How Ask-Olivia Supports the B Corp Fair Work Standard

As more organisations pursue B Corp certification, one area consistently proves challenging: FairWork - and in particular the requirement to demonstrate workplace culture and continuous improvement.

Search terms such as B Corp Fair Work standard, B Corp workplace culture and continuous improvement B Corp are increasingly top of mind for People, HR and Sustainability leaders navigating certification or re-certification.

Policies alone are no longer enough. B Lab expects evidence that employees have a real voice, feel psychologically safe and that organisations learn and improve over time.

This is exactly where Ask-Olivia fits.

The Fair Work Challenge for B Corp Certification

Under the updated B Corp standards, companies must show that they:

·       Actively listen to employees

·       Foster psychological safety

·       Measure workplace culture

·       Turn feedback into action

·       Demonstrate continuous improvement

Many organisations rely heavily on annual engagement surveys to meet these expectations. While surveys are valuable, they are:

·       Infrequent

·       Retrospective

·       Often slow to translate into action

Fair Work, however, is about what happens day to day — how people communicate, resolve friction and feel supported at work.

From Annual Engagement Surveys to Continuous Culture Listening

Ask-Olivia is an AI communication coach that provides employees with continuous, confidential support for navigating communication, collaboration and conflict at work.

Instead of waiting months to share feedback, employees can engage with Ask-Olivia in real time, asking questions such as:

·       “How can I raise a concern with my manager?”

·       “Why does working with this colleague feel difficult?”

·       “How should I adapt my communication style in this situation?”

This creates a low-friction channel for employee voice that complements formal surveys and other listening mechanisms.

Psychological Safety at Work: From Policy to Practice

Psychological safety is a core expectation of the Fair Work standard - but it is also one of the hardest things to evidence.

Ask-Olivia helps by:

·       Providing a non-judgemental, always-available space for reflection

·       Supporting employees who may be hesitant to speak up publicly

·       Helping people prepare for constructive conversations

·       Reducing escalation by addressing issues early

Rather than relying solely on policies or training sessions, organisations can point to Ask-Olivia as a practical, everyday support for psychological safety.

Turning Employee Experience into Organisational Insight

Fair Work requires more than listening - it requires learning.

Ask-Olivia captures anonymised, qualitative insight into the themes employees are experiencing across the organisation, such as:

·       Communication breakdowns

·       Role or expectation clarity

·       Workload pressure

·       Collaboration challenges between different working styles

These insights help organisations:

·       Identify systemic issues rather than isolated complaints

·       Inform leadership discussions

·       Shape targeted culture and communication improvements

This creates a clear feedback loop:

Employee experience →insight → action → improvement

Demonstrating Continuous Improvement for B Corp Fair Work

B Corp certification does not require perfection, it requires progress.

By using Ask-Olivia overtime, organisations can demonstrate:

·       Ongoing investment in workplace culture

·       Increased communication capability across teams

·       Reduced friction and conflict escalation

·       A consistent approach to supporting employees, regardless of manager style

When combined with surveys and other People metrics, Ask-Olivia strengthens the evidence that workplace culture is being actively monitored and improved.

Designed to Support (Not Replace) B Corp Fair Work Requirements

Ask-Olivia is not a compliance tool, and it does not replace formal assessments, surveys or governance processes.

Instead, it acts as:

·      A continuous listening layer

·      A psychological safety amplifier

·      A practical enabler of Fair Work principles

This makes it particularly valuable for:

·       SMEs without large HR teams

·       Remote or hybrid organisations

·       Growing companies preparing for B Corp certification

·       Certified B Corps looking to strengthen re-certification evidence

Ask-Olivia and the B Corp Fair Work Standard: A Natural Fit

The Fair Work standard pushes organisations to move beyond intention and toward lived experience and continuous improvement.

Ask-Olivia helps make that shift real - by supporting employees in the moments that matter most and by turning everyday challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

If you are working toward B Corp certification, preparing for B Corp re-certification or looking to strengthen your Fair Work practices, Ask-Olivia can play a meaningful role in how you listen, learn and continuously improve workplace culture.

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*Ask-Olivia is designed to support organisations on their B Corp journey but does not guarantee certification or replace formal B Lab assessment processes.

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