Public Consensus OpinionTM
Initiated by: B.D.

Public verdict: JOANN Fabrics: JOANN is donating fabric and providing instruction so that Americans can sew masks for healthcare workers during the crisis. The community gets a constructive, hopeful way to help; healthcare workers have been made safer by 16.5 MILLION fabric masks to date.
Update: JOANN is now closing in on 78 million masks; please check the link for updated totals.
60 jurors voted to form this verdict and were awarded 1,200 RHU. Check your balance to see if you qualified. Log in
Case description
The following companies have been nominated for their contributions to their employees, customers, and/or the public good--vote for your favorite. Know of a truly great company that’s gone above and beyond? Nominate them in “I have a better solution.”
124 total voters
How the public voted
Verdict
60 votes
" JOANN Fabrics: JOANN is donating fabric and providing instruction so that Americans can sew masks for healthcare workers during the crisis. The community gets a constructive, hopeful way to help; healthcare workers have been made safer by 16.5 MILLION fabric masks to date.
Update: JOANN is now closing in on 78 million masks; please check the link for updated totals."
14 votes
" Abbott Lab's ID NOW test. gets my vote for the most impactful company with its ~5 min COVID test kit. Testing is the key to containing the virus and reopening the economy. Previously, testing for COVID could take days, Abbott's got that down to minutes which could allow cruise ships, airlines and, most importantly, healthcare workers to get results almost in real time. It's point of care- meaning the full tests can be done on location. This will also greatly help in segregating infected people while allowing non-infected to work, travel and return to a normal life. Abbott believes it will soon be able to deliver 50,000 units per day. Maybe soon we will all have a version of the ID NOW in our homes and offices. Hooray Abbott"
09 votes
" Bad Saint Restaurant, Washington DC: Proceeds from gift certificates go straight to employees. “Your generous contribution will help our employees pay for critical essentials. None of the money in the staff support fund will be used for expenses related to the restaurant's operation, and none of the money in the support fund will go to the owners.”"
06 votes
"REI Co-Op stores: REI closed all of its 162 retail stores on March 16--April 15, but pledged to keep paying its employees. Customers will still be able to order online, with free shipping for all purchases.
Update: REI has since furloughed many REI retail employees for 45-90 days, although REI will now cover 100% of employee health and welfare benefit costs. CEO Eric Artz is choosing to forfeit 100% of his salary for 6 months and senior management will take a 20% pay cut. All will forfeit incentive bonuses for the next 6 months."
06 votes
"Zoom The company’s billionaire founder, Eric Yuan, made the firm’s popular video conferencing software free to use for all affected K-12 schools in China, Japan, Italy and the U.S."
05 votes
"Mahindra Group: Mumbai-based conglomerate, owned by billionaire Anand Mahindra and his family, announced it would begin producing ventilators at plants in India, reportedly pricing them at less than $100 each."
04 votes
"Dr. Charles Robertson of the University of Mississippi Medical Center figured out how to build a good-enough ventilator with parts from a hardware store, at a total cost of around $100. Assembly takes just 20-30 minutes. "It's not fancy but it works. This would be available as a last resort if the numbers increase as we think they might," Robinson said, according to the Clarion Ledger."
03 votes
"Google and Apple track coronavirus: Apple and Google have announced a hugely ambitious — and potentially controversial —contact tracing system designed to help users prevent spreading the novel coronavirus by figuring out who has had contact with infected patients. https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/14/21220644/apple-googles-bluetooth-low-energy-le-coronavirus-tracking-contact-tracing"
03 votes
"LunarNYC - This non-profit organization, aimed at empowering Youth between the ages of 5 and 25 years old, launched a movement to assist medical professionals and first responders on the frontlines by sourcing quality Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). The initiative has already found 20,000 KN95 masks that will be delivered to various doctors, nurses and other medical practitioners by April 10th. Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lunarnyc-inc-and-nu-alpha-phi-fraternity-inc-launch-mask-for-heroes-fundraising-for-the-frontline-medical-professionals-and-first-responders-in-the-fight-against-coronavirus-covid-19-301032400.html"
See who voted: 6 jury categories.View more

What happens next

Disputing parties will be invited to resolve the matter based on this public verdict. If the parties have agreed beforehand to use the results to arbitrate the case the verdict will be binding. If not, the results are nonbinding but can be used as input to guide further negotiation. Depending on the case, results may be distributed to other interested parties such as regulators and media.