In project management, using a red, amber, green traffic (RAG) light system to show how a project is doing is pretty common. Green means everything's on track, amber is a warning that the deadline might be at risk, and red means the original deadline has been missed. It's a straightforward way to see the project's status.

However, there's a problem with this system. Around 8% of men have red-green color blindness, so they can't tell the difference between projects that are on track and those with missed deadlines. In the U.S., color blindness is not considered a disability that requires workplace protections, but it's still a good idea to use a system that's clear for everyone.

A better approach might be to use emojis. If a project is on track, use a smiley face; if there's a risk, use a neutral face; and if the deadline has been missed, use a sad face. You could even combine the two systems, using the traffic light colors along with the emojis to make it extra clear.