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☆ Meet 3 remote workers who negotiated for better pay, workplace flexibility, or the right to quiet quit — and won
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Jason Lalljee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Remote work has become increasingly popular, and make-or-break for many Americans when choosing jobs. Workers are using their current bargaining power to ask for better pay, flexibility, and work-life balance. Insider talked to three remote workers about how they did so. That's because remote work has changed his life for the better, he said. "Work was definitely a thorn in my side that really affected my entire life," she told Insider.

☆ 'Digital nomad' visas are easier to get than ever — especially if you're rich
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( Emaad Akhtar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Money can buy many things — a tasty meal, a nice car, a luxurious home. But what about a long-term stay as a digital nomad on the beautiful Indonesian resort island of Bali? Well, for people with $130,000 to spare in their bank account, that could become a reality too. As of June 2022, more than 25 countries and territories had issued digital nomad visas to draw remote workers, whose number has increased since the pandemic started. Watch the video above to learn how this visa stacks up against the ones issued by other countries, and to learn about the difficulties policymakers face in making it a success.

☆ A 24-year-old barber moved to Atlanta a month ago and has already seen 'doors open,' showing why real-estate gurus say it's a top place to watch in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-25 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The National Association of Realtors named Atlanta the city to watch in 2023. While the national housing market is cooling, it's still thriving in Georgia's capital. Jay Martino, a barber who moved to Atlanta from Charleston, South Carolina. These factors will help Atlanta withstand the headwinds buffeting the national market, which is reeling after skyrocketing home prices and interest rates put home purchases out of reach. The trend suggests the local housing market can outperform the rest of the country in 2023, according to the National Association of Realtors.

☆ A 29-year-old part-time remote worker living abroad and making $4,000 a month explains how she finds work and affords her lifestyle
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-25 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

She is among a growing number of digital nomads, or remote workers who travel for weeks, months, or — in Checchi's case — "for the foreseeable future." Driving this trend is the growing flexibility of remote work, a longing to see the world, and the desire to cut costs. As of June, over 25 countries had introduced digital-nomad visa programs aimed at luring remote workers and their wallets. The challenges of a nomadic lifeWhen she's not traveling, Checchi has a home base in Tel Aviv, which she chose in part for its accessibility to both Europe and Asia. While Tel Aviv can be quite an expensive place to live, Checchi pays $871 per month to rent an apartment with a couple.

☆ I quit my six-figure tech job because I couldn't work abroad. Now I make half the money at a startup but get to travel wherever I want.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Sergio Najera quit a six-figure engineering job because the company didn't allow international travel. Courtesy of Sergio NajeraFast forward a couple of months and I'm planning a bigger trip: a month and a half in Peru. I decided to take the startup job because it would give me the flexibility to work from wherever I wanted to and I really prioritized that. From making friends to making sure you can work productively, traveling full-time comes with challengesEverything I need to work remotely. I just want to be happier — that's really what it boils down to.

☆ The 15 cheapest US cities in the US
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Personal-finance company Kiplinger laid out the cities in the US with the lowest cost of living. Personal-finance company Kiplinger identified America's cheapest cities by calculating the living expenses — including prices for housing, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods and services — of 267 urban areas in the US that have a population of at least 50,000. According to their methodology, America's cheapest city is Harlingen, Texas, a small city of less than 72,000 people at the southern tip of Texas near the Mexican border. "People have been saying, 'I don't want to be in these big cities,'" he added. The other affordable cities on Kiplinger's list are largely in the South and the Midwest.

☆ With remote and hybrid work here to stay for some companies, fashion brands are still adapting to the evolving wardrobe of modern professionals
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Remote workers are "blending it all together," in their wardrobes, Fortune reported. In recent years, athleisure brand Lululemon has spiked in popularity as more people seek comfort in their daily attire. "Gone are the days of two separate wardrobes or even three separate wardrobes," Maria Rugolo, director and industry analyst of fashion apparel at NPD, told Fortune. The change in work attire is evident in the TikTok trend of users showing their remote workwear. Such outfit choices have caused athleisure brands, like Lululemon, to explode in popularity.

☆ It's Not ChatGBT's Time to Shine — yet. Here's Why.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Diamond Naga Siu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Within weeks of taking over, he dramatically transformed Twitter's company culture and started major projects — seemingly with one foot already out the door. Although a successful future for any technology is not guaranteed, ChatGPT feels like a tipping point for generative AI. Roomba, an automatic vacuum cleaner, took multiple sensitive photos that were shared on social media. After short-video apps like TikTok became the dominant platforms for fans to listen to new songs in 2022, music-industry execs are now setting their sights on social media as the next big money-making opportunity. Here are 15 power players using social media to shape the music industry.

☆ Remote Workers Are Blowing the Whistle, Employees Exposing Companies
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Britta Lokting | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

The Securities and Exchange Commission — which implemented a whistleblower program in 2011 and where Haugen and others have sent documents — has received a historic jump in complaints over the past few years. How remote work sparked a flood of whistleblowersAs the pandemic spread and workers retreated to their makeshift home offices, employees began to reconsider their relationship with work. MacGann, the Uber whistleblower, told Politico that it wasn't until the pandemic that he "had time on his hands" to really ponder his decision to come forward about the ride-hailing company's treatment of workers. Remote work, she explained, helps to remove some of those barriers to whistleblowing. In addition to the record-breaking number of tips, the SEC whistleblowing program awarded $229 million in 103 cases this year.

☆ VCs say hybrid work, generative AI, and niche collaboration tools will be some of the top future-of-work trends that dominate 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Stephanie Palazzolo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Insider talked to VCs about the rising trends they say will revolutionize the way we work and live. Insider spoke with 15 venture capitalists about the trends and verticals they think are most likely to revolutionize the way we work and live today. Therefore, startups that will thrive going forward are those that embrace a mix of in-person and remote work, known as hybrid work, Thacker and other VCs said. An increase in workers caregiving for aging or sick family members is also supported by flexible work, the CRV general partner Kristin Baker Spohn said. "A lot of employees, whether it's the Great Resignation or the pandemic, found themselves changing the way that they work."

☆ Elon Musk's Crackdown at Twitter Offers Hope to Fellow Tech Founders
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Melia Russell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

But there's one group, almost unnoticed in the midst of the online firestorm, that has been cheering Musk on from the sidelines: other tech executives. To some founders, Musk is simply a monstrous version of the executive they wish they could be. Musk is getting rid of perks like free meals in the Twitter cafeteria — and other tech executives are taking note. Musk's slash-and-burn approach gives tech executives cover for making unpopular decisions. But now, as tech companies cut back to prepare for a recession, the "rough waters out there" have forced his staff to "reevaluate" their demands.

☆ Happy hours, holiday parties, and office gossip are back. For remote workers, the FOMO is real.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Rebecca Knight | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Much is written about the professional opportunities remote employees miss by not working in person. On an intellectual level, I realize it's silly to experience pangs of FOMO for work get-togethers that I can't possibly go to. But on a middle-school level, I can't help but feel a stab of sadness about not being included in office social life, especially during this most social time of year. But now that more employees are back to in-person work, there are good times to be had — and remote employees are taking notice. Remote work works for my life, my family, and my job, and despite the drawbacks, I'd rather be WFH than any other setup.

The Bahamas has more than 700 islands and cays; remote workers and students can live on 16 of them, including Eleuthera (shown here). Sylvain Sonnet | The Image Bank | Getty ImagesBahamian lawyers say FTX executives Sam Bankman-Fried and Ryan Salame spent $256.3 million to buy and maintain 35 different properties across New Providence, Bahamas. watch nowIt is the first true look behind the curtain at FTX's mammoth real estate spending. Now, Bahamian regulators are fighting to get those assets back from FTX's U.S. leadership. In a Monday night filing, the Bahamian lawyers asked a U.S. judge to dismiss the Chapter 11 proceedings for FTX's property subsidiary.

☆ 6 valid reasons to miss work — and the excuses your boss won't go for, according to career experts
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Using a lack of sleep or a missed train as an excuse not to go to work likely won't fly, they said. But there are inevitably days when we need to miss work — for vacation, for personal or family matters, or for some other reason. If you're not sure whether you're justified in skipping out on a workday, here are the best reasons for not showing up — and advice for telling your boss. Bad reasons to miss workSmith-Proulx said the worst excuses for missing work are the ones your boss expects you to have control over, such as being up late or missing the train. Constantly being absent from work, Smith-Proulx said, "can make it difficult for the employer to continue business, and they may need to replace you with a more reliable employee."

☆ From Portugal to Bali, these 28 countries and territories offer 'digital nomad visas' for remote workers
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

28 countries offer residence visas for remote workers, also known as "digital nomad visas." Spain and Italy are still in the process of establishing a legal framework for the programs. The so-called "digital nomad visas" allow remote workers to live and work in countries like Malta, Portugal, and Costa Rica — as long as your income comes from outside the country. Here are 28 countries that currently offer visas specifically for remote workers and the minimum income required in order to apply:Europe digital nomad visasLisbon, Portugal. Flavio Vallenari/Getty ImagesGrenada: Minimum salary required of EC$100,000.00 a year (around $37,000) St. Lucia: Currently no salary requirements Curaçao: Currently no salary requirements Montserrat: Minimum salary required of $70,000 a year Dominica: Minimum salary required of $50,000 a year Cayman Islands: Minimum salary required of $100,000 a year Anguilla: Currently no salary requirements Antigua and Barbuda: Minimum salary required of $50,000 a year Barbados: Minimum salary required of $50,000 a yearNorth, Central, and South America digital nomad visasLaguna del Hule in Costa Rica.

☆ United Arab Emirates ranked as having the best passport in the world
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFPDUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The United Arab Emirates is ranked as the world's number one passport to hold in terms of mobility and freedom from travel restrictions, according to the latest publication of the Passport Index, a global ranking by Montreal-based citizenship financial advisory firm Arton Capital. They need a visa for just 19 countries, meaning they're able to access 91% of the world's countries without having to apply for a visa before traveling. The U.S. passport's "world reach" is calculated at 83% of the world's countries, compared to the UAE's 91%. "The Mobility Score is how the power of a passport is measured in the Passport Index," it added. People walk on the Pedestrian Bridge at the Bluewaters Island in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 08, 2021.

☆ Remote Work Is Gutting Downtowns, Will Cost Cities $453 Billion
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Emil Skandul | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Even 2 1/2 years later, most city downtowns aren't back to where they were prepandemic. Without more-robust policies to address failing downtowns, cities are going to start hurting. The increased cancellations of office leases have cratered the office real-estate market. Since 2016, only 112 commercial office spaces in the US have been converted, while 85 projects are underway or have been announced, according to CBRE's data. The birth of the central social districtTo avoid a commercial real-estate apocalypse, cities will need to streamline conversions.

☆ Homebuyers will flock to the Midwest in 2023 because prices will still be too expensive in coastal states, a Zillow economist predicts
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Robert Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Midwest could be 2023's hottest housing market because it's affordable, one Zillow economist said. Buyers may look at cities like Chicago, Indianapolis, and Cleveland, where prices have remained stable. Homebuyers in expensive markets like Denver, New York City, and San Francisco were routinely searching for homes in less expensive midwestern markets, the report added. The typical home in Milwaukee is $181,000 while in St. Louis, buyers should expect to spend $176,500, Zillow suggests. But waiting out this market may not be the best approach for buyers ready and able to buy now."

☆ HR software firm Globalization Partners, a rival to Softbank-backed Remote, cuts jobs and says impact is less than 10% of staff
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Boston-based Globalization Partners has laid off approximately 100 staff, Insider understands. Globalization Partners, a Boston-based HR and employment platform that rivals venture-backed upstarts like Remote, has cut jobs, with one source indicating around 100 staff have been impacted. Founded in 2012 by Nicole Sahin, Globalization Partners, or G-P, was valued at $4.2 billion after raising $200 million in funding from Vista Equity Partners in January 2022. HR companies enjoyed a pandemic boom through 2020 and 2021 as firms began experimenting with hybrid work, requiring new processes and platforms. Remote, a venture-backed rival to G-P, cut 10% of staff earlier this year, Insider reported.

HONG KONG — Chinese authorities are moving to ease strict “zero-Covid” controls, in an apparent response to a nationwide wave of protests that have otherwise been suppressed. Police form a cordon in Beijing on Monday during a protest against China’s strict “zero-Covid” measures. Kevin Frayer / Getty ImagesChinese authorities have mostly stamped out the protests, with heavy police presence at protesters’ former gathering sites. Like other Chinese leaders, Jiang showed little tolerance for dissent, jailing activists and banning the Falun Gong religious movement. But the political environment has greatly tightened under Xi, leading some people in China to reassess Jiang’s legacy.

☆ This Spanish city is the No. 1 place to live and work abroad―and it's about to get easier to become a digital nomad there
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Jennifer Liu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Valencia, Spain, is the No. 1 city for expats to live and work abroad in 2022, according to a survey of more than 12,000 respondents from InterNations, an online expat community with more than 4.5 million global members. Among expats, Valencia earns the top spot for being "a safe place with an excellent climate, a vibrant nightlife and culture, a pleasant urban environment and great travel opportunities" while still being "fairly affordable," says InterNations founder Malte Zeeck. It could become the next big hotspot for non-European digital nomads to relocate, too. The Spanish parliament recently passed the so-called Startups Act, intended to boost entrepreneurship and diversify the economy, which includes creating a new type of visa for digital nomads expected to launch in January 2023.

☆ Why labor economists say the remote work 'revolution' is here to stay
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

ZipRecruiter, another job site, found a fourfold increase in job listings mentioning remote work, to a 12% total share. In all, remote work translates to roughly 4% more hours worked during a 40-hour week. "People really, really want remote work," Pollak said, adding: "It's difficult to put the genie back in the bottle." 'Significant variation' in remote work opportunitiesThat said, most jobs in the U.S. economy can't be done remotely. People really, really want remote work.

While the protests were largely tamped down, there continued to be scattered incidents of unrest. Experts say China will have a tough time navigating its way out of the pandemic without getting more people inoculated. The National Health Commission said Tuesday that it was especially focused on increasing vaccinations among people older than 80, though it did not announce a mandate. With new, mostly asymptomatic infections still being reported across China — 38,421 on Tuesday, down from a record 40,052 the day before — some Covid restrictions are still tightening. An opinion article Tuesday in People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, said officials at all levels must “unswervingly implement” the government’s Covid policies.

☆ The top 10 cities to live and work abroad this year
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Jennifer Liu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Workers looking for an outstanding quality of life and low cost of living are flocking to Valencia, Spain, which has been ranked the No. 1 city for expats to live and work abroad in 2022. It's pretty easy for remote workers from other European Union countries to move to Spain without applying for a visa or work permit, Zeeck adds. Expats in second-place Dubai, meanwhile, enjoy a thriving social scene as well as good job prospects and a creative business culture. Here are the top 10 cities for expats living and working abroad, and how residents feel about their home away from home.

☆ 10 Amex Business Platinum card benefits you'll want to activate right away, so you can enjoy hotel elite status, statement credits, and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Caroline Lupini | Joseph Hostetler | Freelance Reporter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

Thomas Pallini/InsiderThe Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers luxury benefits and rewards. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is packed full of benefits that are perfect for small business owners — including freelancers and remote workers. Here are 10 things you should do when you first get The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. More travel benefits than you'll find on any other business credit card Check mark icon A check mark. But by paying with The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you'll get a statement credit of up to $189 back**.

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