DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Uber, Lyft trade group questions Biden's labor nominee's gig workers stance
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Nandita Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - Rideshare and delivery companies want the Biden administration's nominee for the Department of Labor to clarify her position on an incoming worker-classification rule that could expand workers' rights, a trade group representing the companies said on Monday. The Department of Labor in October proposed a rule that would make it more difficult for companies to treat workers as independent contractors, which would shake up ride-hailing, delivery and other industries that rely on gig workers. Before joining the U.S. Department of Labor, Su was the secretary for the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, and before then was California labor commissioner from 2011-2018. A report on her tenure released in May 2013 found that her work resulted in a spike in enforcement activity. Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington; Editing by Mark Porter and Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ I thought I was an introvert, but what if I'm just a shy narcissist instead?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Rebecca Knight | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Insider's new work-advice column centers on a shy introvert who worries she might be a narcissist. I always thought that because I wasn't aggressive or self-aggrandizing, I couldn't possibly be a narcissist. To be clear, I'm not a professional shrink — and I'm not above getting carried away by the gospel of online personality quizzes (ahem! You're an introvert or, perhaps, a highly sensitive person, depending on the theory you subscribe to. "You might not like your manager's solution, but they may have identified a problem that you hadn't thought of.

Google (GOOGL), which for years ranked as the top company to work for in the United States, laid off thousands of workers by e-mail. During her early years there, she worked in marketing and became known as the “The Bard of Google” for the internal emails she sent celebrating the company’s culture. Google employee affected by January layoffs“The problem was, suddenly, you didn’t work for a company that was sending stuff to space or building autonomous cars,” Rout said. Hundreds of Google employees in Switzerland staged a walkout last week to protest layoffs, partly out of frustration with the lack of transparency. About a month before the January layoffs, one former employee said Google painted “You Belong” on one of the walls in their working area.

☆ Flip phones had a glow-up, but Gen Zers say they're not catching the vibe
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tech-savvy Gen Zers don't seem too hyped about the latest foldable phones. But this age group, born between 1997 and 2015, appears unfazed by the latest foldable phones. Over the past few years, flip phones have had a glow-up. Advertisements of the latest flip phones regularly flash up on television, flood the billboards in public places, and appear in pop-up stores in malls for passersby to play with. Foldable phones are late to the partyThey've been around for nearly 30 years, but flip phones have "missed the boat" in the mass market, Atwal said.

☆ Artificial intelligence will replace work jerks. People skills will become more important.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Diamond Naga Siu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

She turned into a hologram to see what the future of work might look like. When dealing with a difficult manager, it's important to identify what they hold true or what speaks to their values. That coworker who's brilliant — but a horrible person — better watch out. Employees will find out within the next 30 days whether they need to return to the office, per a leaked email. A leaked email shows Amazon has been working behind the scenes on AI.

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card Review: Is the Amazon Prime Rewards Card the Best Credit Card for You? Amazon Prime Visa Card RewardsWelcome bonusThe Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card is currently offering a $100 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval. Amazon Prime Rewards Card Benefits and FeaturesFor a no-annual-fee card, the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card offers a solid range of benefits. Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card Annual Fee and Other CostsThe Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card doesn't have an annual fee as long as you have an Amazon Prime membership, and it doesn't add foreign transaction fees, so it's a good choice for international purchases. Methodology: How we reviewed the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa CardThe Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card is a cash back credit card.

☆ Oracle is forcing some employees back to the office. Read the leaked email.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Oracle has ordered some employees to return to working in the office, according to an internal email viewed by Insider. In-office role: In-office roles are for individuals who work from an office full-time and are assigned a dedicated space. Flex office role: Flex office roles are for individuals who generally work from an office part-time, including because they spend time on the road for their position, or often work at customer sites. While some flex office roles have had an assigned office space in the past, going forward we will have non-assigned space available for most flex roles to maximize the utilization of our offices. Remote office role: Remote office roles are for those individuals who work from a remote location, generally from home.

☆ This CEO halved her personal savings to meet payroll after SVB collapse: 'I don't really know yet what the repercussions will be'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Flex Co. CEO Lauren Schulte Wang and her husband took out half of their personal savings to fund employees' paychecks after SVB crashed. They withdrew half of the money in their personal savings account, and deposited it into a brand-new account set up last Friday. Wang and her husband are The Flex Company's co-founders, and serve as CEO and CFO, respectively. When Wang tried to transfer her company's money, which she says represented 100% of its liquid capital, the bank's website crashed. On Monday, the last of The Flex Company's 30,000-plus retail locations finally switched over to the new account.

☆ I'm an Amazon employee who's worked remotely since 2021. Now that we're returning to the office soon, I worry I'll lose the productivity and work-life balance I perfected during the pandemic.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Amazon will require that employees return to the office at least three days a week starting in May. One employee who has worked remotely worries what will happen if her military family has to move somewhere without an office site. In one job interview, I was told, "Oh, you're a military spouse, you're going to be gone soon; we need somebody permanent." I joined Amazon in 2021, and they've let me work fully remotely as a military spouse; I haven't gone into the office once. I can flex my schedule for doctor's appointments or if a global partner I'm working with needs something.

March 8 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever. Given all that, it is maybe surprising that Wall Street's three main indexes 'only' fell between 1% and 1.5%. The RBA raised rates by 25 bps as expected on Tuesday to 3.60%, the highest in more than a decade. But its dovish outlook caught markets flat-footed, and the Australian dollar plunged 2%. Trade activity fell in February, reflecting weak global and domestic demand, but trade with Russia boomed.

☆ Chinese smartphone giants are making a high-end play against Apple and Samsung
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Huawei spin off Honor had one of the most prominent booths at Mobile World Congress in February 2023. It was right next to Samsung's stand in a sign that Honor is targeting the South Korean firm in the premium end of the smartphone market. Chinese smartphone makers are looking to push into the high-end device market to challenge the dominance of Apple and Samsung after one of the worst years for the market on record. Last month, Oppo, the world's fourth-largest smartphone maker, launched its foldable smartphone called the Find N2 Flip which was priced at more than $1,000. Honor, a company spun off from Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, then launched its $1,690 foldable smartphone called the Magic Vs.

Balance transfer fee: Many balance transfer cards charge a fee per transfer. Learn more: How 0% APR cards work and how to complete a balance transferWhat credit score is required for 0% APR credit cards? Most 0% APR credit cards are reserved for consumers with good (670-739) or excellent (740 and greater) credit. 8 things to know before applyingWhat's the best way to use a 0% APR credit card? When you apply for a credit card (including a 0% APR card), you'll have a hard credit pull on your credit report, which typically comes with a dip of a few points in your credit score.

☆ 8 in-demand creative skills for freelancers―many can pay more than $100 per hour
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Demand for 3D animation grew 44% year over year on freelancer platform Upwork, for example, according to a recent report. Graphic designGraphic designers work on visuals for client brochures, websites, social media posts and so on. 3D animators on Upwork charge as much as $110 per hour. These designers charge as much as $125 per hour. Cartoonists on Upwork charge as much as $70 per hour.

☆ Shopify is 'flattening' its org structure to incentivize more employees to become individual contributors
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Shopify is making changes to its managerial structure that will likely result in fewer middle managers, "flattening" its organizational structure. Starting in mid-March, employees will choose to become either a full-time manager or a "crafter," as Shopify calls individual contributors. Silas added that Shopify expects to have fewer managers overall, referring to the change as a "flattening" of the organization. Shopify also removed all employee meetings that were scheduled for Wednesdays and limited large team events to specific hours on Thursdays. If you're a Shopify employee with a story to share, contact this reporter at mstone@insider.com or on the encrypted messaging app Signal at (646) 889-2143 using a nonwork phone.

☆ How small, diverse, and female-led e-commerce businesses are finding warehouse space
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

There are roughly 718,000 direct-to-consumer e-commerce merchants in the U.S. with less than $5 million in annualized revenue, and growing at roughly 15% per year. That's the target customer of flex warehouse (also known as co-warehousing) company Saltbox, which tells CNBC it is seeing continued growth in warehouse demand from small and medium-size businesses. "E-commerce is the predominant driver of this demand," said Tyler Scriven, CEO and co-founder of Saltbox. "Our economy is increasingly driven by logistics, our retail economy in particular, and that works in the favor of large companies," Scriven said. Warehouse demand is far outpacing supply in the current market and driving up prices.

☆ Former Bush aide says Marjorie Taylor Greene has become so powerful in the GOP that she can't be dismissed as a fringe figure anymore
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Marjorie Taylor Greene is too powerful a figure to be overlooked, former Bush aide Peter Wehner wrote in an op-ed for the Atlantic. Wehner wrote that Greene is "giving voice" to a "growing sentiment" in the GOP. "The temptation of many people, eager to move past America's political freak show, will be to ignore her comments and dismiss her as an outcast, a fringe figure, deranged but isolated," Wehner wrote. Greene is "giving voice to a widespread and growing sentiment in the Republican Party," Wehner wrote. Marjorie Taylor Greene, GOP power playerRepublican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia boos President Joe Biden during the State of the Union Jim Watson/AFP/Getty ImagesGreene is known for her anti-trans rhetoric, track record of pushing outlandish, anti-Semitic messages, and her well-documented beliefs in QAnon conspiracy theories.

☆ How Wall Street firms lift the velvet rope on funding deals for buzzy startups like Stripe for their wealthiest clients
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Goldman Sachs has invited wealth management clients to invest in fintech unicorn Stripe, as reported by Bloomberg. The message was a rare peek into how the richest bank clients can access investments normally off-limits to individual investors. Insider redacted the wealth management vice president's name and email address to protect their privacy. Citi and JPMorgan, for instance, both have teams dedicated to direct private investments for private bank clients. Private wealth is a real power alley for us, and those continue to be good sources of funding," said Salisbury at a conference in September.

But employee benefits costs? Ask employees what they're missingYou may think your employees are satisfied with the benefits you offer, but it's worth investigating if that's still true. Add access as an employee benefitLet's say there's a potential benefit your employees want, but it's outside your employee benefits budget. "For example, maybe they just want to buy extra life insurance," Schelhaas said. Insurance products issued by Principal National Life Insurance Co (except in NY) and Principal Life Insurance Company®.

Review: Is the Discover it Cash Back the Best Credit Card for You? For example, you could look at a no-annual-fee card that offers a flat cash rewards rate on all purchases, like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, which earns 2% cash rewards on spending. Insider's Featured Cash Back Credit Cards Discover it® Cash BackCiti® Double Cash CardWells Fargo Active Cash® Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. How to Earn Rewards With the Discover it Cash Back CardTo earn the most cash back with the Discover it® Cash Back, you'll have to activate the rotating bonus categories each quarter through your online Discover account. How to Use Discover Cash Back RewardsThe best way to redeem your Discover it® Cash Back rewards is usually as a statement credit, which lowers your balance, or simply take the cash as a direct deposit to your bank account.

☆ Brazil Supreme Court rules Bayer must return $252 mln in GMO soy royalties
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Ana Mano | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Feb. 13 ruling by Supreme Court Justice Nunes Marques relates to a GMO technology commercially known as Intacta RR2 Pro, created by Monsanto, which was later acquired by Germany's Bayer. Bayer said in a statement it will determine its next steps while noting it would comply with the ruling. The ruling is the latest chapter of a protracted battle opposing the crop science firm and Brazilian farmers, who have launched multiple legal challenges against the firm. Aprosoja-MT said that according to the ruling, Bayer will now have to deposit 1.3 billion reais ($252 million) in an escrow account to return royalties paid by farmers going back to 2018. A lawyer for Aprosoja-MT said Bayer can appeal Marques' ruling at the plenary of the Supreme Court.

☆ 5 reasons to get the Chase Freedom Unlimited
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Holly Johnson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Exceptional earning rates for the first yearThe Chase Freedom Unlimited isn’t currently offering a traditional sign-up bonus. Combine with a premium Chase travel card for even better redemptionsIf you already have a premium Chase travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, there’s another good reason to pick up the Chase Freedom Unlimited. That means you could get as much as 1.5 cents per point if you combine your Chase Freedom Unlimited rewards with a Chase Sapphire Reserve. If your flight is interrupted or cancelled due to severe weather or other eligible reasons, the Chase Freedom Unlimited can help cover unanticipated expenses. Why you shouldn’t get the Chase Freedom UnlimitedClearly, there are plenty of reasons to sign up for the Chase Freedom Unlimited, but why wouldn’t you want it?

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). Opening more than one of the same credit card could mean hundreds of dollars in value toward your next trip. How to get two (or more) of the same credit cardThe first thing to mention is that credit cards sometimes will not allow you to apply for a credit card that you already have. "Product changing" is the act of requesting that a credit card issuer changes the card you currently have to a card within the same family (generally a card that collects the same rewards). When product changing a credit card, you will almost never receive a welcome bonus with the new card.

☆ Ram reveals its electric truck during Super Bowl and it looks nothing like the concept
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Ram revealed the production version of its electric pickup in a Super Bowl commercial, and it turns out that it looks much like today’s internal combustion powered Ram 1500 truck, instead of the futuristic concept unveiled just last month. But the Ram Rev, due out in late 2024, looks almost exactly like the gas-powered Ram 1500 pickup except for its headlights and taillights. The Ram 1500 Revolution concept truck offered an extra long cab containing a third row of seats, something not found in other trucks. That’s a feature that will be available in General Motors’ Chevrolet and GMC electric trucks which were revealed last year. The Ram 1500 Rev has distinct headlights and taillights from other Ram pickups.

☆ Finance Chiefs, Facing Another Year of Persistent Inflation, Prioritize Cost Savings
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Kristin Broughton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Finance chiefs are pushing their companies to do more with less as they face another year of rising costs. Obviously, we’re dealing with a very unique environment right now with the unprecedented level of cost inflation. But we’re not in that environment right now. Ideally, we can grow as the demand environment hopefully normalizes. And that’s going to give us more optionality as we better understand our demand for AI over time.

☆ Maps: The devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

Terrain map showing the 7.8- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes near the eastern border of Turkey and Syria. A woman stands near rubble and damage in Gaziantep, Turkey, Feb. 7, 2023. REUTERS/Firas Makdesi A section of the earthquake damaged D420 road in Demirkopru, Turkey, Feb. 8, 2023. REUTERS/Umit Bektas A man walks past a partially-collapsed building in Pazarcik, Turkey, Feb. 9, 2023. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem People inspect the damage as rescuers search for survivors in Hatay, Turkey, Feb. 8, 2023.

Search resuls for: "FLEX"

25 mentions found