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Tag: COVID

  • Shopify Evolving Into World’s First Retail Operating System

    Shopify Evolving Into World’s First Retail Operating System

    “Shopify is evolving into the world’s first retail operating system,” says Shopify COO Harley Finkelstein. “We think the future of retail is retail everywhere. A brand that’s going to be successful in 5, 10 or 15 years from now needs to sell across any platform and across any channel where they have customers. The idea is that it all feeds back in one centralized back-office, the retail operating system, which is Shopify.”

    Harley Finkelstein, COO of Shopify, discusses how COVID has dramatically sped up the timeline for commerce moving online and has also moved Shopify closer to its goal of becoming the world’s first retail operating system:

    Shopify Evolving Into World’s First Retail Operating System

    Most people assume that Shopify is an ecommerce provider. We have more than a million stores on Shopify. If you were to aggregate our stores in the US we’d be the second-largest online retailer in America. Of course, we’re not a retailer but we’re a platform. But we now have these great economies of scale that we’re using to level the playing field for entrepreneurs and small businesses. That being said, what really Shopify is evolving into is the world’s first retail operating system. 

    What we’re trying to figure out is what do brands and entrepreneurs and retailers need, not just now but in the future? We think the future of retail is retail everywhere. A brand that’s going to be successful in 5, 10 or 15 years from now needs to sell across any platform and across any channel where they have customers. This idea of enabling Shopify merchants to very easily push their products to the Amazon Marketplace or the eBay marketplace or now the Walmart marketplace, that gives them access to a new set of consumers. The idea is that it all feeds back in one centralized back-office, the retail operating system, which is Shopify. 

    Then we’ve gone ahead and asked what else can we do for these merchants? Can we do capital? We’ve now given out about a billion dollars worth of cash advances and loans to small businesses. We’re doing fulfillment and we’re doing shipping. We’re increasing the scope and the relationship that we have with the million stores on Shopify. This is allowing them to become category leaders.

    COVID Speeds Up The Ecommerce Revolution

    From our view, it seems like the commerce world that would have existed in the year 2030 has really been pulled into the year 2020 (as a result of the COVID crisis). We’ve seen ecommerce as a percent of total retail go from 15 percent to 25 percent in the last three months. That’s the same growth rate that we’ve seen over the last 10 years. What really has emerged here is sort of this tale of two retail worlds. On one side you have these resilient retailers that are doing great, they’re pivoting, and they’re expanding their businesses. On the other side, you have these resistant retailers who have not made it. In many ways, it’s probably the most exciting time for retail in a very long time. 

    We talk a lot about these direct to consumer brands that are becoming category leaders. The Allbirds and the Gymsharks who started on Shopify when they were very small and have grown to become the incumbents in their industry. Every 25 seconds a brand new entrepreneur makes his or her (products) for sale on Shopify. We talk a lot about those new startups, those new DTC brands. But actually, what we’re also seeing on Shopify are companies like Lindt Chocolate or Heinz ketchup or Chipotle. They are signing up for Shopify and basically from like five days from contract to launch they are completely changing their businesses. 

    This resiliency isn’t simply in the hands of just the smallest of brands. Big companies are also beginning to think a lot more about how to stay resilient in this time. They’re moving well beyond ecommerce or thinking about offline commerce now. They’re thinking about how do they sell across social media? How do they sell across different marketplaces? So no, I don’t think it’s too late (to enter ecommerce) but I do think they have to rethink their strategies.

    Shopify Evolving Into World’s First Retail Operating System Says Shopify COO Harley Finkelstein
  • Covid Tests Required for Travelers From China to the US

    Covid Tests Required for Travelers From China to the US

    The US has implemented new measures requiring travelers from China to take a Covid test over growing concerns about an increase in cases.

    While the US has largely ended its own strict Covid policies, this latest move comes amid growing concerns about the state of China. China recently ended its strict Covid policies and has experienced a significant increase in cases as a result.

    According to Politico, US officials are also worried about the possibility of new variants coming out of China.

    “Predeparture testing and the requirement to show a negative test result decreases the number of infected passengers boarding airplanes and it will help to slow the spread of the virus as we work through identifying and understand any potential new variants that may emerge,” a federal health official told reporters.

    Travelers from South Korea’s Incheon International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport and Vancouver International Airport will also be required to have a negative Covid test two days before coming to the US if they have been to China in the previous 10 days.

    Officials hope this latest measure, in combination with other CDC recommendations, will help slow the spread and reduce the likelihood of new strains.

    “We know these measures will not eliminate all risk or completely prevent people who are infected from entering the United States,” the federal health official said. “But taken together they will help limit the number of infected people and provide us an early warning about new variants.”

  • Foxconn’s ‘iPhone City’ Area Locked Down Over COVID

    Foxconn’s ‘iPhone City’ Area Locked Down Over COVID

    The area around Foxconn’s “iPhone City” plant has been locked down as a result of an increase in COVID cases.

    Foxconn is Apple’s primary iPhone manufacturer and its plant in Zhengzhou is its main one, leading to the nickname “iPhone City.” China has a well-established reputation for aggressively locking down areas hit with COVID, and the country’s authorities are doing so with the Zhengzhou region, according to Bloomberg.

    The lockdown is scheduled to last seven days, until November 9…provided the outbreak doesn’t get worse.

    With Zhengzhou accounting for 80% of iPhone 14 capacity and 85% of the iPhone 14 Pro’s capacity, the lockdown is sure to impact iPhone 14 availability, although only time will tell how much.

  • Pfizer Poised to Raise COVID Vaccine Prices Significantly

    Pfizer Poised to Raise COVID Vaccine Prices Significantly

    Pfizer is preparing to raise prices for its COVID-19 vaccine, potentially buoying the company’s revenue for years.

    Pfizer is one of the leading manufacturers of COVID vaccines, but demand for booster shots has been lower than expected. According to Reuters, the company is looking to make up for that slack demand by raising prices as much as 4x over current prices.

    The company plans to charge anywhere between $110 to $130 a dose once the US transitions from subsidized dosages to a commercialized market. At the same time, Pfizer plans to honor existing agreements it has through 2023.

    Wells Fargo analyst Mohit Bansal said the price hikes could add billions to Pfizer’s annual revenue.

    “This is much higher than our assumption of $50 per shot, and even assuming $80 per shot net price in high-income countries, we see $2 per share upside to our estimates” as a result of the price increase, Bansal wrote in a research note.

  • Spotify Chooses Joe Rogan Over Neil Young

    Spotify Chooses Joe Rogan Over Neil Young

    Neil Young gave Spotify an ultimatum: Him or Joe Rogan — and Spotify chose Joe Rogan.

    Despite Spotify accounting for 60% of Young’s streaming music worldwide, the artist took the platform to task for hosting Joe Rogan. Rogan — and by extension Spotify — has come under fire for spreading misinformation regarding the COVID pandemic and various medical treatments, including vaccines.

    Young decided he could no longer stand by and do nothing, telling Spotify to remove his music from their service.

    “Spotify has recently become a very damaging force via its public misinformation and lies about COVID,” Young wrote. “I first learned of this problem by reading that 200 plus doctors had joined forces, taking on the dangerous life-threatening COVID falsehoods found in Spotify programming.”

    “I realized I could not continue to support Spotify’s life threatening misinformation to the music loving public,” Young continued. 

    The artist also took the opportunity to promote other platforms, highlighting the fact that other platforms have high-fidelity auto, something Spotify has promised but failed to deliver.

    “Many other platforms, Amazon, Apple, and Qobuz, to name a few, present my music today in all its High-Resolution glory — the way it is intended to be heard, while unfortunately Spotify continues to peddle the lowest quality in music reproduction. So much for art,” Young wrote.

    The artist thanked Warner Bros for standing with him, despite the hit their business will take from Young’s music leaving the platform.

  • United Airlines CEO Credits Vaccine Mandate With Saving Employee Lives

    United Airlines CEO Credits Vaccine Mandate With Saving Employee Lives

    United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is crediting COVID vaccine mandates with saving the lives of his employees, with the company now going eight weeks without a death.

    Vaccine mandates are a controversial topic, but it appears Kirby is a fan. United Airlines established a company-wide vaccine mandate, threatening to fire employees that refused to comply.

    In an open letter to employees, Kirby acknowledged the company currently has 3,000 employees with the virus. Nevertheless, despite the number of cases, none of the vaccinated employees are hospitalized.

    “The second and most important piece of good news is that our vaccine requirement is working – and saving lives,” Kirby wrote. “While we have about 3,000 employees who are currently positive for COVID, zero of our vaccinated employees are currently hospitalized. Since our vaccine policy went into effect, the hospitalization rate among our employees has been 100x lower than the general population in the U.S. Prior to our vaccine requirement, tragically, more than one United employee on average *per week* was dying from COVID. But we’ve now gone eight straight weeks with zero COVID-related deaths among our vaccinated employees – based on United’s prior experience and the nationwide data related to COVID fatalities among the unvaccinated, that means there are approximately 8-10 United employees who are alive today because of our vaccine requirement.”

  • Ford Delays Return to Office Till Next Year, May Require Vaccines

    Ford Delays Return to Office Till Next Year, May Require Vaccines

    Ford is joining the growing list of companies pushing back their return to the office date, telling employees they will not be back till next year.

    A growing number of companies are pushing back their return to the office amid the surge in COVID cases. The Delta variant has pushed cases and hospitalizations to their highest point in months, and have resulted in “breakthrough” cases among vaccinated individuals. As a result, many companies are concerned about bringing people back into enclosed office spaces.

    Ford had already embraced hybrid work for its employees whose jobs are not location-dependent. The company has now told employees they will not have to come back to the office at all until at least early next year, according to Bloomberg.

    “We didn’t feel comfortable bringing them back based on the Covid data we see today,” Kiersten Robinson, Ford’s human resources chief, told Bloomberg in an interview.

    The company is also considering a wider vaccine mandate, beyond just those employees that travel internationally, and is engaging with employees to help inform its decision.

    “We’re collecting feedback from employees around why they would or would not get vaccinated,” Robinson said.

  • Walmart Joins List of Companies Requiring Employees Be Vaccinated

    Walmart Joins List of Companies Requiring Employees Be Vaccinated

    Walmart has announced it will require some employees to be vaccinated, a response to the more contagious Delta variant.

    A number of organizations have announced vaccination requirements for their employees, including Apple, Google, the NFL and others. Walmart now joins that list, requiring some of its employees to be vaccinated by October 4.

    Doug McMillon, President and CEO, announced the new policy:

    As we all know, the pandemic is not over, and the Delta variant has led to an increase in infection rates across much of the U.S. Given this, we have made the decision to require all market, regional and divisional associates who work in multiple facilities and all campus office associates to be vaccinated by Oct. 4, unless they have an approved exception. This includes all new hires.

    It’s a safe bet many more companies will follow Walmart’s example, especially as the Delta variant continues to wreak havoc on attempts to return to normal.

  • New York Times Pushes Back a Return to the Office

    New York Times Pushes Back a Return to the Office

    In what is becoming an all-too-familiar routine, The New York Times has announced it is pushing back its return to the office.

    After more than a year of working remotely, many companies have been eager to have their return onsite. Many were shooting for sometime in September as the deadline. The Times had set September 7 as the day for employees to return to the office, at least three days a week.

    Like Apple and Google, however, the Times is pushing that date back as the Delta variant of COVID leads to an increased surge in cases.

    “In light of the evolution of the virus, including new trends around the Delta variant and the updated guidance from the C.D.C. this week on masking, we have decided to push out our plans for a full return at this time,” Meredith Kopit Levien, chief executive of The New York Times Company, told staff in an email on Friday.

    The news comes a day after President Biden addressed the nation, urging individuals to get vaccinated. Biden emphasized that vaccination is not a political issue, but one of “life and death.”

  • Deja Vu: Twitter Shuts Offices Amid COVID Surge

    Deja Vu: Twitter Shuts Offices Amid COVID Surge

    Twitter has closed its San Francisco and New York offices amid surging COVID cases.

    A return to the office will have to wait, at least for Twitter employees, as the company is shuttering offices and delaying any further openings.

    “After careful consideration of the CDC’s updated guidelines, and in light of current conditions, Twitter has made the decision to close our opened offices in New York and San Francisco as well as pause future office reopenings, effective immediately,” a Twitter spokesperson said, according to CNBC.

    Much of the blame lies with the Delta variant of COVID, which is far more contagious and has even been infecting some vaccinated individuals. As Twitter acknowledged, the CDC has been forced to update its guidelines in an effort to combat the aggressive variant.

  • Google Pushes Back Return to Office, Will Require Vaccination

    Google Pushes Back Return to Office, Will Require Vaccination

    Google has joined Apple in pushing back its return to the office date, and confirmed it will require onsite employees to be vaccinated.

    Apple became the first major company to push back its plans to return to the office amid surging COVID cases, thanks to the Delta variant. Google has now joined its Cupertino rival, pushing back its return to the office date to mid-October. Like Apple, Google had originally been shooting for September.

    CEO Sundar Pichai informed employees in an email, according to the Boston Globe.

    “This extension will allow us time to ramp back into work while providing flexibility for those who need it,” Pichai wrote.

    Pichai also revealed the company will require employees to be vaccinated, once its facilities are reopened and employees are working onsite. Pichai said the vaccine mandate would follow local laws, and be flexible to account for medical and other “protected” reasons for not being vaccinated.

    Nonetheless, Google’s vaccination stand is one of the strongest yet from a large company.

  • Apple Employees Send Second Letter Protesting Return-to-Office Policy

    Apple Employees Send Second Letter Protesting Return-to-Office Policy

    Apple employees have sent a second letter to company leadership objecting to plans for a return to the office.

    Like most tech companies, Apple sent employees home to work remotely as the pandemic gained ground. While some companies have fully embraced remote work, Apple has been adopting a hybrid strategy. The company told employees it wanted them in the office at least three days a week.

    Employees penned a letter a month ago objecting to the company’s policies, saying the one-size-fits-all approach didn’t properly address employees needs. Employees accused the company of not listening to them and their concerns. There have also been reports of employees quitting over the company’s policies. 

    Employees have penned a second letter objecting to the company’s plans, according to Recode.

    “We continue to be concerned that this one-size-fits-all solution is causing many of our colleagues to question their future at Apple,” the letter reads, saying, “With COVID-19 numbers rising again around the world, vaccines proving less effective against the Delta variant, and the long-term effects of infection not well understood, it is too early to force those with concerns to come back to the office.”

    Employees are arguing for two “pilot arrangements,” wherein they could work remotely for one year, with no guarantee of renewal. Employees would be given the option of working in different regions than they were originally hired in, and be open to cost of living adjustments.

    The letter also highlights the stakes involved for Apple, citing an employee survey that showed 68% of respondents believed Apple’s return-to-office policies would cause them to leave the company.

    With the surge of COVID cases among the unvaccinated currently happening, Apple agreed to push back its return-to-office date by a month. The company has not fundamentally changed its long-term plans, however, setting up an eventual showdown with its employees.

  • Apple Pushes Back Return to Office Amid Increased COVID Cases

    Apple is pushing back its return to office deadline in response to a resurgence of COVID cases.

    Despite progress on vaccinations, new COVID variants are leading to a major increase in cases, especially among the unvaccinated. The situation has prompted Apple to delay its return to office deadline to October from the originally scheduled September, according to Bloomberg.

    The delay will also give Apple time to consider and address concerns employees have had about returning to the office. Following a blockbuster year, wherein employees were working remotely, many don’t see a need to be in the office at all, and certainly not as much as Apple wants.

    The impasse has already led some employees to quit, with others fearing they will have to as well. While only a month delay, Apple’s decision may ultimately open the door for a more nuanced approach, one that keeps its employees happy.

  • COVID Has Had Lasting Impacts on the Consumer World

    COVID Has Had Lasting Impacts on the Consumer World

    A new report shows just how widespread the impacts from COVID have been as consumers look toward a post-COVID world.

    Brooks Bell conducted a survey of 700 consumers on a variety of topics, and the results show just how much the pandemic has altered consumer views and habits. The “New Normals in Retail, Travel and Financial Services: Consumer Sentiment Beyond 2020” report offers a number of insights businesses should pay attention to.

    • The report is good news for brick and mortar stores, with 76% of respondents planning to buy in-store post-COVID restrictions. At the same time, curbside pickup is here to stay, with 34% planning to continue using the service.
    • Travel is also looking to rebound, with 70% of Americans eager to travel. Millennials, in particular, are the most eager to do so. Interesting, 20% said safety will be a travel consideration indefinitely, while the single biggest consideration remains price.
    • Banking is another industry set to experience a revival, with in-person banking set to almost double from pre-pandemic levels. In-person banking doesn’t equate to face-to-face banking, however, as a preference for interacting with a human teller dropped 8 points to 38%. Even more telling, online communication in banking was the top choice among 56-74 and the over-74 age groups, dispelling the myth that older consumers are opposed to online banking.

    The full report is well-worth a read and can be found here.

  • FDA Approves Quidel QuickVue At-Home COVID-19 Test

    FDA Approves Quidel QuickVue At-Home COVID-19 Test

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Quidel QuickVue At-Home COVID-19 Test, another antigen test where certain individuals can rapidly collect and test their sample at home, without needing to send a sample to a laboratory for analysis.

    The QuickVue At-Home COVID-19 Test is authorized for prescription home use with self-collected anterior nasal (nares) swabs from individuals ages 14 and older or individuals ages 8 and older with swabs collected by an adult. The test is authorized for individuals suspected of COVID-19 by their healthcare provider within the first six days of symptom onset. 

    “The FDA continues to prioritize the availability of more at-home testing options in response to the pandemic,” said Jeff Shuren, M.D., J.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “The QuickVue At-Home COVID-19 Test is another example of the FDA working with test developers to bring important diagnostics to the public.”

    In addition to this new prescription home test, Quidel also was issued an EUA in December 2020 for their QuickVue SARS Antigen Test which is authorized for use in laboratories certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) to perform high, moderate or waived complexity tests, as well as for point-of-care testing by facilities operating under a CLIA Certificate of Waiver. 

  • Amazon Offers Support For President Biden’s Vaccination Plans

    Amazon Offers Support For President Biden’s Vaccination Plans

    Amazon has congratulated President Biden and Vice President Harris on their inauguration and offered its support in ramping up the vaccine rollout.

    One of President Biden’s biggest challenges will be significantly increase the pace of the country’s vaccination efforts. In an open letter, Amazon’s Dave Clark, CEO, Worldwide Consumer, made it clear the company is ready to assist.

    We have an agreement in place with a licensed third-party occupational health care provider to administer vaccines on-site at our Amazon facilities. We are prepared to move quickly once vaccines are available. Additionally, we are prepared to leverage our operations, information technology, and communications capabilities and expertise to assist your administration’s vaccination efforts. Our scale allows us to make a meaningful impact immediately in the fight against COVID-19, and we stand ready to assist you in this effort.

    Clark also makes the case that Amazon’s workers, many of whom are considered essential workers, should be among the first vaccinated.

    There is no word yet on whether the new administration will take Clack up on the offer, but it’s a safe bet no options are off the table.

  • Fund Manager: Tech Not Headed For Crash, COVID Setting Up Growth Trends

    Fund Manager: Tech Not Headed For Crash, COVID Setting Up Growth Trends

    Tech stocks may be riding on record highs, with sky-high valuations, but investors shouldn’t fear another Dotcom Bubble crash, according to Terry Smith.

    Terry Smith is a well-known fund manager in the UK, and has been called “the new Warren Buffet.” Smith’s fund is heavily invested in tech stocks, leading to some concern that he’s vulnerable to another Dotcom Bubble crash. In a letter to investors (PDF), Smith addresses those concerns and explains why he doesn’t believe tech stocks are in jeopardy.

    One of the biggest factors Smith points to is how differently tech stocks, which often have intangible factors, must be evaluated. In so doing, he points out an inherent advantage of tech companies, whose trade is more often than not in information and intellectual capital.

    The main assets of the companies we seek to invest in are often intangible. Some examples of intangible assets are brands, copyrights, patents, know-how, installed bases of equipment which require servicing and maintenance and so produce customers who are locked-in to the supplier, software systems which are critical to a business or person and so-called network effects. They are distinct from tangible assets such as real estate, machinery and equipment, and vehicles.

    The return on intangible assets is higher as they mostly need to be funded with equity not debt and attract an appropriate return. Lenders seem to crave the often false security of lending against tangible collateral. Intangible assets can also last indefinitely if they are well maintained by advertising, marketing, innovation and product development and the duration of an asset is an important factor in figuring out its real returns.

    Interestingly, Smith also makes the case that COVID is setting up for some specific growth trends. Like many, he likens the current pandemic to the Spanish Flu, and draws a comparison to Henry Ford and the Model T.

    The assembly line was not invented as a result of the Spanish Flu pandemic — the Model T Ford was put on an assembly line in 1913 — but it accelerated its adoption.

    The increase in productivity this delivered helped to fuel an economic boom as the cost of production of items such as cars and household electrical appliances were reduced as the volume of production rose so that they became affordable by the middle classes for the first time. This helped to fuel the economic and stock market boom of the Roaring Twenties.

    Smith sees the possibility of something similar happening post-COVID as a result of remote work and digital communication becoming normalized. Salesmen will be able to meet with more clients virtually than they could in person, businesses will see reduced costs, factories will be able to maintain production despite using less staff and more.

    Obviously, as he points out, it’s not good news for all industries.

    Of course not all businesses benefit from these developments. The airline industry, hospitality, bricks & mortar retailing and office property may all have some very difficult problems to face, just as you wouldn’t have wanted to have been a saddler when Henry Ford and his competitors hit their stride.

    This analogy helps explain why Smith’s fund is so heavily invested in tech and why he’s not worried about a possible crash. Of course, as he humorously points out, no one’s predictions are perfect.

    I will leave you with this thought: What are the similarities between a forecaster and a one-eyed javelin thrower? Answer: Neither is likely to be very accurate but they are typically good at keeping the attention of the audience.

  • The Future of Nursing Homes

    The Future of Nursing Homes

    As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, senior citizens have borne the brunt of casualties. This is especially true of those living in nursing homes, though the extent varies. As of September 2020, 25% of US coronavirus deaths occurred in nursing homes; however, 4-5 star nursing homes had 94% lower risk than their 1 star peers. When the current pandemic ends, those disparities will remain. As the Baby Boomer generation of America continues to age, nursing homes will house more people than ever in upcoming years.

    Despite the upward trajectory of demand, nursing homes remain unpopular among Americans. Only 19% think nursing homes make seniors better off. Seniors have lots to consider, such as life insurance for seniors. Seniors don’t move into nursing homes because they want to, but because they can no longer care for themselves and lack the resources to pursue other alternatives. The average nursing home resident needs 4 hours of personalized nursing care every day due to diseases like Alzheimer’s or arthritis. Care that intensive is hard to achieve elsewhere.

    Unfortunately, meeting senior’s medical needs currently comes at the cost of social isolation. Moving away from friends and routines causes depression in 40% of seniors, a statistic tied to worse health outcomes in a bitter feedback loop. Even before COVID-19, 55% said they didn’t see enough of their families, a sad reality that generates a sense of loss and abandonment in nursing home residents. 

    Nursing homes need to adapt. They must find ways to either increase social outcomes for residents or give seniors the tools they need to live independently. As Rosalie Kane, Ph.D. professor of health policy and management at the University of Minnesota, said, “nursing homes are places to live, in addition to clinical settings… Health care needs might be met at the expense of drastically changing someone’s daily life and routines for the worse. The challenge is to pay attention to quality of life as an outcome in itself, and see how health care may be related to quality of life.”  

    Advances in medical technology are improving the quality of nursing home care all around. Some innovations can even help seniors regain independence and return home. Current tech includes Solo-Step, a rehabilitation harness that prevents fall-related injuries and lets users move about more freely, and Aiva voice assistant, which gives seniors an easier way to communicate with other residents, family members, and caregivers from a distance. These devices are available now; the longer they’re on the market, the more chances they’ll have to proliferate. Future technologies include The Kidney Project, an artificial kidney that would remove the need for dialysis in recipients. These products give aging people a chance at a brighter future in spite of the current health crisis.

    As Elaine Ryan, Vice President of Government Affairs for State Advocacy at AARP, says, “this pandemic has made us painfully aware that we can’t ignore our most vulnerable people. Americans always respond to a crisis. And there is hope that, with innovative ideas and bold action, they will again.”

  • Amazon Using Pinkertons to Combat Unions, Spy on Workers

    Amazon Using Pinkertons to Combat Unions, Spy on Workers

    Amazon has a complicated relationship with its employees and the latest reports are not likely to help the situation.

    With an employee base closing in on 1.2 million, Amazon has been a source of reliable employment for many during the pandemic. At the same time, the company has often been criticized for its climate policies and for not doing enough to protect its workers from COVID.

    Now employees have another reason to be angry at the company, as a report from Motherboard shows the company has used Pinkerton detectives to counter unionization efforts, as well as monitor environmental and social groups.

    The documents show Amazon analysts closely monitor the labor and union-organizing activity of their workers throughout Europe, as well as environmentalist and social justice groups on Facebook and Instagram. They also indicate, and an Amazon spokesperson confirmed, that Amazon has hired Pinkerton operatives—from the notorious spy agency known for its union-busting activities—to gather intelligence on warehouse workers.

    At a time when Amazon is already under scrutiny, this latest revelation is not likely to do the company any favors.

  • Facebook Moderators Want Remote Work, Hazard Pay

    Facebook Moderators Want Remote Work, Hazard Pay

    Facebook moderators are protesting the company’s decision to require them to come back to the office amid the pandemic.

    For months, Facebook allowed content moderators to work from home. Recently, however, the company required them to come back into the office. Moderators have penned an open letter, criticizing executives for not taking their safety seriously, and not paying them enough to take risks Facebook requires.

    After months of allowing content moderators to work from home, faced with intense pressure to keep Facebook free of hate and disinformation, you have forced us back to the office. Moderators who secure a doctors’ note about a personal COVID risk have been excused from attending in person. Moderators with vulnerable relatives, who might die were they to contract COVID from us, have not.

    The moderators take Zuckerberg to task for benefiting significantly from the pandemic, with his fortune nearly doubling during it, but not passing on any benefits to the people making Facebook’s success possible. While Zuckerberg is worth over $100 billion, the moderators are only paid roughly $18/hour.

    The letter also addresses the toxic nature of the job, something that has become intolerable when the pressure of the pandemic is added on.

    Before the pandemic, content moderation was easily Facebook’s most brutal job. We waded through violence and child abuse for hours on end. Moderators working on child abuse content had targets increased during the pandemic, with no additional support.

    Now, on top of work that is psychologically toxic, holding onto the job means walking into a hot zone. In several offices, multiple COVID cases have occurred on the floor. Workers have asked Facebook leadership, and the leadership of your outsourcing firms like Accenture and CPL, to take urgent steps to protect us and value our work. You refused. We are publishing this letter because we are left with no choice.

    The moderators highlight how Facebook’s artificial intelligence algorithms have so far failed to replace the human element, making the moderators more important than ever. It remains to be seen if Facebook will address the moderators’ concerns.

    Their message, however, is clear:

    Stop Needlessly Risking Moderators’ Lives

  • Chipotle Set to Open Digital Kitchen, First Digital-Only Restaurant

    Chipotle Set to Open Digital Kitchen, First Digital-Only Restaurant

    Chipotle has announced its first digital-only restaurant, potentially disrupting the restaurant industry during one of its most challenging periods.

    One of the more controversial COVID mitigation measures has been curtailing restaurants and bars. Around the world, customers and establishments have protested, and in some cases defied, closure orders. In spite of the unpopularity of such moves, however, experts have continued to warn of the dangers of dining in. In fact, a new study by MIT Technology Review has labeled restaurants “covid hot spots.”

    Although not necessarily the focus, Chipotle seems to have the answer to COVID challenges as it prepares to debut Digital Kitchen, its first digital-only restaurant. The new concept will not have a dining room, or a front service line. Instead, guests will place their order in advance using the Chipotle app, Chipotle.com or third-party delivery options. Orders can be picked up via the restaurant lobby.

    “The Digital Kitchen incorporates innovative features that will complement our rapidly growing digital business, while delivering a convenient and frictionless experience for our guests,” said Curt Garner, Chief Technology Officer of Chipotle. “With digital sales tripling year over year last quarter, consumers are demanding more digital access than ever before so we’re constantly exploring new ways to enhance the experience for our guests.”

    Chipotle’s new restaurants will likely be a big hit and help the company expand in locations where full-sized restaurants are not feasible. In addition, it should help the company weather any future COVID crackdowns.