Latest from Rose Conlon

• Jun 23, 2021

  “Rainbow washing” during Pride hurts both brands and consumers

  

  Simply attaching your brand to a rainbow flag but failing to take further action can have unintended negative results.

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• Jun 23, 2021

  Teamsters union turns its attention to Amazon

  

  The Teamsters union is set to vote Thursday on a plan to help Amazon workers unionize. Also, it’s sometimes called “thermostat hijacking” or “thermostat sharing”: Customers check the temperature only to see it set to warmer than they had programmed. Turns out this is something they’ve consented to, and it has to do with managing the power grid during a heat wave. And, keeping an eye out for corporate “rainbow washing” during Pride Month.

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• Jun 23, 2021

  Britain’s travel industry is fed up with COVID restrictions

  

  From the BBC World Service: Pilots, cabin crew and other aviation workers are demanding government action to save the summer vacation season and protect jobs. British Health Minister Matt Hancock says political leaders are working on plans to further relax pandemic rules, including those involving international travel. Plus, Hong Kong’s leading pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily will publish its last ever edition Thursday. And, the financial strain of COVID starts to hit foreign aid spending.

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• Jun 22, 2021

  Tourism in Hawaii is approaching pre-pandemic levels

  

  Businesses in Hawaii welcome the demand but are struggling to keep up. Also, awaiting congressional testimony from Fed Chair Jerome Powell today, we revisit the debate over inflation. Plus, trying to make sense of seesawing on the stock market. And, is Washington prepping to break up tech giants? We take a look at a package of antitrust bills the House Judiciary Committee is set to consider tomorrow.

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• Jun 22, 2021

  Americans got more serious about financial planning during COVID

  

  People spent more time working to get their financial act together over the last year. That’s the upshot from two recent surveys of how people’s behavior and attitudes toward money have changed since the pandemic hit. Plus, the Supreme Court rules against NCAA limits on educational benefits for college athletes. And, a closer look at supply chain diversity programs, the means by which companies and government agencies do more business with suppliers owned by underrepresented groups. We speak with one expert who says that whole system needs a reboot.

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• Jun 22, 2021

  Cardboard makers see surge in demand, but …

  

  From the BBC World Service: You might be surprised to see their profits. Companies making packing materials for Amazon and other retailers have seen a sharp fall in orders from corporate clients, with more people working from home. Plus, India accuses Twitter of defying new social media content rules. And, the U.K. starts talks to join the CPTPP, a trading group of countries around the Pacific Ocean. The economic benefits could be limited.

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• Jun 21, 2021

  Older Americans have the fastest-growing student debt

  

  Nearly 9 million Americans 50 and up still have student debt, either from loans they took out to pay for their own education or for their kids’ educations, according to the Department of Education. Plus, taking stock of how markets reacted to the Federal Reserve’s latest economic assessment last week. And, Chinese citizens are still processing the change in birth policy announced last month that will allow couples to have three children instead of the current maximum of two. A number of women have turned to humor in their reactions.

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• Jun 21, 2021

  As summer travel heats up, American Airlines is cutting flights

  

  American Airlines, which is flying more than its competitors, is canceling hundreds of flights. One reason is a labor shortage. Plus, ditching your dining plans could cost you: Restaurants are cracking down on people who don’t show up for reservations. And, chronicling Amazon’s constant growth and the challenges it faces as Prime Day kicks off.

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• Jun 21, 2021

  A rent control row has toppled Sweden’s government

  

  From the BBC World Service: Sweden’s minority government failed to get support to lift a rent cap on newly built apartments, and Prime Minister Stefan Lofven lost a confidence vote. It’s the first time a Swedish government leader has been ousted after such a motion. Plus, business investment across borders dropped 35% last year as COVID lockdowns stalled the global economy. And, why Japanese companies including Toyota and SoftBank are inoculating staff and their families at work ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

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• Jun 18, 2021

  Is your employer observing Juneteenth?

  

  Juneteenth, commemorating the end of slavery, is now a federal holiday. Many federal workers get the day off today, but what about private employers? Plus, the first test voyages for cruise ship operators hoping to set sail again. And, reporting from The New York Times sheds light on human resources dysfunction at Amazon, including a pattern of mistaken worker terminations during the pandemic.

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