Brown cuts off HEI
Brown University has stopped investing new endowment money in Norwalk-based HEI Hotels in response to questions about labor practices at two of the company”™s properties.
The decision, which does not affect current investments, heeds a recommendation by the Rhode Island school”™s committee on investment ethics following concerns raised by a student group after the company fired an employee who was also a union leader.
The Advisory Committee on Corporate Responsibility in Investment Policies started an inquiry in December of HEI’s settlement last summer with the National Labor Relations Board over the dismissal of the employee from the Sheraton Crystal Hotel in Arlington, Va. The labor board has also received grievances from a union in California that represents workers at the HEI-managed Embassy Suites at the Irvine-Orange County Airport.
Under the June agreement, HEI reimbursed $24,800 in back pay to the former employee, but admitted no wrongdoing.
According to a statement from the university, the advisory committee recommended the school refrain from reinvesting in HEI until it is “confident that they adhere to our high standards regarding respectful and humane treatment of workers.”
Nigel Hurst, HEI’s vice president of human relations, said Brown’s current investments in HEI remain intact and the company continues to have excellent relationships with its employees.
Other schools that invest funds in HEI include Princeton University, Harvard University, Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania.
Fuji unveils medical app
Stamford-based Fujifilm Medical Systems has introduced an application for the medical market called Synapse Mobility.
The app allows remote access to Fujifilm’s suite of Synapse products from handheld mobile devices allowing users to display interactive, three-dimensional medical images in any platform accessed, computer tablet or smartphone.
The app was developed with the intent of giving radiologists and referring physicians an on-the-go access to the images and information, increasing accessibility to patient information and improving workflow.
Raveis joins with Legends
Shelton-based William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage and Insurance has taken on a new affiliate with Legends Realty Group in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.
Legends will act as a Raveis affiliate office, as the seventh independent company to join the William Raveis Affiliates network. Marcene Hedayati remains as the broker and managing partner of what will now be called the William Raveis Legends Realty Group.
