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☆ This $68 Million L.A. Mansion Is Anything but ‘Cookie Cutter’
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Katherine Clarke | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Be the first to know about the biggest and best luxury home sales and listings by signing up for our Mansion Deals email alert. An avant-garde spec mansion in Los Angeles is hitting the market for $68 million.

☆ The Debate Swirling Inside HR Departments: How to Lay Off Workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Chip Cutter | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Executives considering downsizing are currently grappling with the same problem: finding the most effective way to let employees go. Is it better to get layoffs over with all at once even at the risk of cutting too deep? Is firing over Zoom more humane than making an employee come into the office to lose their job? How much severance pay is fair?

☆ Adobe’s CEO Sizes Up the State of Tech Now
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Chip Cutter | Photographs Carolyn Fong For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

For all the turmoil in the technology industry in 2022, Adobe Inc. Chief Executive Shantanu Narayen says the questions he and other executives keep asking these days are relatively timeless. “Are you looking around the corner adequately?” the 59-year-old asks. “How do you—in addition to ensuring that you have the right strategy—execute against it?”

☆ More Bosses Order Workers Back to the Office as Job Market Shifts
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Chip Cutter | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The average office occupancy rate in 10 major U.S. cities remained below 50% for much of 2022, according to data from security firm Kastle Systems. Employers are losing their patience with empty desks in the office. Companies including investment giant Vanguard Group , workplace technology company Paycom Software Inc. and others have sent directives to employees in recent weeks, urging workers to follow existing hybrid schedules or to come into the office on additional days in 2023, according to internal memos viewed by The Wall Street Journal and interviews with employees. In some cases, bosses have told those who fail to comply that they could face termination within weeks.

☆ Some bosses are using the threat of a possible recession this year to give workers an ultimatum: Come back to the office or be fired
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Jason Lalljee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Some companies have been threatening to fire workers who don't return to the office, The Wall Street Journal reported. Bosses are gaining leverage over employees due to recession anxiety. But most people will likely keep their jobs in the event of a recession, experts say. That's because the recession that could hit this year is giving employers a leg to stand on in their pandemic-long fight to get workers back in the office. A survey from Insight Global last summer found that 78% of US workers are worried about losing their jobs during the next recession.

☆ Britain's charity stores are going upmarket
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Britain's charity shops are transforming as they try to appeal to Gen Z customers. The managers told Insider their retro and vintage stores were largely in urban areas with large student populations. Grace Dean/InsiderE-commerce for charity shops is completely different than e-commerce for retailers that sell large batches of new products. Nonessential retail stores had to shut their doors for months during the pandemic, which the Charity Retail Association estimated cost UK charity shops about £28 million, or $32 million, a month. But, as the aisles of charity shops across the UK show, a lot of people do choose to donate them.

☆ Hilton Sees a New Golden Age of Travel. Can It Last?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Chip Cutter | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

If a recession is looming, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. so far is hardly feeling it. The company’s hotels are busy around the world, as consumers return to in-person experiences, travel restrictions ease and many fulfill a pent-up desire to see new places, says Chris Nassetta , the company’s longtime chief executive officer. People emerged from the pandemic with a new perspective on taking opportunities to get out, he says.

REUTERS/Marco BelloWASHINGTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland instructed federal prosecutors on Friday to end disparities in the way they charge offenses involving crack cocaine and powder cocaine. Mandatory minimum sentences for crack-related offenses are currently 18 times lengthier than those for powder cocaine. In the memos, Garland instructs prosecutors to treat "crack cocaine defendants no differently than for defendants in powder cocaine cases" when they are charging defendants and making sentencing recommendations. In 1986, Congress passed a law to establish mandatory minimum sentences for drug trafficking offenses, which treated crack and powder cocaine offenses using a 100-to-1 ratio. Under that formula, a person convicted for selling 5 grams of crack cocaine was treated the same as someone who sold 500 grams of powder cocaine.

☆ Vietnam in big push to expand South China Sea outposts - U.S. think tank
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( David Brunnstrom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Vietnam has conducted a major expansion of dredging and landfill work at several of its South China Sea outposts in the second half of this year, signaling an intent to significantly fortify its claims in the disputed waterway, a U.S. think tank reported on Wednesday. Basing its findings on commercial satellite imagery, CSIS's Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) said the effort included expanded landfill work at four features and new dredging at five others. Tennent Reef, which previously only hosted two small pillbox structures, now had 64 acres (26 hectares)of artificial land, the report said. "But Vietnam’s dredging and landfill activities in 2022 are substantial and signal an intent to significantly fortify its occupied features in the Spratlys," the report said. China claims most of the South China Sea and has established military outposts on artificial islands it has built there.

☆ The Best Electric Razor for a Smoother Shave
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +19 min

You can find a capable electric shaver for even less, but the learning curve (and lack of add-ons) could prove problematic. If you’d like to read how we vetted and tested these electric shavers, scroll down for all the details. Best overall electric shaverBuy Side Top Pick Braun Series 7 7027cs $137 at Amazon $ 150 Save $ 13 $139 at Walmart The best combination of performance, accessories and price of any electric shaver. Best lower-price electric shaverAndis ProFoil Lithium Titanium Foil Shaver $55 at Amazon $ 68 Save $ 13 $55 at Walmart This model is priced as low as you’ll want to go for a quality electric shaver. Make sure the electric shaver you’re buying has the accessory package that makes the most sense for your needs and your budget.

☆ What do hotel 'star' ratings really mean? Here's a breakdown
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

And to add to the confusion, Frommer's website states its star ratings only go from one ("recommended") to three stars ("exceptional"). The non-profit organization Hotelstars Union uses common criteria to unify star ratings across Europe. A project called "World Hotel Rating" was meant to standardize hotel ratings around the world. What do star ratings mean? Secondly, a true five-star hotel must employ people who understand that "everything revolves around the guest," he said.

☆ A DEI consultant helped a startup founder overhaul her company culture to attract diverse candidates and create space for important conversations
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Erica Sweeney | In Partnership With | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Rachel Schneider, the founder of financial startup Canary, wanted to put diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at the core of her business from the beginning. Schneider and Moret met over several weeks on Zoom as part of Insider's mentorship program, created in partnership with Indeed. Moret and Schneider shared how they worked together to develop DEI policies and best practices for Canary around recruiting, company culture, and people management. Rhonda Moret, founder of Elevated Diversity, used her years of experience and expertise to mentor Schneider on centering DEI within her company. Schneider and Moret collaborated to develop DEI policies and best practices for Canary.

☆ 19 best white elephant and Secret Santa gift ideas under $50
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Mili Godio | Mili Godio Is An Associate Reporter For Select On Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

What is a white elephant gift exchange? A white elephant gift exchange — sometimes referred to as a Yankee swap — is a fun holiday activity in which everyone brings one wrapped gift and leaves with a different one. To help even the odds, most white elephant gift exchanges work best when all the gifts align in cost — typically within the $30-to-$75 range. What is a Secret Santa gift exchange? The best white elephant and Secret Santa gift ideasTo help you find the right gift for your white elephant and Secret Santa gift exchanges, we rounded up gift ideas based on our previous coverage and reader interest, all under $50.

Aside from Prime Day, this is the best time of year to purchase a KitchenAid mixer. Cyber Monday KitchenAid deals: Top discountsKitchenAid: Up to $200 off stand mixers, $50 off attachments, and $120 off other small appliances. Up to $200 off stand mixers, $50 off attachments, and $120 off other small appliances. Great Price KitchenAid 7-Quart Pro Line Stand Mixer The KitchenAid Pro Line Series 7-Quart Bowl Lift Stand Mixer is the largest, most powerful KitchenAid mixer you can buy without venturing into commercial models, which makes it perfect for avid bakers. Deal KitchenAid 5-quart Artisan Series Stand Mixer, with Fresh Prep Attachment Bundle One of the best deals we've seen on KitchenAid stand mixers is this bundle, which combines a 5 quart Artisan mixer with food processing attachments.

☆ More than 100 people rescued from overloaded sailboat before it hit sandbar in Florida Keys, Coast Guard says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Chantal Da Silva | Chantal Da Silva Is A Breaking News Editor For Nbc News Digital Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

More than 100 people were rescued from an overloaded sailboat before it hit a sandbar in the Florida Keys on Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard said. A good Samaritan reported the vessel to Key West watch standers at around 5 a.m. local time, the Coast Guard’s 7th District tweeted. They encountered “6-10 ft seas, 25 mph winds to safely remove the people from the vessel,” the Coast Guard said. Initially, the Coast Guard said 22 people were rescued from the overloaded sailboat. Coast Guard Cutter Pablo Valent’s crew rescued nine people and recovered one body, while on Sunday and Monday, crews recovered five bodies, the Coast Guard's 7th District said in a news release.

☆ How Do You Pronounce Qatar? Probably Incorrectly.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Sarah Lyall | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

WORLD CUP 2022 The 2022 World Cup is being hosted in Qatar, which, as everyone knows, is pronounced . Sepp Blatter, the former FIFA president, announcing in 2010 that “Ka-TAR” would host the 2022 World Cup. Hassan Al Thawadi, secretary general of Qatar’s World Cup organization QatarThis has not helped alleviate the general confusion among visitors. “I know it’s probably not the correct way — KUH-ter is for those who probably know what they’re talking about a little bit more — but I’m going with Ka-TAR.”Walker Zimmerman of the United States national team knows he doesn’t say Qatar correctly. Martin Tyler, the legendary Sky Sports broadcaster who is working his 12th World Cup this year, said he would do the same.

☆ Days after Biden's face-to-face meeting with Xi Jinping, Kamala Harris is making a rare trip to a South China Sea hotspot
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Palawan looks over the South China Sea, where Beijing and its neighbors have competing claims. "This is another historic visit, as the vice president is the highest-ranking US official ever to visit Palawan," a senior administration official told reporters on Tuesday. It divides the Sulu Sea and the South China Sea, where the Philippines is one of several countries that dispute Beijing's expansive claims. The Philippine province of Palawan separates the Sulu Sea and the South China Sea. Asked on Tuesday how China should view the trip, the US official said, "China can take the message it wants.

☆ As shoppers flood back into stores, retailers are scrambling to merge e-commerce and in-store experiences
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Danni Santana | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Retail entered into a new normal in 2022 — one where shoppers returned to stores in droves. Nike, Walmart, and startups like Tradeblock are developing new ways for consumers to shop. But unlike pre-pandemic times, consumers are now looking at brick-and-mortar as an extension of retailers' online offerings, rather than a siloed part of the business. Some of the most innovative brands like Nike, Walmart, and startups like Tradeblock are developing new ways for consumers to shop in-store and online. Each is unlike the company's previous retail stores.

A Frontier Airlines flight bound for Tampa changed course Friday night after an unruly passenger was discovered with a box cutter, according to officials. After the suspect was taken into custody and searched, a second box cutter was found in their carry-on, according to the agency. The plane was then "diverted to Atlanta after a passenger on board the aircraft was observed in possession of a box cutter," according to a statement from the airline shared with NBC News. Frontier Airlines didn't provide any additional information on the incident, but according to the Transportation Security Administration, there had been a disturbance involving the passenger in possession of the box cutter. "FBI and Atlanta Police Department responded to the incident, took the suspect into custody and the flight was canceled."

☆ A Frontier Airlines flight made an emergency landing after a man with a box cutter threatened to stab other passengers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Stephanie Stacey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Frontier Airlines flight made an emergency landing after a passenger was seen with a box cutter. He threatened to stab other passengers, an Atlanta airport spokesperson told The New York Times. Box cutters have been banned on aircraft since a post-9/11 tightening of security regulations. The man threatened to stab fellow passengers and crew members on flight 1761, Tim Turner, a spokesperson for Atlanta International Airport told The New York Times. Knives and blades, including box cutters, should be identified in pre-flight screening.

☆ Frontier flight diverted to Atlanta after passenger found with box cutter
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 12 (Reuters) - A Frontier Airlines flight heading to Florida was diverted to the city of Atlanta after a passenger on board the aircraft was observed in possession of a box cutter, the airline said in a statement on Saturday. "The passenger in question was taken into custody by Atlanta law enforcement," a Frontier spokesperson said in a statement. No one was injured in the incident and passengers were offered a new flight on Saturday morning to Tampa, Florida. "So I went up to talk to the flight attendants in the front of the airplane," Hoffman told NBC News. "They ended up telling me that they were going to land the plane immediately and we were down in 20 minutes."

☆ Tech Workers Face a New Reality as Talent Wars Turn to Pink Slips
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Katherine Bindley | Chip Cutter | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This spring, Google employees in the Bay Area got a private Lizzo concert to herald a return to the office. Now the company is cutting back on social gatherings as well as hiring. Meta Platforms Inc., known for once-lavish perks such as free laundry, began slashing 11,000 jobs this week and said some of its remaining workers will have to share desks. The comedown has been swift for employees of big technology companies, long among the most coveted workers in business. Accustomed to jobs with six-figure salaries, fat equity packages and cushy amenities, many employees are now facing staff cuts for the first time, along with shrinking net worths as stocks fall during a bumpy stretch for big tech.

☆ Job Postings With Broad Pay Ranges Leave Applicants Guessing in NYC
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Theo Francis | Chip Cutter | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

As companies publish pay details for job openings under new laws in New York City, some are listing maximum pay figures that are more than double the minimum pay for the job, stretching salary ranges to hundreds of thousands of dollars for certain careers. A trauma surgeon in the Mount Sinai Health System could earn anywhere from $384,000 to $800,000 or more, the hospital’s job ads say. A tax executive at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP could make $158,400—or nearly triple that. At AT&T Inc., a principal cloud architect could be paid $206,000 or $103,000.

☆ Elon Musk Defies Management Mantras With His Rapid Overhaul at Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( Chip Cutter | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ Bosses Swear by the 90-Day Rule to Keep Workers Long Term
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Chip Cutter | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

In the quest to retain workers, companies are sharpening their focus on a very specific common goal: 90 days. Hold on to an employee for three months, executives and human-resources specialists say, and that person is more likely to remain employed longer-term, which they define as anywhere from a year on in today’s high-turnover environment. That has led manufacturing companies, restaurants, hotel operators and others to roll out special bonuses, stepped-up training and new programs to prevent new hires from quitting in their first three months on the job.

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