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Southwest Airlines has announced that it will lay off 15% of its employees in an effort to reduce costs and maximize its efficiencies. Here’s what you need to know about Southwest’s layoffs and how employees and fliers will be impacted. Southwest will cut 1,750 jobs On Monday, Southwest president and CEO Bob Jordan published a memo announcing that the popular low-cost airline will reduce its workforce by 1,750 positions, which the company says equates to about 15% of its total employees. Jordan said the move was part of its previously announced “transformational plan.” That plan aims to accomplish three main things, according to Jordan: boost revenues …

Have you ever noticed that the qualities we sometimes see as weaknesses can actually be our secret strengths? Think about the quiet, shy colleagues who excel at listening or those who seem a bit lazy but always find the most efficient way to get things done. Even self-doubt—which studies show 70% of professionals experience at some point in their careers—can lead us to make more thoughtful decisions and spark creative breakthroughs. These qualities, sometimes perceived as weaknesses, can be the traits that shape effective leaders. As the leader of a bootstrapped company for nearly two decades, I’ve faced my fair share of uncertainty. Between economic turbulence a…

Loneliness is no longer just an emotion—it’s a growing public health crisis in the U.S. A 2024 Harvard study found that 21% of U.S. adults regularly experience loneliness, while the American Psychological Association reports that nearly half of young workers feel isolated at work. Capitalizing on the recent tech boom, AI-powered digital companions and digital twin avatars are rapidly emerging as alternatives to human relationships. These AI bots offer a constant sense of connection without judgment and can be hyper-personalized to match user preferences. Platforms including Oh, Replika (whose tagline is “the AI companion who cares”), and Eden AI chat by EVA AI lea…

In December, Y Combinator’s first-ever Fall batch got their own Demo Day. The Silicon Valley-based startup accelerator—which has produced big hits like Airbnb, Doordash, and Stripe—had doubled the number of startup classes that could enter its program. The showing was mixed: 87% were AI companies, and few have yet to publicly disclose their seeds. Undoubtedly the most prestigious hub of Silicon Valley’s startup culture, YC’s outside critics have grown in their ranks. They have many sore spots to point to: increased batches, diminished seed rounds, more duplicate companies, less specialized training, and the list goes on. But, from the inside, it’s rare to hear a YC f…

When you’re booking travel, scoring a ticket to a sporting event, or securing yourself a spot at some other sort of show, you’re frequently faced with the impossible-seeming task of committing to a specific seat—on the spot. It may seem simple. But, well—which is the best seat on the plane? Which areas of the arena will give you an unobscured view of the action? Is that concert seat going to be behind a speaker? And are the more expensive options really worth their cost? Today, I’m sharing some excellent tools I rely on to pick the best seat at any kind of event or activity. In addition to helping me feel confident about the quality of my selection, they often hel…

In sports, time-outs are a strategic weapon. Super Bowl teams don’t just go full speed from kickoff until the clock runs out; they pause at the right moments to regroup, recalibrate, and regain momentum. In business, the same principle applies. High-performing teams know when to stop, reassess, and make adjustments before forging ahead. Yet, in our relentless, always-on work culture, calling a time-out can feel counterintuitive. Speed is glorified. We celebrate hustle. For many, Mark Zuckerberg’s motto, “Move fast and break things,” has been the dominant approach to innovating in the digital age. And now, with AI supercharging efficiency, the obsession with speed has …

In 2017, the most consumed household food was coffee. In 2024, it was meat. That doesn’t just mean many Americans are eating more animal protein than ever. It means there are downstream effects in other products—including how our dish soap is formulated. Today, Dawn is introducing a new product called Dawn Powersuds. It has twice the suds of the old Dawn, with bubbles that promise to “stay white longer” and dishes that rinse more easily. The more interesting point is that the formulation is the direct response to cultural practices around diet that have become obsessed with protein. Back in 2017 when Dawn created most of its cleaning formulas used today, our top consu…

Peter Berg doesn’t need to do Super Bowl commercials. Yet the award-winning director helmed two ads during this year’s big game. First, was a fun NFL spot advocating for varsity girls flag football. And second, was water bottle brand Cirkul’s first-ever trip to the Super Bowl, starring Adam Devine. The commercial diversion comes not long after the release of Berg’s hit Netflix limited series American Primeval, which dropped on January 9, and quickly hit the top of the streamer’s ratings. In its first week, it had 1.25 billion viewing minutes. Berg has built an incredible Hollywood career, producing, writing, and directing hit films and TV series, from Fri…

At risk of stating the obvious, farming is physically challenging work that takes a toll on the human body. Over the years, we have turned to various forms of technology to amplify the efforts of a single person, starting with a single plow behind a mule or ox, progressing to a motorized tractor, 700+ horsepower combine harvesters, and now robotic weeders and autonomous flying drones that handle a range of tasks. But what about the human body? Is it destined simply to be replaced by machines? The fact is that people remain a weak link in modern farming. According to some sources, agriculture is considered the most hazardous occupation globally. Work-related musculoske…

If it weren’t for the white lines on the grass, you would be forgiven to think this building is a perfectly quiet hotel surrounded by a field of grass in the middle of the Norwegian forest. After all, most soccer training grounds are ugly structures whose sole purpose is to provide infrastructure for people to kick a ball around. But this isn’t just a place to kick a ball. These facilities, designed by the internationally renowned architecture firm Snøhetta, aim to redefine the very concept of a training ground, transforming it into a vibrant hub for the entire football community. “Our approach to sustainability is deeply rooted in a holistic perspective that consider…

If you’re having a farewell party for a beloved colleague, don’t cry too hard into your cake. There’s a decent chance they’ll be back. According to a Harvard Business Review study, 28% of “new hires” were “boomerang hires,” the term for someone who’d resigned within the last three years only to return. Mindi Cox, chief people officer for O.C. Tanner, provider of employee recognition and reward solutions, falls into the boomerang employee category herself. As a hiring manager, she’s also done her fair share of hiring former employees, too. “People often leave a job because there’s an opportunity that’s too good to turn down, or they have a life season, like I had, …

Kai Cenat is launching a “streaming university.” Cenat announced his plans during a February 13 stream, explaining how he wants to help streamers both big and small learn from his success. “I’m going to rent out a university over a course of a weekend. It will be streaming university. Okay? I’m going to rent it out,” Cenat said during his Twitch stream. “I’m going to put out enrolls and applications of people to enroll into the university, no matter if you’re big, no matter if you’re a small streamer, you can stream the entire weekend.” Cenat will install himself as school principal. Just like a real university, there will be dorms; unlike a real university, ther…

The Fast Company Impact Council is a private membership community of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual membership dues for access to peer learning and thought leadership opportunities, events and more. When you factor in home, school, work, and other public spaces, the average person spends 90% of their time indoors. Given this, it’s probably no surprise that the built environment is responsible for 42% of the world’s carbon (CO2) emissions. This number is too big and the likelihood of it increasing is high when you consider aging buildings, extreme weather, a rising number of…

Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the alleged murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is in prison awaiting trial. But he still managed to launch a new website, along with his first official statement since his arrest, via his legal team. The message states that Mangione, who is being held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, has been “overwhelmed” by and “grateful” for the support he’s received in the form of letters from those who have been moved by his story. Although federal charges against the 26-year-old Mangione include stalking and murder for allegedly gunning down Thompson in front of a New York City hotel, some Americans who are frustrated wit…

Workers at an Amazon warehouse in North Carolina rejected a proposal to unionize, becoming the latest group of the company’s employees to side against union representation. About three-quarters of employees at an Amazon fulfillment center in Garner, a town located near Raleigh, voted against joining a grassroots labor organization called Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment, the National Labor Relations Board announced Saturday. The federal labor agency said 2,447 workers cast ballots against union representation while 829 voted in favor of joining the independent union, which is made up of former and current Amazon workers. The NLRB had said …

On Friday, Trader Joe’s issued a recall on yet another product: its frozen Organic Acai Bowls. A recall notice was posted on the company’s website, explaining the recall was due to the risk of plastic inside the frozen meal. “Out of an abundance of caution, please discard any Trader Joe’s Organic Acai Bowls, as the product may contain foreign material (plastic), or return them to your neighborhood Trader Joe’s store for a full refund,” the message reads. Notices were also spotted in Trader Joe’s locations. While Trader Joe’s has voluntarily removed the product from shelves, the recall hasn’t made it to the Food and Drug Administration yet. As of Monday morn…

If you’re on the cusp of buying a new iPhone, you might want to hold off until this Wednesday, February 19. That’s the day Apple CEO Tim Cook says the company will be launching “the newest member of the family.” But what does that cryptic tease mean, exactly? Is Cook talking about a new iPhone, a new computer, or even just a new accessory? Here’s what you need to know about Apple’s upcoming product launch. Get ready to meet the newest member of the family. Wednesday, February 19. #AppleLaunch pic.twitter.com/0ML0NfMedu — Tim Cook (@tim_cook) February 13, 2025 Get ready for the first new iPhone of 2025? Anyone who follows tech news knows that Apple always a…

Even managers with the best intentions can sometimes compromise team morale without realizing it. The art of team management involves balancing professional competence with genuine interpersonal connection. We consulted with 10 experienced industry professionals who shared the common pitfalls that can zap a team’s spirit as well as practical tips to help you avoid missteps and lead a motivated, high-performing group. Shift from micromanagement to autonomy One specific way managers unknowingly harm team morale is through micromanagement. We noticed a roughly 20% drop in employee satisfaction scores and a decline in on-time project delivery whenever team leads checke…

AI will undoubtedly become a bigger presence in your working life over the next few years. In fact, it likely already is, even without you knowing it. According to a recent study by Gallup, nearly all Americans (99%, in fact) use products that involve artificial intelligence features, but (64%) don’t even realize it. Our current level of AI use may seem subtle and harmless—think virtual assistants, navigation apps, or weather-forecasting websites. But the speed of new technology is fast and the promises it holds for transforming our work are too tempting for many companies to pass up. Like it or not, no matter your industry, AI is likely going to be your new coworker. S…