Verizon announced on Jan. 15 that it had agreed to pursue targeted workforce programming and digital inclusion in order to receive approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to proceed with its Frontier Communications merger, a deal valued at nearly $20 billion.

Last May, Verizon said in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr that it would sunset all DEI programming and instead maintain an “inclusive” work culture, HR Brew reported previously. The company was hoping to garner favor with the federal government ahead of its Frontier Communications merger.

The FCC approved the merger one day later. Then came a hiccup: State regulations in California, where Verizon and Frontier planned to invest in new infrastructure, requires companies to protect against discrimination with the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. The CPUC was concerned that Verizon’s statements about DEI could run afoul to California utility orders on diversity in the workforce and supply chain. An administrative judge in December encouraged Verizon to establish a talent pipeline for hiring “underrepresented populations” and regular check-ins with state officials, Fierce Network reported.

In the Jan. 15 deal, Verizon and the CPUC agreed to several terms, including the establishment of a $10 million workforce development and procurement partnership with California State Universities, and quarterly employee surveys that include questions about belonging and inclusion. The company must also submit annual transparency reports that show the effect of these efforts on its workforce and supplier diversity, though Verizon assured CPUC that it is still committed to inclusion and equal opportunity.

For more on the significance of Verizon’s announcement, keep reading here.—KP

As the birth rate in Japan continues to fall, the government is encouraging residents to get busy creating the next generation of workers. Some employers are getting in on the “action” as well with a new benefit: dating!

Where in the world? Japan’s government has pushed employers to offer more family-friendly work benefits, from 52 weeks of paternity leave to four-day workweeks, to combat the country’s steadily declining birth rate. But since many workers need the opportunity to find a partner before they can build a family, some employers in Japan are offering employees access to a corporate dating app, according to the South China Morning Post.

The app, called Aill goen, launched in 2021 to help workers at vetted, participating companies connect during the Covid-19 pandemic. It now claims to have more than 1,500 participating employers who can use the app to meet potential mates. Picture Bumble meets LinkedIn.

Satellite view. Japan isn’t the only country feeling the love. In 2025, Hong Kong and Thailand made headlines when some companies began offering “Tinder leave”—time off to go on dates. Some employers, like marketing firm Whiteline Group, even pay for employees’ Tinder premium profiles, the New York Post reported.

For more on how some companies are helping employees find love connections, keep reading here.—KP