For a glimpse at the state of the global supply chain in 2021, a look out at the waters off the coast of southern California told the story. On any day, more than 60 ships could be waiting at anchor unable to unload cargo at the two ports that handle 40% of all containers coming into the United States. This record backlog is limiting supplies of everything from toys and furniture to video game consoles. Even the great toilet paper shortage of 2020 was poised for an encore when retailer Costco announced purchase limits in the fall. READ MORE
Intel CEO: The best way to fix America's chip shortage
For almost a year, US companies and consumers have had to navigate a global chip shortage. Even among Covid-19 disruptions, this shortage stands out as uniquely impactful — semiconductors are a critical part of every digital device, powering our phones, cars, hospitals and factory floors. READ MORE
39% of US workers are looking to change jobs in 2022
Nearly four out of 10 workers in the U.S. are looking to make a job switch in the coming year, according to a survey from Fidelity Investments, signaling that the Great Resignation might be far from over. READ MORE
SEC Proposes Rules to Modernize Share Repurchase Disclosures
On December 15, the same day it proposed amendments to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) that may blunt the use of the affirmative defense for insider trading, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also proposed new disclosure rules concerning share repurchases, or buybacks, which have long attracted critical political and media attention. READ MORE
One-third of workers would take a pay cut to never dress for work again
This past fall, Lululemon’s design team noticed something unusual. Wall Street bros were flocking to the Brookfield Place store in the Financial District to buy the On the Move trousers, which look like chinos but are made from the same soft, stretchy, moisture-wicking material used in the brand’s activewear. That’s right: Finance execs were finally ditching their suits. READ MORE
8 ESG Legal Risks to Consider in Transaction Documents
According to the consulting firm Bain, “Covid-19 was a dress rehearsal for climate change”. Unfortunately, this statement stands true, and we can’t deny the impact of the pandemic on the lives of millions around the world.
But while 2020 was a year of pandemic and a havoc situation, it was also a time when the environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda became an essential topic of discussion among businesses worldwide. READ MORE
The biggest tech fails of 2021
For many, 2021 was a mix of hopeful and challenging, as covid vaccines became more widely available but the pandemic dragged on for another year. And while technology continued to keep us entertained and connected during the pandemic, it also made our lives harder.
There were times this year when technology misfired or failed to work entirely — from giant internet outages and crippling ransomware attacks to a series of issues for Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook. (So many, in fact, it's the one company we list twice here.) READ MORE
Three key numbers that explain America's labor shortage
Twenty-one months into the pandemic, America is no longer struggling with an astronomically high unemployment rate. Instead, it's big problem remains a shortage of workers.
That makes it hard for businesses to keep up with rampant demand. Economists worry how long it will take for people on the sidelines to come back into the workforce. READ MORE
Major tech companies pull out of attending CES in person.
One of the most closely-watched annual tech conferences, CES, is going ahead with plans to hold an in-person event in two weeks, even as a growing number of prominent technology companies are pulling the plug on their plans to attend in person amid a surge in Covid-19 cases. READ MORE
Employers are starting to mandate booster shots
Get ready for booster mandates.
Millions of US workers are already required to show proof of a Covid vaccine to their employer. Soon many could be forced to show proof that they also got a booster shot. READ MORE
US SEC allows Apple shareholder's push for details on non-disclosure
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has denied Apple Inc's bid to exclude a shareholder proposal that would require the company to inform investors about its use of non-disclosure agreements and other concealment clauses, according to a document viewed by Reuters. READ MORE
Elon Musk and Jack Dorsey are talking about ‘Web3’ – here’s what it is and why it matters
Hiring is a headache—better to focus on retention
After months of cost-cutting just to stay solvent, businesses are back to hiring. And despite there being millions of Americans still out of work, it’s been difficult to fill open positions and keep employees.
There are theories as to why this is happening, but I’m not wading into that debate. Instead, I want to offer ideas to retain the best talent over the long run. READ MORE
Manchin killing BBB likely saved US from economic 'disaster,' experts say
At least 51 senators rejected the Build Back Better bill, including Joe Manchin.
The West Virginia senator reportedly forced fellow Democrats to scrap an offshore drilling ban from the massive Build Back Better Act spending plan, a provision that experts say would have had disastrous consequences for the country. READ MORE
Employers had a rough 2021. Now here comes Omicron
This year didn't go as planned for employers.
With the introduction of vaccines in late 2020, many were hoping for a return to something resembling normalcy in 2021. But instead they grappled with delayed re-openings, vaccine mandates and mask guidance, employee safety and hiring and retention struggles as the pandemic raged on. READ MORE
How to Answer the Dreaded ‘What’s Your Salary Range?’ Question in a Job Interview
“What’s your salary range?” It’s a question that can cause even the most seasoned interviewee to panic. Suddenly, you’re caught off guard, hemming and hawing and wondering how to respond professionally and not shortchange yourself the compensation you know you deserve. We checked in with three hiring managers to find out exactly how to approach this dreaded query and how to answer if (and when) it comes up. READ MORE
Super-Rich Americans Feel Relief as Tax Hikes Are Canceled for Now
If West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin votes against President Joe Biden’s signature economic package, as he said he would on Sunday, rich Americans will escape any tax hikes, saving the top 0.1% hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade. READ MORE
The year Reddit changed Wall Street forever
Nearly a year ago, a bunch of day traders from the fringes of the internet figured out how to beat Wall Street at its own game. Or so they thought. READ MORE
Meta/Facebook voted worst company of 2021
Facebook, which was recently rebranded as "Meta," was rated the worst company of the year according to a recent survey.
The open-ended survey, which was performed on Survey Monkey via the Yahoo! Finance home page from Dec. 4 to Dec. 5, received 1,541 respondents. READ MORE
Company showcases microchip that can download COVID-19 passport status
A microchip technology introduced in recent years by the Stockholm-based startup, Epicenter, is being presented as a means to store one's COVID-19 vaccine passport under the skin, according to a video from the South China Post that went viral Friday. READ MORE