtakes, filmmaker interviews, photos, educational resources and more. The series is a production of THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET andalso seen on the WORLD channel.

American Masters - Carole King: Natural Woman is a production of 1515 Productions in association with THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC's American Masters for WNET. George Scott is director. Celia Moore is producer. Nick de Grunwald is executive producer. Michael Kantor is executive producer for American Masters.

Funding for American Masters is provided by The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Rosalind P. Walter, The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation, Rhoda Herrick, Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation, Vital Projects Fund, Rolf and Elizabeth Rosenthal, Lenore Hecht Foundation, The André and Elizabeth Kertész Foundation, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Ellen and James S. Marcus, Judith and Burton Resnick, and public television viewers.

About WNET

As New York's flagship public media provider and the parent company of THIRTEEN andWLIW21 and operator of NJTV, WNET brings quality arts, education and public affairs programming to more than 5 million viewers each week. WNET produces and presents such acclaimed PBS series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, PBS NewsHour Weekend, Charlie Rose and a range of documentaries, children's programs, and local news and cultural offerings available on air and online. Pioneers in educational programming, WNET has created such groundbreaking series as Get the Math, Oh Noah! and Cyberchase and provides tools for educators that bring compelling content to life in the classroom and at home. WNET highlights the tri-state's unique culture and diverse communities through NYC-ARTS, Reel 13,NJTV News with Mary Alice Williams and MetroFocus, the multi-platform news magazine focusing on the New York region. WNET is also a leader in connecting with viewers on emerging platforms, including the THIRTEEN Explore App where users can stream PBS content for free.

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American Masters websites:   

http://pbs.org/americanmasters 

http://facebook.com/americanmasters 

@PBSAmerMasters

http://pbsamericanmasters.tumblr.com 

http://instagram.com/pbsamericanmasters  

http://youtube.com/AmericanMastersPBS    

#AmericanMasters  

   

-- Love Rae

How to Succeed in Dating in Los Angeles

Hi Love!

We will continue to support female authors. Please join me in recognizing Llyse Mimoun.

The first book is CHOOSE YOUR OWN LOVE STORY: (Mis)Adventures in Love, Lust, and Happy Endings by comedian Ilyse Mimoun (January 2016). In CHOOSE YOUR OWN LOVE STORY, Mimoun puts you in the driver’s seat from the frontlines of the LA dating scene. With R-rated twists, this isn’t the choose-your-own-adventure you might be used to; focusing solely on love and dating, Mimoun gives you the option for the ultimate do-overs you’ve always craved for in relationships.Ilyse Mimoun is a writer and actress who has performed at venues including Nerdmelt, Comedy Central Stages, Sketchfest San Francisco, and Upright Citizens Brigade. She suffered many horrible dates before finding true love.  Ilyse lives in Los Angeles.

-- Love Rae