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☆ Assigned desks are now a work perk — and Gen Zers are making themselves right at home
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-03 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewWhen Maïa Maury, 25, started a new job in the US, she was happy to find that it came with her own assigned desk. AdvertisementWhile an assigned desk used to be a given in an office, the pandemic ushered in an era of hot desking and working from home. Now, cubicles and assigned office desks are more of a novelty, meaning those lucky few who get one are sometimes keen to make the most of it. AdvertisementAnother Gen Zer, Zernab Saeed, wanted to make the most of having a personal office desk in her first job out of college. Many companies are still shifting toward reducing office space, leaving fewer opportunities for people to enjoy having their own desks.

Persons: —, Maïa Maury, who'd, hoover, Maury, Zernab Saeed, Zernab, Zernab Saeed Saeed, she's, there's, Caitlin Turner, HOK, Turner, Gen Zers, Gen, it's, Leonora Georgeoglou Organizations: Service, Business Locations: French

☆ Mark Zuckerberg really wants you to know he's a chain guy now
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Mark Zuckerberg has attracted attention for his style shift from awkward tech CEO to a more laid-back streetwear look. Now, the Meta CEO is embracing memes and using his new image to promote Meta's AI tools. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementMark Zuckerberg can't get enough of his chains — and he's leaning into the memes about it to promote Meta's new AI tools. The internet was taken by his new aesthetic and the endearing story behind his chain, designed with his daughters in mind.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, — Organizations: Service

☆ France put its own unique spin on the Olympic cauldron — here's why the ceremonial moment is such a big deal for fans
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The Olympic cauldron was set alight, symbolizing the opening of the games. The ceremonial moment is a big deal for Olympics fans and each host country puts their own spin on it. AdvertisementThe lighting of the Olympic cauldron symbolizes the opening of the Olympic Games. Each ceremony puts its own spin on the ceremonial lighting, and France had its turn on Friday. The Olympic cauldron for the 2024 Paris Olympics is a floating hot-air balloon-style structure that pays tribute to France's history of innovation in air travel.

Persons: — Organizations: Olympics, Service, Olympic, Business Locations: France

☆ Some people may love to abuse Costco's generous returns policy, but it's a genius business decision
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewA big perk of a Costco membership is the unlimited returns offered by the company. While the returns policy on electronic goods is now 90 days, until 2007, Costco members had an unlimited returns policy on electronic goods — excluding personal computers. It's far from the only example of Costco returns. Bean used to offer a legendary lifetime returns policy but switched to a one-year return limit in 2018 after some customers abused it. Shoshy Ciment/Business InsiderCostco's business model relies on maintaining customer loyalty, and unlimited returns help.

Persons: —, Yuliana Martinez, Louis Orellana, Bean, Shoshy, Neil Saunders, Saunders, Katherine Black, Kearney, Gina Logan, Logan Organizations: Service, Costco, Business, GlobalData

☆ A TikToker went viral for calling Europe 'Disneyland for Americans.' To be honest, he might have a point.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewA TikToker has racked up nearly a million views in a recent video that explained how Europe is becoming a hotbed for American tourists. And he's not wrong that some European cities are being treated solely as tourist attractions rather than as people's homes. Other European cities are facing similar problems. AdvertisementHowever, the TikToker wasn't particularly sympathetic to the plight of tourist-ridden European cities. "It's ok you had a good run, time to accept your fate Europe," the TikToker captioned the video.

Persons: —, Dan Rosen, Luca Bruno, Rosen Organizations: Service, Disney, Business, AP, Reuters, European Travel Commission Locations: Europe, Barcelona, Venice, Lake Como, Italy, Switzerland

☆ Sick of being asked to jump through hoops in job applications? Good news: you might start getting paid for your time
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-21 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Much of her time ends up being spent on hourslong work demonstration tests. Tran said she still does hiring tests even when they're not paid, as she doesn't want to close off her options. Employers perspectivePaying candidates to complete time-consuming job tests can help make hiring more inclusive. And it's practicing what it preaches by compensating candidates for work demonstration tests during the hiring process. Advertisement"Candidates who are normally reticent to invest in a work demonstration are elated to hear they will be compensated," he added.

Persons: —, Michelle Tran, she's, Tran, ANDREW CABALLERO, REYNOLDS, Chris Abbass, they're, Joe Raedle, Amit Bhatia, Bhatia, it'll, it's, Chmielewski Organizations: Service, Business, Getty, Talent Locations: New York

☆ Photos show the chaos behind the global IT outage that's impacting retailers, flights, and hospitals
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | Hannah Abraham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A major global IT outage is disrupting flights, retailers, and media outlets among other businesses. It emerged after Microsoft reported problems with its online services. Here are photos showing the effects of the huge IT outage worldwide. AdvertisementMajor airlines, banks, hospitals, and retailers are experiencing widespread disruptions linked to an IT outage after Microsoft reported problems with its online services, linked to an issue at cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. Here are photos showing how the outage is affecting people and businesses worldwide.

Persons: — Organizations: Microsoft, Service

☆ The mass IT outage is causing chaos, but social media users are having a field day
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

While businesses scramble to deal with the consequences of the hit, social media users are responding in the best way they know how: memes. 'The blue screen of death'Many PC users logged on to their computers on Friday to be met with Window's so-called blue screen of death. Attached is a photo of five laptops on an office desk, all displaying the "blue screen of death." Advertisement"Crowdstrike is accomplishing what we thought Y2K would be, it's quite impressive," one user posted on X. AdvertisementSocial media users have been quick to point out the irony of how CrowdStrike's software, which is meant to prevent businesses from being brought down, has ended up accidentally causing so much chaos.

Persons: —, Window's Organizations: Service, Microsoft, Business Locations: Las Vegas

☆ Biden's feud with Musk is far from over
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Origins of their feudEarly into Biden's presidency, Musk began criticizing the administration's policy choices. The Tesla CEO took strong issue with Biden's approach to Tesla. "This administration has done everything it can to sideline & ignore Tesla," Musk posted back in 2022. The Tesla CEO replied : "Thank you, Tesla is happy to support other EVs via our Supercharger network." In April 2024, Musk posted on X that "Biden doesn't really know what's going on.

Persons: —, Elon Musk, Joe Biden, Biden, Musk, Fortune, mused, didn't, Jen Psaki, Tesla, Mary Barra, He's, Trump Organizations: Service, Business, White, White House Press, General Motors, Companies, GM, Ford, ESL, Democratic Locations: America

☆ Luxury brands are slashing prices in China
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Consumer spending in China is down, and luxury brands are feeling the hit. Brands like Balenciaga, Burberry, and Marc Jacobs have offered big discounts to reel customers back in. But experts warn that discounting could diminish these luxury brands' desirability. AdvertisementLuxury brands like Marc Jacobs, Burberry, and Balenciaga have been offering big discounts in China to try to reel in customers following a drop in sales figures. This week, Hugo Boss, Burberry, Richemont, and Swatch Group all reported slumping sales in China.

Persons: Marc Jacobs, —, Hugo Boss, Burberry Organizations: Brands, Burberry, Service, Swatch Group, Business Locations: China, British

☆ I'm a Gen Z welder. This job kills your body, but I'm earning $2,000 a week and getting ripped doing it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

It's hard work and requires you to be precise — that kind of intensity was something I was looking for in a job. Related storiesI'm killing my body every day, but it's worth it because welders make insane money, and I'm getting jacked doing it. AdvertisementI can see the hard work paying off physically; it's great for the body. I'm covered in bruises and scratches from the job — I'm definitely pretty beat up. You just need to ensure you have a good supervisor who knows you work hard and respects you.

Persons: —, Elizabeth, I'd, I've, I'm, it's, Elizabeth There's, who's, Elizabeth Next Organizations: Service, Business, Red Seals Locations: Alberta, Canada

☆ Rich Chinese tourists are flocking to Japan in search of luxury bargains
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Luxury sales in Japan are growing, despite a downturn across Asia. Japan's currency downturn has attracted tourists to the country to take advantage of lower prices. Many of these tourists are coming from China, buying their luxury items in Japan instead of back home. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . But it isn't wealthy Japanese locals that are bucking the trend; it's tourists from China and the rest of Asia.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Burberry Locations: Japan, Asia, China

☆ Chinese millennials and Gen Zers have had enough of work, so they're embracing 'naked resignations'
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-06 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Advertisement'Naked resignation'One popular phrase on Chinese social media is "两点一线," which translates to "two points, one line." And discussion is rife on Chinese social media about 裸辞 — a term that translates, quite literally, to "naked resignation." Examples seen in BI's search of the keyword included "how much to save before naked resignation," "three things to consider before naked resignation," and "20 jobs to try after naked resignation." Advertisement"There are articles on Chinese social media criticizing gap years," she said, "arguing that it is a Western concept that does not adapt well to Chinese society." "There's a popular internet buzzword among Chinese young people, "Gai溜子," which can be roughly translated to "drifter" on the street," Lim added.

Persons: —, Jack Porteous, Tong, Porteous, aren't, Laurence Lim, Sally Maier, Yip, Qilai Shen, Lim, It's, Jack Ma, Qu Jing, Jenny Chan, Gen, Gai 溜 Organizations: Service, Business, Tong Global, Twitter, Publishing, Getty, Cherry, Consulting, Pictures, National Bureau of Statistics, Baidu, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Locations: China, Weibo, Xiaohongshu, Europe

☆ Eton College bans smartphones for first-year students, gifting them with Nokia 'brick' phones instead
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Eton College is swapping out first year student's smartphones for Nokias. The policy comes as the boarding school is trying to cope with an increasingly digital world for students. Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! AdvertisementEton College, one of the world's most prestigious boarding schools, is planning to ban smartphones for its incoming first-year students and replace these with old-school Nokia phones instead, a spokesperson for the school confirmed to Business Insider. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: — Organizations: Eton College, Service, Nokia, Business

☆ Noplace is the hottest new app on the charts. Its founder spills on how it went viral and plans to skirt becoming a 'fad.'
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The social media app is the brainchild of 27-year-old serial founder and investor Tiffany "TZ" Zhong, whose tech career took off in her late-teens. Instead of stressing over carefully curated posts, the app encourages users to share their stream-of-consciousness thoughts directly to the feed. According to its App Store description, it aims to harken back to the social media era before "algos and ads" took over. She particularly follows the behavior of Noplace's "power users," some of whom even spend between eight and 10 hours on the app, Zhong said. And at a time when social media platforms are prioritizing entertainment over social interactions, Noplace feels timely.

Persons: —, Tiffany, Zhong, you've, It's, Noplace, Nospace, …, Alexis Ohanian, it's, There's Organizations: Service, Twitter, Apple, Business, Noplace's, Big Locations: Noplace, Reddit

☆ I'm a housekeeper in Palm Beach earning more than I ever imagined due to the influx of young, wealthy families to South Florida
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-30 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Marta Magarelli, 60, a housekeeper in Palm Beach, where housekeepers are in high demand. Now, I work as the executive housekeeper for a family in Palm Beach, earning far more than I ever imagined. Even though I hadn't had experience as an executive housekeeper before, I never let that stop me from taking on a new challenge. AdvertisementThe number of employees in these Palm Beach homes can easily rack up. The market for housekeepers in Palm Beach has changed a lot in recent yearsPalm Beach is a very expensive ZIP code.

Persons: —, Marta Magarelli, It's, Housekeepers, hadn't, it's, I've, housekeepers, I'd Organizations: Service, Business, housekeepers Locations: Palm Beach, Brazil, America, Florida, South Florida, New York

☆ That job you're applying for might be fake
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

In today's big story, we're looking at how the next job you apply for might be fake . While employment is still relatively low, sitting at only 4% , the job market is also pretty stagnant. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty ImagesEven if you find a legitimate job posting, it doesn't get much easier. Workers were also spoiled with the 2021 job market, where candidates named their prices . AdvertisementAnd a fake job posting might be a blessing in disguise.

Persons: —, Charles Schwab, MirageC, Jenny Chang, Rodriguez, Tim Paradis, it's, aren't, ANDREW CABALLERO, REYNOLDS, BI's Alexandra Bacon, Roberto Machado Noa, Tyler Le, Meta isn't, Apple, Mark Zuckerberg's, Mustafa Suleyman, execs, Suleyman, Karén Simonyan, Ricardo Tomás, Gen Z, Ashley Kostial, She's, he's, Julian Assange, Evan Gershkovich, Paris Hilton, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, Annie Smith, Amanda Yen Organizations: Service, Business, BI, America, Getty, Workers, BI Citi, Citi, showtime, Nvidia, Meta, Wall Street Journal, Apple, Bloomberg, Investors, SAP, Aetna, Wall Street, The Locations: Hulu, New York, London

☆ Job seekers are jumping through more hoops to get hired as power shifts back to employers
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewThe hiring process seems to have become increasingly complex in recent years, with job seekers facing new tests, more interviews, and months of waiting to hear back from prospective employers. Job seekers have been taking to social media to complain about jumping through various hiring hoops just to secure an entry-level job. He said that in recent years, the hiring process has slowed down as the number of interview rounds has increased: "It reflects a lack of understanding by employers about what they're actually looking for." Advertisement"Many interviews and job assessments now take place online, which means candidates need to adapt to virtual interactions and later demonstrate their skills remotely," she said. When job interviews started to be done on Zoom and managers had fewer opportunities to evaluate candidates, more employers began using cognitive and psychometric assessments as part of their hiring process.

Persons: —, Chris Abbass, Abbass, Peter Cappelli, Wharton, They've, Cappelli, Nikita Gupta, they're, Gupta Organizations: Service, Business, school's, Human Resources, Harvard Business, Big Tech

☆ I retrained as a plumber after being laid off from my media job and becoming a mom. I love the flexibility.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-22 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

In August 2020, I was laid off from my job, and a couple of days later, my husband left me. I was working a contract job for a literacy nonprofit, and thankfully, they allowed me to take six weeks off to complete the plumbing course. AdvertisementThat pushed me to become self-employed in plumbing and do this alongside my media work, which forms the basis of my income. I currently carve out one day a week for plumbing work — I concentrate on smaller maintenance, so I can do around four to six jobs within a day. The plumbing work gives me good flexibility, and I'm very aware that it is a way of future-proofing my career in case the rise of AI makes elements of my media work redundant.

Persons: —, R.J, I've, We'd, Fenton, I'd, they've Organizations: Service, Business, City & Guilds Foundation Locations: Fenton, South East, England

☆ I commute 5 hours from Hamburg to London so I can live with my partner. It's not sustainable.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-16 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Seb, 32, about his commute from Hamburg to London for work. However, my team was switching back to in-person work, so it wasn't particularly fair for me to work completely remotely. My fastest time so far has been four hours and 44 minutes, and the longest has been close to six hours. Hamburg is a lot cleaner than London, and the roads are a lot quieter. It's not like I ended up with someone Spanish and got to live in a sunny beach destination in Spain.

Persons: —, Seb, I'd, I've, packer, I'm, there's, It's Organizations: Service, Business, European Union, British Airways, London Heathrow, Hamburg Airport, Airport, Netflix, Spanish Locations: Hamburg, London, TikTok, Germany, Canary, England, Spain

☆ No more bus tours for China's rich millennials — they're seeing the world on their own
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-08 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewRich millennials in China are experiencing world travel in a very different way from their parents. These tours offered a safer and more accessible way to explore new destinations, Elisa Harca, CEO of consultancy firm Red Ant Asia, previously told Business Insider. New technology has made solo travel much less dauntingSocial media platforms like Xiaohongshu are the go-to place for local travel tips. BORIS HORVAT/Getty"They're a lot more used to being tourists,'' Jack Porteous of China-focused consultancy firm Tong Global told Business Insider. The rise of social media platforms for travel has also spurred the accessibility of solo travel.

Persons: —, Elisa Harca, Ant Asia, — millennials, Z, BORIS HORVAT, Jack Porteous, Tong, China's, Sally Maier, Yip, Porteous, Mark Kolbe, Getty, Maier, they've Organizations: Service, Business, Tong Global, Consulting Locations: China, China ., Europe, glamping, Inner Mongolia

☆ A job seeker says she was invited to a work happy hour after an interview, but it turned out to be another hiring test
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Job hunters haven't had it easy in recent months despite a relatively strong labor market. One job seeker said she was invited to a happy hour after her on-site interview. But instead of mingling with potential colleagues, she met other candidates for the job, she said. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . A TikTok user named Marissa Marlowe shared her experience in a recent video, saying she'd applied for hundreds of jobs before being invited to an on-site test with a prospective employer.

Persons: haven't, —, Marissa Marlowe, she'd Organizations: Service, Business

☆ Restaurant chains are competing to offer customers the cheapest meals they can. Here are some of the best deals.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-25 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Burger King and McDonald's are both set to launch their own $5 value meal deal. Chains are trying to lure diners back in, after high prices of fast food have turned many away. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementThe fast food wars are heating up, as Burger King is set to launch its own $5 value meal deal. It's not the only fast food chain to start offering lower-priced deals.

Persons: Burger, —, It's Organizations: Service, Bloomberg Locations: McDonald's

☆ A Texas man bought a home, only to discover that a squatter and a 'pretty big goat' were living there. When he tried to get in months later, the goat attacked his dad.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A man in Texas purchased a new house only to find a squatter and her goat still living there. He bought the San Antonio property for $175,000 from a woman who was about to foreclose. AdvertisementWhen Daniel Cabrera purchased a five-bedroom property in San Antonio, he didn't expect to find the previous inhabitant still living there along with her aggressive pet goat. Cabrera, a professional homebuyer, purchased the property for $175,000 from a woman who was about to foreclose, Fox News reported. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: —, Daniel Cabrera, Cabrera, couldn't Organizations: San, Service, Fox News, Business Locations: Texas, San Antonio, foreclose

☆ London's answer to 'Selling Sunset' has just dropped on Netflix — and it's already getting dragged
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewA new reality show, "Buying London," dropped on Netflix on Wednesday, and it's all about London's luxury real estate market. The show is centered on Daniel Daggers and his team of real estate agents at the property company DDRE Global. Daggers says he's sold over £5 billion ($6.4 billion) of real estate over the course of his 25 years in the industry. And it's also been a success for the real estate agents involved. Mary Fitzgerald, a real-estate agent on "Selling Sunset," previously told BI that she has got more clients since appearing on the show and now sells at higher prices than before.

Persons: —, Daniel Daggers, he's, Ken Griffin, Mr, Lauren Christy, Nicole, Rebecca Nicholson, I'm, Carol Midgley, Rosi Walden, Zoe McConnell, it's, Mary Fitzgerald Organizations: Service, Netflix, DDRE, Business, DDRE Global, Guardian, The Times Locations: London, Mayfair, Holland, The, Los Angeles

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