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Calyx Path's integration with Friday Harbor clears paperwork for underwriters, while Dark Matter's Ask Aiva quick verifiable answers to LO questions. View the full article

Elon Musk‘s space exploration company has filed preliminary paperwork to sell shares to the public, according to two sources familiar with the filing, a blockbuster offering that would likely rank as the biggest ever and could make its founder the world’s first trillionaire. A SpaceX IPO promises to be one of the biggest Wall Street events of the year, with several investment banks lining up to help raise tens of billions to fund Musk’s ambitions to set up a base on the moon, put datacenters the size of several football fields in orbit and possibly one day send a man to Mars. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly about the confidential registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission. SpaceX did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Exactly how much SpaceX plans to raise has not been disclosed but the figure is reportedly as much as $75 billion. At that level, the offering would easily eclipse the $29 billion that Saudi Aramco raised in its 2019 IPO. The offering, coming possibly in June, could value all the shares of SpaceX at $1.5 trillion, nearly double what the company was valued in December when some minority owners sold their stakes, according to research firm Pitchbook, before an acquisition that increased its size. Musk owns 42% of the SpaceX now, according to Pitchbook, though that figure will change with the IPO when new owners are issued shares. In any case, he is likely to pierce the trillion dollar mark because he is already close, with a net worth estimated by Forbes magazine at $823 million. In addition to making reusable rockets to hurl astronauts and hardware into orbit, SpaceX owns Starlink, the world’s largest satellite communications company. The company also recently brought under its roof two other Musk businesses, social media platform X, formerly Twitter, and artificial intelligence business, xAI, in a controversial transaction because both the seller and the buyer were controlled by him. SpaceX has become the biggest commercial launch company in its industry, responsible for sending payloads into orbit for customers across the globe, but has also benefited from big taxpayer spending. That has raised conflicts of interest issues given that Musk was the biggest donor to President Donald The President‘s campaign and is still a big backer. In the past five years, SpaceX won $6 billion in contracts from NASA, the Defense Department and other U.S. government agencies, according to USAspending.gov. Among current SpaceX owners is Donald The President Jr, the president’s oldest son. He owns a shares through 1789 Capital. That venture capital firm made him a partner shortly after his father won the presidency for a second time and has been buying up federal contractors seeking to win taxpayer money ever since. The White House and The President himself have repeatedly denied there are any conflicts of interest between his role as president and his family’s businesses. —Bernard Condon and Ken Sweet, AP business writers View the full article

Nearly 18 million homeowners in the 100 largest U.S. metros paid HOA or condo fees in 2024, with 2.6 million paying $500 or more monthly, according to a new LendingTree report. View the full article

Today marks a big day here on earth and in space. Not only is April 1 the first day of the month, and April Fools’ Day, it’s also the day Apple was founded 50 years ago, and the same evening Artemis II launches its NASA’s mission to the moon while April’s full pink moon rises in the night sky. Here’s what to know about when, where, and how to see it. What time does the ‘pink moon’ peak? Spring’s first full “pink moon” peaks tonight, Wednesday April 1, at 10:12 p.m. ET., just hours after the launch window opens for the Artemis II mission to the moon, according to Space.com. Where does the ‘pink moon’ get its name? This so-called “pink moon” gets its name from the wildflower phlox subulata, or “moss pink,” which blooms around this time each spring in North America, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. The Cherokee, Hopi, and Assiniboine indigenous communities have a number of other names for it including: “kawohni,” or flower moon; “kwiyamuyaw,” or windbreak moon; and “tabehatawi,” or frog moon, per CNN. However, its color is less bright pink then grey, or even may appear red or orange some places, the BBC reported. How to view this ‘pink moon’ To view the “pink moon,” look to the eastern horizon tonight at dusk, right after sunset. It will also be visible at that time on Thursday, April 2. Here is a tool to determine moonrise and moonset times for your location, from Timeanddate.com. Stay tuned: the next full moon of the year, the “flower moon,” will peak on May 1. View the full article

The Department of Justice is seeking court approval to immediately fire more than 600 employees, slashing the CFPB's workforce by 53%. View the full article

When considering payroll management, Kelly Payroll Services stands out with its all-encompassing solutions customized for various business sizes. Their user-friendly platform offers mobile access to payroll and benefits, whereas dedicated representatives guarantee responsive support. You’ll find tools like Payroll Pulse, which provide insights for informed decision-making. Plus, their commitment to compliance and operational efficiency is essential for any organization. Discover how these features can transform your payroll process and improve employee satisfaction. Key Takeaways Customized payroll solutions tailored to unique business challenges, ensuring alignment with specific organizational needs and objectives. User-friendly platform facilitating seamless payroll management and quick access to essential payroll data for informed decision-making. Ongoing support and consultations to adapt payroll strategies to changing business environments, securing long-term success. Mobile access allows employees to manage payroll and benefits conveniently, enhancing user experience and engagement. Strong compliance focus, ensuring accurate payroll processes and reducing risks associated with regulatory requirements. Comprehensive Payroll Solutions In relation to payroll solutions, many businesses face unique challenges that require customized approaches. Kelly Payroll Services provides thorough payroll solutions designed to meet these diverse needs. Their services cater to organizations of all sizes, ensuring you have the right support as you grow. With over 20 years of experience, Kelly Payroll handles payroll for part-time, full-time, and non-traditional employees, offering flexible, a-la-carte options. Kelly Services Payroll seamlessly integrates with leading third-party vendors, enhancing efficiency and reducing overhead. You can rely on their expertise to maintain compliance with state and local laws, which minimizes paperwork without sacrificing quality. The epaystub Kelly Services platform simplifies your payroll experience, allowing employees easy access to their pay information. All in all, Kelly Payroll offers scalable, cost-efficient solutions that support the entire employee lifecycle, from onboarding to offboarding, ultimately improving the overall employee experience. Trusted Advisory Role When you partner with Kelly Payroll Services, you gain a trusted advisor focused on your unique business objectives. The team implements customized payroll solutions designed to your needs and guarantees ongoing support for smooth operations. This collaborative approach not just improves your payroll systems but likewise aligns them with your strategic goals, boosting overall efficiency. Understanding Business Objectives Grasping business objectives is crucial for any organization looking to succeed, and this is where Kelly Payroll Services thrives in its trusted advisory role. By comprehending your unique challenges, Kelly can tailor solutions that fit your needs. The advisory team regularly consults with you to guarantee payroll solutions adapt to your evolving requirements, enhancing operational efficiency. Here’s how Kelly Payroll Services aligns with your objectives: Feature Benefit Customized Payroll Support Aligns with your business goals Regular Consultations Addresses changing needs Training and Support Empowers your team Insightful Recommendations Drives growth and satisfaction Long-term Partnership Secures sustained success Utilizing tools like Kelly education pay stubs and kelly estub streamlines processes, allowing you to focus on core operations. Customized Solutions Implementation To effectively implement personalized payroll solutions, Kelly Payroll Services focuses on comprehending your organization’s specific needs and challenges. By acting as a trusted advisor, the team collaborates with you to align customized solutions with your business objectives. They leverage over 20 years of experience to address unique payroll challenges, ensuring that the implementation process is smooth and efficient. This involves coordinating the necessary steps for a seamless shift, allowing your organization to adapt quickly. Furthermore, Kelly Payroll Services emphasizes a dedicated partnership, supporting your day-to-day strategic goals. With their expert guidance, you can expect improved operational efficiencies and elevated employee satisfaction, setting the foundation for long-term business growth and success. Ongoing Support Partnership In recognizing the intricacies of payroll management, Kelly Payroll Services establishes an ongoing support partnership that serves as a trusted advisory resource for your organization. The team understands your unique objectives and challenges, delivering customized solutions that meet your specific needs. By coordinating and implementing personalized payroll strategies, they provide thorough training and continuous support to guarantee seamless integration. As a dedicated partner, Kelly Payroll Services helps you navigate complex payroll processes during your day-to-day strategic goals. With over 20 years of experience, they offer insights that improve payroll compliance and efficiency, reducing your administrative burdens. Continuous engagement allows them to adapt solutions, assuring alignment with your evolving business environment and employee needs, nurturing a long-term partnership. Workplace Culture and Payroll Insights A strong workplace culture can greatly boost employee retention, as it nurtures satisfaction and loyalty among staff. To support this, timely payroll insights are essential, allowing you to navigate complex payroll challenges effectively and guarantee compliance with regulations. Boosting Employee Retention Though many factors influence employee retention, a strong workplace culture coupled with effective payroll management plays a critical role in keeping your team satisfied and engaged. Companies using Kelly Payroll Services see a remarkable 99% retention rate among employees. This success stems from accurate and compliant payroll processes that guarantee everyone is paid correctly and on time, cultivating trust and morale. As your business grows, managing complex payroll processes becomes crucial, preventing dissatisfaction that can lead to turnover. Kelly Payroll Services likewise offers strategies that support a positive workplace environment, directly contributing to increased employee loyalty. Timely Payroll Insights How can timely payroll insights transform your workplace culture? By utilizing Payroll Pulse, you gain access to critical payroll data and trends in real-time, allowing you to make informed decisions. Accurate and compliant payroll processes are crucial for meeting your obligations, which cultivates trust among employees. When employees see that payroll is managed effectively, their satisfaction and retention rates improve markedly. Addressing common payroll questions helps you navigate intricacies as your business grows, ensuring clarity and reducing confusion. Furthermore, sharing strategies for managing complicated payroll processes boosts efficiency and compliance during expansion. In the end, these timely insights contribute to a stronger workplace culture, as employees feel valued and secure in their financial compensation. Managing Complex Payroll Challenges Managing intricate payroll challenges requires a strategic approach, especially as your organization immerses and diversifies. A strong workplace culture markedly improves employee satisfaction and retention, making effective payroll management essential. To navigate these intricacies, consider the following strategies: Utilize Payroll Pulse: Access timely insights to address common payroll questions and guarantee smooth operations. Emphasize Compliance: Accurate and compliant payroll processes reduce risks and improve employee morale. Implement Customized Solutions: Support the entire employee lifecycle with personalized payroll solutions that boost engagement. Endorsements and Collaborations Kelly Payroll Services stands out in the payroll industry, particularly due to its endorsement by the Restaurant Association of Maryland (RAM), which highlights its credibility and recognition among peers. This endorsement signals to you that Kelly Payroll Services understands the specific needs of the food service sector. They offer customized payroll solutions for nearly 1,500 member businesses, ensuring compliance and efficiency. Furthermore, Kelly Payroll Services collaborates with industry-leading third-party vendors. These partnerships improve the range of services available to you, maximizing the value of your payroll investments. Customer Satisfaction and Team Expertise When you choose Kelly Payroll Services, you’re not just getting a payroll solution; you’re likewise benefiting from a user-friendly platform designed to simplify your experience. Clients often commend the responsive service quality, highlighting how the knowledgeable team quickly addresses inquiries and resolves issues. This level of expertise and support plays an essential role in ensuring your satisfaction and loyalty to the service. Responsive Service Quality In today’s fast-paced business environment, responsive service quality plays a crucial role in customer satisfaction and team expertise. At Kelly Payroll Services, clients consistently commend the team for their prompt and effective responses. Here are three key aspects that contribute to their exceptional service: Quick Resolutions: The Kelly Payroll team guarantees that inquiries and issues are addressed swiftly, minimizing any disruptions to your operations. Expertise: Dedicated representatives possess extensive knowledge about payroll-related queries, providing clients with accurate information and support. Commitment: The team’s dedication is evident, making a significant difference in overall service delivery and client satisfaction. With these qualities, Kelly Payroll Services stands out as a reliable partner in payroll management, guaranteeing you receive the highest standard of service. User-Friendly Platform Experience A user-friendly platform experience is essential for efficient payroll management, as it directly impacts both customer satisfaction and team expertise. Clients appreciate the intuitive design of Kelly Payroll Services, which promotes ease of use and accessibility. Their knowledgeable representatives as well improve the experience, providing swift assistance and expert advice. The platform seamlessly integrates with existing systems, streamlining processes and ensuring a smooth workflow. With over 20 years in payroll outsourcing, Kelly’s dedicated team consistently delivers superior service across multiple locations. Feature Description User-Friendly Design Intuitive interface praised for ease of use Expert Support Knowledgeable team providing quick, helpful responses Seamless Integration Compatibility with existing systems for efficiency Alleviating Payroll Burdens Alleviating payroll burdens is crucial for organizations aiming to streamline their operations and focus on growth. Kelly Payroll Services supports you with over 20 years of experience, offering customized solutions to meet your specific needs. Here’s how they can help: Custom Plans: Choose from a-la-carte options that accommodate part-time, full-time, and non-traditional employees, aligning with your talent strategies and goals. Legal Compliance: With Kelly managing wages and deductions, you gain peace of mind knowing you’re compliant with state and local laws. Centralized Administration: The service handles payroll across multiple locations, ensuring consistent management and improved financial oversight. Payroll That Works for You Effective payroll management is essential for any business looking to optimize its operations and improve productivity. At Kelly Payroll Services, we offer solutions customized to your needs, ensuring compliance with all legal obligations regarding wages and deductions. Our weekly invoicing, which includes digitally-imaged timecard copies, streamlines payroll processing as it improves record-keeping. We carefully review employee timecards for accuracy, helping to minimize errors. Our services are designed to reduce overhead and paperwork, allowing you to focus on your core functions. We provide personalized payroll solutions for part-time, full-time, and non-traditional employees, ensuring flexibility for your diverse workforce. Service Feature Benefit Impact on Business Legal Compliance Peace of mind Reduced legal risks Weekly Invoicing Streamlined processing Improved efficiency Error Minimization Accurate payroll Improved operational efficiency Reduced Overhead Focus on core functions Increased productivity Customized Solutions Flexibility and scalability Better workforce management Count on Accurate Payroll Administration When you choose Kelly Payroll Services, you’re opting for precise payroll administration that meets the unique demands of your organization. Our extensive handling of payroll processes guarantees that your payroll management is both accurate and compliant, which is vital for your business’s success. Here are some key benefits you can expect: Centralized Coordination: We assure consistent payroll management across multiple locations, enhancing operational efficiency. Accurate Record-Keeping: Our focus on careful record management improves your financial oversight, aiding better decision-making. Scalable Solutions: As your organization grows, our payroll capabilities adapt to meet evolving business needs. With a specialized team dedicated to accuracy, you can trust that your payroll will be managed with a commitment to quality. Kelly Payroll Services offers you the reliability you need for seamless payroll administration, allowing you to focus on your core business activities without worry. Additional Workforce Solutions As your business faces fluctuating demands, having access to supplementary workforce solutions can greatly improve your operational flexibility. Kelly Payroll Services offers flexible temporary staffing options, allowing you to adapt quickly to changing workloads. This guarantees you have the right number of employees at the right time, boosting productivity. Their services likewise include direct sourcing and hiring solutions, which streamline the recruitment process and improve your talent acquisition efforts. If you seek to boost efficiency, business process outsourcing is available, enabling you to focus on core functions whilst leaving other tasks to experts. For specific project needs, skilled professional solutions guarantee you access the right expertise when you need it. Furthermore, on-site workforce management provides improved control over staffing and operations, allowing for customized oversight of employee performance and engagement. This all-encompassing approach allows you to optimize your workforce effectively. Compliance and Workforce Challenges Steering compliance and workforce challenges is a critical aspect of maintaining a successful business. Kelly Payroll Services emphasizes the importance of I-9 compliance to guarantee legal workforce documentation and mitigate risks of non-compliance, which can lead to severe penalties. With over 20 years of experience, they provide customized solutions for businesses maneuvering these intricacies. Here are three key areas they focus on: Legal Compliance: Kelly guarantees you meet all regulatory requirements, reducing the risk of costly fines. Workforce Solutions: They connect you with appropriate talent, addressing operational needs effectively and enhancing employee satisfaction. Streamlined Payroll Processes: Customized payroll solutions help you manage compliance risks during supporting organizational growth. Total Benefits Solution Technology Total Benefits Solution Technology stands out as a thorough tool designed to simplify the integration of payroll and employee benefits management for organizations of all sizes. This proprietary platform boosts efficiency for HR teams in addition to improving the user experience for employees, making payroll and benefits management more accessible. Available for free download from the App Store and Google Play, this platform offers mobile access to payroll and benefits information. Employees can view their last three pay stubs and year-to-date summaries, along with access to important tax documents through the app. Feature Description Benefit Mobile Access Access payroll and benefits on the go Convenience for busy employees Document Accessibility View pay stubs and tax documents Easy tracking of financial info Personal Information Management Update personal and dependent details Control over personal data Physician Connection Connect with board-certified physicians Improved health engagement User-Friendly Interface Simple navigation and access Improved overall satisfaction Employee Access Features When managing your finances, having easy access to payroll and benefits information can make a significant difference. With Kelly Payroll Services, you can conveniently track your earnings and manage your benefits through an intuitive platform. Here are some key employee access features: Pay Stubs & Summaries: You can view your last three pay stubs and year-to-date summaries, helping you stay on top of your financial situation. Tax Documentation: Access your W-2 Wage and Tax Statements effortlessly, simplifying your tax preparation process. Personal Information Management: Update your medical provider details and dependent information directly, ensuring your records are accurate. Additionally, you can manage life insurance beneficiaries and even connect with board-certified physicians for immediate health consultations, making it easier to engage with your benefits and health needs effectively. Frequently Asked Questions What Services Does Kelly Services Provide? Kelly Services provides a range of payroll solutions customized to meet your organization’s needs. Their services include complete payroll processing, ensuring compliance with tax laws and wage regulations. You’ll benefit from efficient employee timekeeping and approval management, which processes over 150,000 documents weekly. Furthermore, they offer benefits administration, negotiating with top providers and providing online enrollment tools. With over 20 years of experience, Kelly Services is committed to effective talent retention and management. What Features Might a Typical Payroll Self-Service System Have? A typical payroll self-service system offers several crucial features. You can view your last three pay stubs and year-to-date earnings, ensuring transparency. Accessing W-2 Wage and Tax Statements online simplifies tax preparation. You’ll manage your personal information, including updates to medical providers and dependents. The system likewise facilitates online enrollment for benefits, allowing you to make changes easily and receive reminders about deadlines, enhancing your overall engagement with the payroll process. What Is the Kelly Services Controversy? The Kelly Services controversy centers on allegations of misclassifying workers as independent contractors, which has led to legal issues regarding wages and employee benefits. Critics argue that temporary workers lack job security and access to benefits typically offered to full-time employees. Furthermore, the company faces scrutiny for its handling of employee grievances, with many reporting insufficient support related to payroll and benefits. This situation has attracted attention from labor advocacy groups seeking accountability. What Benefits Does Kelly Offer Employees? Kelly offers employees a range of benefits aimed at improving their work experience. You can access a proprietary platform to manage payroll and benefits efficiently. This platform allows you to view your pay stubs, year-to-date summaries, and W-2 forms. You can additionally update personal information, manage medical providers, and adjust benefits during enrollment periods. For mid-year changes, you can easily submit documents using your mobile device, ensuring a seamless benefits management experience. Conclusion In conclusion, Kelly Payroll Services offers a robust suite of features that streamline payroll management and improve workplace culture. With over two decades of experience, their solutions are customized to meet diverse organizational needs during ensuring compliance and operational efficiency. The platform provides mobile access and valuable insights through tools like Payroll Pulse. By prioritizing customer satisfaction and offering dedicated support, Kelly Payroll Services stands out as a reliable partner for businesses looking to advance their payroll processes. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "Key Features of Kelly Payroll Services" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

When considering payroll management, Kelly Payroll Services stands out with its all-encompassing solutions customized for various business sizes. Their user-friendly platform offers mobile access to payroll and benefits, whereas dedicated representatives guarantee responsive support. You’ll find tools like Payroll Pulse, which provide insights for informed decision-making. Plus, their commitment to compliance and operational efficiency is essential for any organization. Discover how these features can transform your payroll process and improve employee satisfaction. Key Takeaways Customized payroll solutions tailored to unique business challenges, ensuring alignment with specific organizational needs and objectives. User-friendly platform facilitating seamless payroll management and quick access to essential payroll data for informed decision-making. Ongoing support and consultations to adapt payroll strategies to changing business environments, securing long-term success. Mobile access allows employees to manage payroll and benefits conveniently, enhancing user experience and engagement. Strong compliance focus, ensuring accurate payroll processes and reducing risks associated with regulatory requirements. Comprehensive Payroll Solutions In relation to payroll solutions, many businesses face unique challenges that require customized approaches. Kelly Payroll Services provides thorough payroll solutions designed to meet these diverse needs. Their services cater to organizations of all sizes, ensuring you have the right support as you grow. With over 20 years of experience, Kelly Payroll handles payroll for part-time, full-time, and non-traditional employees, offering flexible, a-la-carte options. Kelly Services Payroll seamlessly integrates with leading third-party vendors, enhancing efficiency and reducing overhead. You can rely on their expertise to maintain compliance with state and local laws, which minimizes paperwork without sacrificing quality. The epaystub Kelly Services platform simplifies your payroll experience, allowing employees easy access to their pay information. All in all, Kelly Payroll offers scalable, cost-efficient solutions that support the entire employee lifecycle, from onboarding to offboarding, ultimately improving the overall employee experience. Trusted Advisory Role When you partner with Kelly Payroll Services, you gain a trusted advisor focused on your unique business objectives. The team implements customized payroll solutions designed to your needs and guarantees ongoing support for smooth operations. This collaborative approach not just improves your payroll systems but likewise aligns them with your strategic goals, boosting overall efficiency. Understanding Business Objectives Grasping business objectives is crucial for any organization looking to succeed, and this is where Kelly Payroll Services thrives in its trusted advisory role. By comprehending your unique challenges, Kelly can tailor solutions that fit your needs. The advisory team regularly consults with you to guarantee payroll solutions adapt to your evolving requirements, enhancing operational efficiency. Here’s how Kelly Payroll Services aligns with your objectives: Feature Benefit Customized Payroll Support Aligns with your business goals Regular Consultations Addresses changing needs Training and Support Empowers your team Insightful Recommendations Drives growth and satisfaction Long-term Partnership Secures sustained success Utilizing tools like Kelly education pay stubs and kelly estub streamlines processes, allowing you to focus on core operations. Customized Solutions Implementation To effectively implement personalized payroll solutions, Kelly Payroll Services focuses on comprehending your organization’s specific needs and challenges. By acting as a trusted advisor, the team collaborates with you to align customized solutions with your business objectives. They leverage over 20 years of experience to address unique payroll challenges, ensuring that the implementation process is smooth and efficient. This involves coordinating the necessary steps for a seamless shift, allowing your organization to adapt quickly. Furthermore, Kelly Payroll Services emphasizes a dedicated partnership, supporting your day-to-day strategic goals. With their expert guidance, you can expect improved operational efficiencies and elevated employee satisfaction, setting the foundation for long-term business growth and success. Ongoing Support Partnership In recognizing the intricacies of payroll management, Kelly Payroll Services establishes an ongoing support partnership that serves as a trusted advisory resource for your organization. The team understands your unique objectives and challenges, delivering customized solutions that meet your specific needs. By coordinating and implementing personalized payroll strategies, they provide thorough training and continuous support to guarantee seamless integration. As a dedicated partner, Kelly Payroll Services helps you navigate complex payroll processes during your day-to-day strategic goals. With over 20 years of experience, they offer insights that improve payroll compliance and efficiency, reducing your administrative burdens. Continuous engagement allows them to adapt solutions, assuring alignment with your evolving business environment and employee needs, nurturing a long-term partnership. Workplace Culture and Payroll Insights A strong workplace culture can greatly boost employee retention, as it nurtures satisfaction and loyalty among staff. To support this, timely payroll insights are essential, allowing you to navigate complex payroll challenges effectively and guarantee compliance with regulations. Boosting Employee Retention Though many factors influence employee retention, a strong workplace culture coupled with effective payroll management plays a critical role in keeping your team satisfied and engaged. Companies using Kelly Payroll Services see a remarkable 99% retention rate among employees. This success stems from accurate and compliant payroll processes that guarantee everyone is paid correctly and on time, cultivating trust and morale. As your business grows, managing complex payroll processes becomes crucial, preventing dissatisfaction that can lead to turnover. Kelly Payroll Services likewise offers strategies that support a positive workplace environment, directly contributing to increased employee loyalty. Timely Payroll Insights How can timely payroll insights transform your workplace culture? By utilizing Payroll Pulse, you gain access to critical payroll data and trends in real-time, allowing you to make informed decisions. Accurate and compliant payroll processes are crucial for meeting your obligations, which cultivates trust among employees. When employees see that payroll is managed effectively, their satisfaction and retention rates improve markedly. Addressing common payroll questions helps you navigate intricacies as your business grows, ensuring clarity and reducing confusion. Furthermore, sharing strategies for managing complicated payroll processes boosts efficiency and compliance during expansion. In the end, these timely insights contribute to a stronger workplace culture, as employees feel valued and secure in their financial compensation. Managing Complex Payroll Challenges Managing intricate payroll challenges requires a strategic approach, especially as your organization immerses and diversifies. A strong workplace culture markedly improves employee satisfaction and retention, making effective payroll management essential. To navigate these intricacies, consider the following strategies: Utilize Payroll Pulse: Access timely insights to address common payroll questions and guarantee smooth operations. Emphasize Compliance: Accurate and compliant payroll processes reduce risks and improve employee morale. Implement Customized Solutions: Support the entire employee lifecycle with personalized payroll solutions that boost engagement. Endorsements and Collaborations Kelly Payroll Services stands out in the payroll industry, particularly due to its endorsement by the Restaurant Association of Maryland (RAM), which highlights its credibility and recognition among peers. This endorsement signals to you that Kelly Payroll Services understands the specific needs of the food service sector. They offer customized payroll solutions for nearly 1,500 member businesses, ensuring compliance and efficiency. Furthermore, Kelly Payroll Services collaborates with industry-leading third-party vendors. These partnerships improve the range of services available to you, maximizing the value of your payroll investments. Customer Satisfaction and Team Expertise When you choose Kelly Payroll Services, you’re not just getting a payroll solution; you’re likewise benefiting from a user-friendly platform designed to simplify your experience. Clients often commend the responsive service quality, highlighting how the knowledgeable team quickly addresses inquiries and resolves issues. This level of expertise and support plays an essential role in ensuring your satisfaction and loyalty to the service. Responsive Service Quality In today’s fast-paced business environment, responsive service quality plays a crucial role in customer satisfaction and team expertise. At Kelly Payroll Services, clients consistently commend the team for their prompt and effective responses. Here are three key aspects that contribute to their exceptional service: Quick Resolutions: The Kelly Payroll team guarantees that inquiries and issues are addressed swiftly, minimizing any disruptions to your operations. Expertise: Dedicated representatives possess extensive knowledge about payroll-related queries, providing clients with accurate information and support. Commitment: The team’s dedication is evident, making a significant difference in overall service delivery and client satisfaction. With these qualities, Kelly Payroll Services stands out as a reliable partner in payroll management, guaranteeing you receive the highest standard of service. User-Friendly Platform Experience A user-friendly platform experience is essential for efficient payroll management, as it directly impacts both customer satisfaction and team expertise. Clients appreciate the intuitive design of Kelly Payroll Services, which promotes ease of use and accessibility. Their knowledgeable representatives as well improve the experience, providing swift assistance and expert advice. The platform seamlessly integrates with existing systems, streamlining processes and ensuring a smooth workflow. With over 20 years in payroll outsourcing, Kelly’s dedicated team consistently delivers superior service across multiple locations. Feature Description User-Friendly Design Intuitive interface praised for ease of use Expert Support Knowledgeable team providing quick, helpful responses Seamless Integration Compatibility with existing systems for efficiency Alleviating Payroll Burdens Alleviating payroll burdens is crucial for organizations aiming to streamline their operations and focus on growth. Kelly Payroll Services supports you with over 20 years of experience, offering customized solutions to meet your specific needs. Here’s how they can help: Custom Plans: Choose from a-la-carte options that accommodate part-time, full-time, and non-traditional employees, aligning with your talent strategies and goals. Legal Compliance: With Kelly managing wages and deductions, you gain peace of mind knowing you’re compliant with state and local laws. Centralized Administration: The service handles payroll across multiple locations, ensuring consistent management and improved financial oversight. Payroll That Works for You Effective payroll management is essential for any business looking to optimize its operations and improve productivity. At Kelly Payroll Services, we offer solutions customized to your needs, ensuring compliance with all legal obligations regarding wages and deductions. Our weekly invoicing, which includes digitally-imaged timecard copies, streamlines payroll processing as it improves record-keeping. We carefully review employee timecards for accuracy, helping to minimize errors. Our services are designed to reduce overhead and paperwork, allowing you to focus on your core functions. We provide personalized payroll solutions for part-time, full-time, and non-traditional employees, ensuring flexibility for your diverse workforce. Service Feature Benefit Impact on Business Legal Compliance Peace of mind Reduced legal risks Weekly Invoicing Streamlined processing Improved efficiency Error Minimization Accurate payroll Improved operational efficiency Reduced Overhead Focus on core functions Increased productivity Customized Solutions Flexibility and scalability Better workforce management Count on Accurate Payroll Administration When you choose Kelly Payroll Services, you’re opting for precise payroll administration that meets the unique demands of your organization. Our extensive handling of payroll processes guarantees that your payroll management is both accurate and compliant, which is vital for your business’s success. Here are some key benefits you can expect: Centralized Coordination: We assure consistent payroll management across multiple locations, enhancing operational efficiency. Accurate Record-Keeping: Our focus on careful record management improves your financial oversight, aiding better decision-making. Scalable Solutions: As your organization grows, our payroll capabilities adapt to meet evolving business needs. With a specialized team dedicated to accuracy, you can trust that your payroll will be managed with a commitment to quality. Kelly Payroll Services offers you the reliability you need for seamless payroll administration, allowing you to focus on your core business activities without worry. Additional Workforce Solutions As your business faces fluctuating demands, having access to supplementary workforce solutions can greatly improve your operational flexibility. Kelly Payroll Services offers flexible temporary staffing options, allowing you to adapt quickly to changing workloads. This guarantees you have the right number of employees at the right time, boosting productivity. Their services likewise include direct sourcing and hiring solutions, which streamline the recruitment process and improve your talent acquisition efforts. If you seek to boost efficiency, business process outsourcing is available, enabling you to focus on core functions whilst leaving other tasks to experts. For specific project needs, skilled professional solutions guarantee you access the right expertise when you need it. Furthermore, on-site workforce management provides improved control over staffing and operations, allowing for customized oversight of employee performance and engagement. This all-encompassing approach allows you to optimize your workforce effectively. Compliance and Workforce Challenges Steering compliance and workforce challenges is a critical aspect of maintaining a successful business. Kelly Payroll Services emphasizes the importance of I-9 compliance to guarantee legal workforce documentation and mitigate risks of non-compliance, which can lead to severe penalties. With over 20 years of experience, they provide customized solutions for businesses maneuvering these intricacies. Here are three key areas they focus on: Legal Compliance: Kelly guarantees you meet all regulatory requirements, reducing the risk of costly fines. Workforce Solutions: They connect you with appropriate talent, addressing operational needs effectively and enhancing employee satisfaction. Streamlined Payroll Processes: Customized payroll solutions help you manage compliance risks during supporting organizational growth. Total Benefits Solution Technology Total Benefits Solution Technology stands out as a thorough tool designed to simplify the integration of payroll and employee benefits management for organizations of all sizes. This proprietary platform boosts efficiency for HR teams in addition to improving the user experience for employees, making payroll and benefits management more accessible. Available for free download from the App Store and Google Play, this platform offers mobile access to payroll and benefits information. Employees can view their last three pay stubs and year-to-date summaries, along with access to important tax documents through the app. Feature Description Benefit Mobile Access Access payroll and benefits on the go Convenience for busy employees Document Accessibility View pay stubs and tax documents Easy tracking of financial info Personal Information Management Update personal and dependent details Control over personal data Physician Connection Connect with board-certified physicians Improved health engagement User-Friendly Interface Simple navigation and access Improved overall satisfaction Employee Access Features When managing your finances, having easy access to payroll and benefits information can make a significant difference. With Kelly Payroll Services, you can conveniently track your earnings and manage your benefits through an intuitive platform. Here are some key employee access features: Pay Stubs & Summaries: You can view your last three pay stubs and year-to-date summaries, helping you stay on top of your financial situation. Tax Documentation: Access your W-2 Wage and Tax Statements effortlessly, simplifying your tax preparation process. Personal Information Management: Update your medical provider details and dependent information directly, ensuring your records are accurate. Additionally, you can manage life insurance beneficiaries and even connect with board-certified physicians for immediate health consultations, making it easier to engage with your benefits and health needs effectively. Frequently Asked Questions What Services Does Kelly Services Provide? Kelly Services provides a range of payroll solutions customized to meet your organization’s needs. Their services include complete payroll processing, ensuring compliance with tax laws and wage regulations. You’ll benefit from efficient employee timekeeping and approval management, which processes over 150,000 documents weekly. Furthermore, they offer benefits administration, negotiating with top providers and providing online enrollment tools. With over 20 years of experience, Kelly Services is committed to effective talent retention and management. What Features Might a Typical Payroll Self-Service System Have? A typical payroll self-service system offers several crucial features. You can view your last three pay stubs and year-to-date earnings, ensuring transparency. Accessing W-2 Wage and Tax Statements online simplifies tax preparation. You’ll manage your personal information, including updates to medical providers and dependents. The system likewise facilitates online enrollment for benefits, allowing you to make changes easily and receive reminders about deadlines, enhancing your overall engagement with the payroll process. What Is the Kelly Services Controversy? The Kelly Services controversy centers on allegations of misclassifying workers as independent contractors, which has led to legal issues regarding wages and employee benefits. Critics argue that temporary workers lack job security and access to benefits typically offered to full-time employees. Furthermore, the company faces scrutiny for its handling of employee grievances, with many reporting insufficient support related to payroll and benefits. This situation has attracted attention from labor advocacy groups seeking accountability. What Benefits Does Kelly Offer Employees? Kelly offers employees a range of benefits aimed at improving their work experience. You can access a proprietary platform to manage payroll and benefits efficiently. This platform allows you to view your pay stubs, year-to-date summaries, and W-2 forms. You can additionally update personal information, manage medical providers, and adjust benefits during enrollment periods. For mid-year changes, you can easily submit documents using your mobile device, ensuring a seamless benefits management experience. Conclusion In conclusion, Kelly Payroll Services offers a robust suite of features that streamline payroll management and improve workplace culture. With over two decades of experience, their solutions are customized to meet diverse organizational needs during ensuring compliance and operational efficiency. The platform provides mobile access and valuable insights through tools like Payroll Pulse. By prioritizing customer satisfaction and offering dedicated support, Kelly Payroll Services stands out as a reliable partner for businesses looking to advance their payroll processes. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "Key Features of Kelly Payroll Services" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Garmin announced today it has partnered with fertility/birth control app Natural Cycles to share temperature data from the Garmin app to Natural Cycles. To use this feature, you’ll need a supported Garmin watch. Currently, these include the Fenix 8, Forerunner 570 and 970, Venu 3 and 3S, Venu 4, and Venu X1. (The full list of compatible devices is here.) Garmin Venu 4, 41mm $559.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $559.99 at Amazon Those are all pricey watches—the Venu 3S is the cheapest among them, and will still run you $350—so I don’t expect anyone will rush out and get a Garmin just for the Natural Cycles integration. That said, Garmin is offering a discount to Natural Cycles subscribers, though the amount of the discount hasn’t been announced. Natural Cycles says it will send a discount link to new subscribers, and existing subscribers can access it through the “Buy Extra Supplies” page of the Natural Cycles app. What is Natural Cycles?Natural Cycles is a fertility and birth control app for people who ovulate that tracks which days you’re most likely to be fertile. Body temperature tends to rise slightly with ovulation, so over the years, Natural Cycles has evolved from an app that asks you to use a thermometer to measure your temperature, to one that links to temperature-tracking wearables. The Oura Ring already has a Natural Cycles partnership (there are temperature sensors on the ring) and Natural Cycles launched their own specialized band for nighttime temperature tracking earlier this year. The price of a Natural Cycles subscription is frustratingly difficult to find on their website (I had to fill out a lengthy questionnaire and sit through several ads before being told I need to enter my email to get a price quote) but Apple’s App Store page for the Natural Cycles app lists in-app purchases as $28.49 monthly and $194.99 annually. View the full article

In a move set to transform workplace dynamics, HP Inc. has unveiled HP IQ, a cutting-edge workplace intelligence layer designed to streamline operations across its devices. Announced at HP Imagine 2026, this innovative platform aims to enhance productivity and collaboration by reducing digital friction for employees. As small business owners seek solutions to optimize team workflows, HP IQ provides several compelling features worth exploring. Tuan Tran, President of HP’s Technology & Innovation Organization, emphasized the platform’s relevance in modern workspaces: “HP’s vision for the future of work is a connected, intelligent ecosystem that helps work flow across devices, spaces, and the moments in between.” This vision focuses on creating seamless experiences that empower employees to work smarter. A key benefit of HP IQ lies in its robust on-device intelligence. According to the HP 2025 Work Relationship Index, providing employees with effective tools enhances their overall work experience. HP IQ transforms devices into context-aware partners, assisting users in navigating routine tasks, generating insights, and facilitating quicker decision-making. For instance, features such as Ask IQ enable users to obtain intelligent responses to voice and text inquiries, while the Analyze tool offers summaries and actionable insights from personal files. Another significant advancement is HP NearSense, which enhances collaboration capabilities by allowing nearby devices to connect and share information effortlessly. This spatial intelligence simplifies tasks such as file sharing, enabling users to drag and drop documents quickly to colleagues. Additionally, the one-click join feature enhances meeting experiences, promoting seamless transitions between tasks. Access to HP IQ features occurs through the Visor interface, which offers intuitive controls without triggering constant app switching. This adaptive design responds to users’ context and enhances workflow efficiency, reflecting a crucial consideration for small business owners looking to maximize employee productivity. While the capabilities of HP IQ may sound beneficial, small business owners should also consider potential challenges. The initial rollout will feature HP IQ on the new HP EliteBook X G2 PCs, with additional HP devices to follow. Owners may face transitional hurdles as they adopt this new technology, particularly regarding training staff to utilize its full capabilities effectively. Ensuring that employees are comfortable with the new interface and features will be essential for maximizing the benefits of HP IQ. Security is another vital consideration for small businesses. HP IQ is built on a local-first architecture, meaning it processes most tasks on-device. This structure prioritizes data security and reduces exposure risks—critical factors for businesses managing sensitive information. Additionally, HP IQ can be integrated into existing security frameworks like Microsoft Intune, offering further flexibility for IT management. For enterprise environments, HP IQ integrates seamlessly with the HP Workforce Experience Platform (WXP), allowing IT leaders to manage policies, updates, and compliance. Manoj Leelanivas, President of HP Solutions, stated, “As HP IQ introduces a new intelligence layer across devices and workspaces, WXP operates above it as a trusted control plane for IT.” This capability can help small business owners gain better visibility over their operations, ensuring a high-quality workforce experience. With HP IQ slated for early access on select HP devices in Spring 2026, small business owners should start considering how this functionality might fit into their operational strategies. The integration of AI capabilities into daily workflows could substantially enhance efficiency, but businesses must remain aware of the changes required to leverage this technology fully. As small business owners navigate the evolving landscape of remote and hybrid work, embracing innovations such as HP IQ could offer a strong competitive edge. The promise of improved productivity and seamless collaboration may well outweigh the adjustments required in the adoption process. For more information, visit the original post at HP’s news page. Image via Google Gemini This article, "HP Unveils AI-Powered HP IQ to Streamline Workplace Collaboration" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In a move set to transform workplace dynamics, HP Inc. has unveiled HP IQ, a cutting-edge workplace intelligence layer designed to streamline operations across its devices. Announced at HP Imagine 2026, this innovative platform aims to enhance productivity and collaboration by reducing digital friction for employees. As small business owners seek solutions to optimize team workflows, HP IQ provides several compelling features worth exploring. Tuan Tran, President of HP’s Technology & Innovation Organization, emphasized the platform’s relevance in modern workspaces: “HP’s vision for the future of work is a connected, intelligent ecosystem that helps work flow across devices, spaces, and the moments in between.” This vision focuses on creating seamless experiences that empower employees to work smarter. A key benefit of HP IQ lies in its robust on-device intelligence. According to the HP 2025 Work Relationship Index, providing employees with effective tools enhances their overall work experience. HP IQ transforms devices into context-aware partners, assisting users in navigating routine tasks, generating insights, and facilitating quicker decision-making. For instance, features such as Ask IQ enable users to obtain intelligent responses to voice and text inquiries, while the Analyze tool offers summaries and actionable insights from personal files. Another significant advancement is HP NearSense, which enhances collaboration capabilities by allowing nearby devices to connect and share information effortlessly. This spatial intelligence simplifies tasks such as file sharing, enabling users to drag and drop documents quickly to colleagues. Additionally, the one-click join feature enhances meeting experiences, promoting seamless transitions between tasks. Access to HP IQ features occurs through the Visor interface, which offers intuitive controls without triggering constant app switching. This adaptive design responds to users’ context and enhances workflow efficiency, reflecting a crucial consideration for small business owners looking to maximize employee productivity. While the capabilities of HP IQ may sound beneficial, small business owners should also consider potential challenges. The initial rollout will feature HP IQ on the new HP EliteBook X G2 PCs, with additional HP devices to follow. Owners may face transitional hurdles as they adopt this new technology, particularly regarding training staff to utilize its full capabilities effectively. Ensuring that employees are comfortable with the new interface and features will be essential for maximizing the benefits of HP IQ. Security is another vital consideration for small businesses. HP IQ is built on a local-first architecture, meaning it processes most tasks on-device. This structure prioritizes data security and reduces exposure risks—critical factors for businesses managing sensitive information. Additionally, HP IQ can be integrated into existing security frameworks like Microsoft Intune, offering further flexibility for IT management. For enterprise environments, HP IQ integrates seamlessly with the HP Workforce Experience Platform (WXP), allowing IT leaders to manage policies, updates, and compliance. Manoj Leelanivas, President of HP Solutions, stated, “As HP IQ introduces a new intelligence layer across devices and workspaces, WXP operates above it as a trusted control plane for IT.” This capability can help small business owners gain better visibility over their operations, ensuring a high-quality workforce experience. With HP IQ slated for early access on select HP devices in Spring 2026, small business owners should start considering how this functionality might fit into their operational strategies. The integration of AI capabilities into daily workflows could substantially enhance efficiency, but businesses must remain aware of the changes required to leverage this technology fully. As small business owners navigate the evolving landscape of remote and hybrid work, embracing innovations such as HP IQ could offer a strong competitive edge. The promise of improved productivity and seamless collaboration may well outweigh the adjustments required in the adoption process. For more information, visit the original post at HP’s news page. Image via Google Gemini This article, "HP Unveils AI-Powered HP IQ to Streamline Workplace Collaboration" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Taylor Swift is facing a lawsuit over her last album, The Life of a Showgirl—from a fellow showgirl. In the complaint, filed on Monday, Las Vegas-based performer Maren Wade claims that Swift’s hit album bears striking similarities to her own creative work. For years, Wade has written a column in the Las Vegas Weekly newspaper called “Confessions of a Showgirl,” which she expanded into a touring live show with the same name. On her website, Wade’s show is described as a “one-woman comedic cabaret [featuring] the quirky and hilarious world of a modern-day Vegas showgirl.” Wade also performed on NBC’s America’s Got Talent in 2014, the same year her column began running in the alternative weekly newspaper. Wade registered her “Confessions of a Showgirl” brand with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2015. “Over the course of a decade, CONFESSIONS OF A SHOWGIRL grew into a brand encompassing performances, writing, and digital media—built by one person, city by city, and show by show,” Wade says in the complaint, which points to the thematic and aesthetic similarities between Swift’s album title and her own show. “Both share the same structure, the same dominant phrase, and the same overall commercial impression,” the complaint states. Wade argues that after years of toiling to build her own showgirl-themed band, Swift’s album launch immediately overwhelmed her long-established trademark, drowning it out and giving consumers the impression that “the original is the imitation.” “What Plaintiff had built over twelve years, Defendants threatened to swallow in weeks,” the complaint states. Fast Company reached out to Swift’s publicity team for comment on the new lawsuit but has not yet received a response. The Life of 2 Showgirls In the complaint, Wade claims that the United States Patent and Trademark Office rejected Swift’s attempt to register The Life of a Showgirl based on the risk of confusing it with Wade’s already-registered Confessions of a Showgirl trademark. Wade asserts that Swift’s vast legal and brand teams have an intimate knowledge of trademark law, given Swift’s long history of registering trademarks for her own brand. “Indeed, they are not merely familiar with trademark law—they are among its most vigorous enforcers, having filed multiple federal actions to seize goods from vendors selling trademarked merchandise near concert venues,” the complaint states. “They possess direct knowledge of the harm that trademark infringement inflicts on a brand, having leveraged that very harm in federal court when it served their interests to do so.” Quickly after the lawsuit went public, Swifties defended the artist in the popular r/TaylorSwift subreddit, pointing to Wade’s past social media posts playfully referencing Swift’s last album. In some of the posts, Wade included #TheLifeOfAShowgirl and #TS12, hashtags referencing Swift’s music. Wade asked the court to block Swift’s use of the “Showgirl” branding and force Swift to give up all profits earned from “The Life of a Showgirl,” which brought in an estimated $135 million during its first week alone. Swift, who hit billionaire status in 2023, commands a famously vast collection of trademarks for her business empire. In February, Swift asked the U.S. government to block a home goods company’s branding for a line of bedding called “Swift Home.” In the filing, Swift’s legal team accuses the Swift Home brand of intentionally imitating one of Swift’s trademark logos, a signature with a swoopy “S.” View the full article

After keeping things low key with iOS 26.3, Apple rolled out a sizable update for iOS 26.4—especially for Apple Music users. That app's UI now matches the art of the album you're checking out; you can use AI to generate new playlists, and find upcoming concerts by the artists you're listening to directly in the app. Combined with other new changes, like eight new emojis and the new "Urgent" section in Reminders, iOS 26.4 was actually quite a feature-filled update. iOS 26.5, on the other hand, appears to be another quiet one—at least based on what we can tell from its first beta, which Apple released Monday. Don't expect any massive new features or changes here (despite some rumors to the contrary, Apple really does appear to be saving its AI Siri for the launch of iOS 27) but there are some interesting updates to call out—and not necessarily in a good way. Just note: As Apple is currently testing iOS 26.5, this is a rolling list of features, and it may change as Apple releases new beta updates. You can try iOS 26.5 right now if you enroll your iPhone in Apple's beta program, but be sure you understand the risks of installing unfinished software on your devices. Make full backups of important data to a computer before installing any beta, in case you need to restore your iPhone. Apple Maps gets adsThis is perhaps the headlining feature of iOS 26.5: Apple Maps is getting ads. It's part of Apple's push to introduce ads into more of its apps and services in order to boost its revenue. (What's a $3.7 trillion company to do?) These ads will appear when you search in Apple Maps, based on relevance, as well as at the top of a "Suggested Places" screen that is also new to iOS 26.5. You should easily be able to distinguish between ads and suggested locations: Apple says it's placing a blue "Ad" icon on any paid location that appears in search or Suggested Places. It's possible these ads could even be useful, if they really are relevant: If you're looking for a specific type of food in a particular city, perhaps the top ad really is the way to go. On the other hand, the fact that it was paid to be up there could be a red flag. The addition of ads isn't a shock: We first heard rumblings of this news last year, and Apple confirmed it last week. Because this is Apple, the company is assuring users that its ad placements take privacy into account, as the app "doesn’t know which stores, neighborhoods, or clinics you visit." When you interact with an ad, that data is tied to a "random identifier" that changes multiple times an hour, so theoretically, no one should be able to tie your ad interactions to you personally. RCS end-to-end encryption testingWith iOS 26.5, Apple is back to testing end-to-end encryption for RCS support—one of the last big limitations the protocol has on iOS. The company started to test encryption support with iOS 26.4, but said it wouldn't roll out with that release. If it does indeed ship with the final build of iOS 26.5, iPhone users should be able to text their Android friends directly without leaving their messages out in the open in plain text. You can quickly pair Magic Accessories to your iPhone If you have one of Apple's "Magic" accessories, like a Magic Keyboard, you can quickly pair it to your iPhone in iOS 26.5. You'll just plug your iPhone into the accessory via USB-C to pair, as you do on macOS, rather than fiddling with Bluetooth settings. Messages attachment settings for iPhone to Android transfers This year, Apple and Google announced a joint effort to make it easier to transfer data between iPhone and Android, which simplifies switching devices and ecosystems. With iOS 26.5, Apple appears to be testing a new setting that lets you choose a time range for transferring messages attachments, including "All," "1 year," or "30 days." iOS now supports the Inuktitut keyboard layoutApple is testing a new keyboard layout for Inuktitut, a language spoken in the Canadian arctic. EU-only testing in iOS 26.5Apple is testing also some EU-only features in this latest update. The EU has cracked down on Apple for locking other companies out of its ecosystem, and as a result, it is forcing the company to open up more of its platforms and services. With iOS 26.5, Apple is testing Live Activities support for third-party devices, which would allow those devices to display Live Activities on their displays—though there's no indication at this time about what those devices may be. Apple is also testing "proximity pairing" for third-party devices, like earbuds, which could get the same easy pairing system Apple reserves for its own AirPods and Beats. Finally, the company is also continuing to test notification forwarding to third-party devices, like smartwatches. View the full article

In his very public standoff with the Pentagon recently, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warned that AI should never be used to kill without humans involved. The technology is capable, he said. What it isn’t capable of is handling the unexpected, the messy reality that no algorithm can plan for. That lesson is true in war and in almost every corner of work and life. A few weeks ago, AI seemed unstoppable. Now, nearly every organization I speak with is struggling with reliability, usability, and measurable impact. The reason is simple. These models excel in controlled conditions, but they falter in the real world. That gap, what we call the “execution frontier,” is where humans still matter most. My own engineers put it plainly. AI is strong at both ideation and well-scoped execution. The middle, where ideas and well-scoped execution are plugged into existing systems to reliably deliver, still requires human work. It requires context, judgment, domain expertise, and constant recalibration. Anthropic’s recent labor report shows the same thing. The jobs least exposed to AI are the ones that demand physical presence and unpredictable judgment. Think cooks and lifeguards—people who have to show up when no system could anticipate what will happen. WHERE HUMANS SHOULD BE IN THE LOOP This is exactly where most companies quietly struggle. Outside of coding or content creation, very few tasks can run without a human in the loop. The runway for reliable AI in the messy, real world is long. But the problem is not that AI isn’t improving. The problem is how companies are designing the infrastructure around it. Over the past 12 months, our models have expanded automation coverage by more than 60%. Humans are still required on nearly every task. AI is not replacing humans. It is compressing what each human does per task, making every intervention smaller, more precise, and more impactful. This dynamic alone moved our business from deeply negative gross margins to positive ones, all while improving results and satisfaction for customers and workers alike. Each handoff has become a learning opportunity. Each task teaches the system where the next handoff should be. The loop evolves. Here is the critical insight most people miss: The frontier is not a fixed line that AI is marching toward. As it improves, the work that requires human judgment does not disappear. It migrates. The shape of human work changes, and the infrastructure must change with it. If you build your system for today’s handoff point, it will be obsolete six months from now. THE HUMAN/AI BALANCE So the real question isn’t how do we get AI to do this without humans. The question is how do you build a loop between AI and humans that gets better every single time the frontier shifts. That’s what we’ve spent years building at Duckbill—the infrastructure layer that hands the baton between AI and the real world. It took engineers and operators and millions of data points to get reliable outcomes on real phone calls, real transactions, real physical-world tasks. AI orchestrates, humans execute when the work leaves the screen. And then the interesting part happens: Every rep teaches the system where the next handoff point should be. The baton changes hands, and then it changes hands differently the next time, and differently again after that. That creates reliability that compounds over time. The reliability isn’t in the models; it’s in the loop. The race everyone thinks they are running is about building more capable models. The race that actually matters is building the loop that evolves. We’re early. The gap is real. And it won’t be closed by better models. It will be closed by the humans who can build the loop around them. Meghan Joyce is CEO and founder of Duckbill. View the full article

In terms of boosting engagement on social media, implementing creative content strategies is crucial. You can utilize polls and surveys to understand your audience’s interests better, whereas behind-the-scenes content adds authenticity to your brand. Encouraging user-generated content nurtures community ties, and interactive quizzes keep followers engaged. Live Q&A sessions provide real-time interaction, and seasonal themes can improve visibility. Exploring these strategies can lead to substantial improvements in engagement metrics. What might you try first? Key Takeaways Create interactive polls and surveys to encourage audience participation and gather valuable insights on preferences and trends. Share behind-the-scenes content to foster transparency and humanize your brand, enhancing audience trust and connection. Leverage user-generated content by hosting contests that encourage followers to share personal experiences, boosting engagement and community involvement. Conduct interactive quizzes and live Q&A sessions to engage audiences, gather insights, and address customer questions in real-time. Develop seasonal content that resonates with followers and highlights promotions, increasing visibility and fostering community connections. Polls and Surveys How can polls and surveys improve your social media strategy? By integrating polls and surveys into your social media content examples, you can greatly improve audience engagement. With 75% of users keen to share their opinions through these interactive formats, polls can boost your engagement rates, garnering 1.5 times more interactions than standard posts. Surveys provide invaluable feedback, helping you understand customer preferences, which influence 78% of purchasing decisions. Furthermore, you’ll quickly gauge audience sentiment on trending topics, encouraging discussions that 87% of consumers appreciate. Regularly using polls and surveys not only drives engagement but likewise offers insights to inform future marketing campaigns, potentially increasing customer spending by 20-40%. This strategy is crucial for how to build a social media following effectively. Behind-the-Scenes Content Even though many brands focus on polished marketing materials, incorporating behind-the-scenes content into your social media strategy can greatly improve audience connection and trust. This content category offers followers a glimpse into your brand’s operations, encouraging transparency and authenticity. Here are three effective examples of social media behind-the-scenes content: Team Highlights: Showcase your team members and their contributions, humanizing your brand. Production Processes: Share insights into how your products are made, building credibility and interest. Day-to-Day Operations: Offer a sneak peek into your daily activities, creating a relatable brand image. User-Generated Content (UGC) User-generated content (UGC) is an influential tool for brands looking to encourage creative contributions from their audience. By showcasing community involvement, you not merely promote a sense of belonging but additionally increase engagement and trust among your followers. Integrating UGC into your marketing strategy can greatly improve customer relationships and drive conversion rates. Encourage Creative Contributions Encouraging creative contributions from your audience can greatly improve your brand’s online presence and cultivate a loyal community. User-generated content (UGC) not only boosts engagement but likewise promotes authenticity. Here are three effective ways to encourage UGC: Contests and Challenges: Launch interactive contests that invite your audience to share their experiences with your brand, driving participation and creativity. Feature Customer Stories: Highlight and celebrate real stories from your customers, making them feel valued and enhancing your brand’s relatability. Incentivize Contributions: Offer rewards or recognition for the best submissions, motivating your audience to engage and contribute more actively. Utilizing UGC can lead to a 20% increase in engagement rates, making it an essential strategy for building brand loyalty. Showcase Community Involvement When brands actively showcase community involvement through user-generated content, they tap into a valuable resource that improves authenticity and cultivates a deeper connection with their audience. By encouraging followers to share their experiences, you can increase engagement rates by up to 28% compared to brand-generated content. Highlighting customer photos, videos, or testimonials builds trust and makes 79% of consumers more likely to engage. Running UGC contests or challenges motivates your audience to create and share content, boosting visibility and engagement—50% of consumers would share if incentivized. Posts featuring customer content receive 4.5 times more likes, and actively engaging with UGC by commenting or sharing encourages ongoing participation, with 64% of consumers feeling more connected to brands that acknowledge their contributions. Interactive Quizzes Interactive quizzes offer engaging formats that can captivate your audience and encourage participation. By analyzing quiz results, you can gain insights into user preferences and behaviors, allowing for more targeted content in the future. Incorporating these elements into your social media strategy can considerably improve engagement and expand your brand’s reach. Engaging Quiz Formats How can you effectively engage your audience and gather valuable insights? Engaging quiz formats can captivate users and provide feedback on their preferences. Consider using these popular quiz types: Personality Tests: Help users discover traits, which encourages sharing and conversation. Knowledge Assessments: Challenge your audience’s knowledge on relevant topics, boosting participation rates. Product Recommendations: Tailor quizzes to suggest products based on user responses, improving the connection with your brand. Incorporating visually appealing designs and interactive elements can further improve user engagement. Remember, promoting quiz results on social media not only increases visibility but likewise encourages sharing, creating a sense of community. Analyzing Quiz Results Analyzing quiz results is an essential step in grasping your audience’s preferences and behaviors. When you evaluate these results, you gain valuable insights that can shape your content strategy. With 60% of marketers using quiz data to improve their comprehension of target audiences, it’s evident that this information is significant. Incorporating personalized feedback based on quiz outcomes can boost user satisfaction by 38%, which encourages sharing on social media. This sharing increases your brand’s visibility and engagement rates by up to 40%. Furthermore, engaging quizzes can drive traffic, as 30% of participants are likely to revisit your page. By integrating quizzes into your social media strategy, you not only cultivate a sense of community but also strengthen brand loyalty and potential sales. Live Q&A Sessions Live Q&A sessions provide a unique opportunity for brands to connect with their audience in real time, addressing questions and concerns that may arise. These interactive events not only boost engagement but also build trust between consumers and brands. Here are three key benefits of hosting a live Q&A: Increased Spending: Engaging in live sessions can lead to a 20-40% increase in customer spending by nurturing a sense of community. Valuable Insights: You gain feedback on customer preferences, allowing for refined offerings and better content strategies. Higher Participation: Promoting the event in advance through teaser posts maximizes turnout and boosts interaction. Incorporating interactive features like polls can further improve the experience, making it dynamic and engaging for everyone involved. Contests and Giveaways When considering ways to boost your brand’s visibility, contests and giveaways stand out as effective strategies. About 34% of consumers participate in these promotions to win items they desire, greatly increasing brand awareness. Hosting giveaways can lead to an impressive 70% increase in engagement rates, as followers are enthusiastic to interact for a chance to win. To maintain genuine interest, make sure that prizes are relevant to your brand and resonate with your target audience. Utilizing specific hashtags can help track entries and improve visibility, further increasing reach and engagement. Moreover, encouraging user-generated content as entries not only engages participants but also provides authentic marketing material that you can share across your platforms. Seasonal Themes Contests and giveaways are just one way to engage your audience, but incorporating seasonal themes into your social media strategy can further improve your brand’s visibility and interaction rates. By leveraging seasonal trends and events, you can create content that resonates with your followers, leading to increased engagement. Here are three effective ways to utilize seasonal themes: Themed Posts: Create content around current holidays or events to grab attention and encourage shares. Interactive Polls: Ask your audience about their favorite seasonal activities, inviting them to participate and express their preferences. Celebrate Milestones: Recognize seasonal milestones, like New Year’s or summer’s arrival, nurturing community and encouraging followers to share personal experiences. These strategies can greatly boost your social media engagement. Frequently Asked Questions What Content Gets the Most Engagement on Social Media? Content that gets the most engagement on social media often includes visual elements like images and videos, which can increase interaction rates considerably. Posts that ask questions or utilize polls encourage user participation, whereas user-generated content builds trust and influences buying decisions. Furthermore, content related to trending topics sees higher shares, and engaging headlines with concise captions improve click-through rates. These strategies collectively drive engagement by attracting attention and inviting interaction. What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 Rule on social media suggests you share a balanced mix of content. For every five posts, you should curate five pieces from other sources and create five original posts. This method helps you avoid overwhelming your audience with self-promotion, whereas providing them with valuable information, entertainment, and engaging content. How to Boost Engagement on Social Media? To boost engagement on social media, focus on interactive content like polls and quizzes, which encourage participation. Post strategically, aiming for 2-3 times weekly on longer shelf-life platforms, during posting daily on faster ones. Encourage user-generated content by inviting followers to share their experiences. Use engaging visuals and attention-grabbing headlines to increase clicks. Finally, monitor engagement metrics to refine your strategies based on audience preferences and behaviors for better interaction. What Is the 50/30/20 Rule for Social Media? The 50/30/20 rule for social media content suggests you allocate your posts as follows: 50% should be engaging and entertaining, 30% should provide valuable information or education, and 20% should promote your products or services. This balanced approach helps maintain audience interest while ensuring they receive useful content alongside promotional messaging. Conclusion Incorporating these seven creative content strategies can greatly improve your social media engagement. By utilizing polls and surveys, sharing behind-the-scenes moments, and encouraging user-generated content, you create a more interactive experience for your audience. Furthermore, interactive quizzes, live Q&A sessions, contests, and seasonal themes can further attract attention and promote community involvement. Implementing these approaches not just strengthens your brand’s presence but also helps you better understand and connect with your audience. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "7 Creative Examples of Social Media Content to Boost Engagement" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In terms of boosting engagement on social media, implementing creative content strategies is crucial. You can utilize polls and surveys to understand your audience’s interests better, whereas behind-the-scenes content adds authenticity to your brand. Encouraging user-generated content nurtures community ties, and interactive quizzes keep followers engaged. Live Q&A sessions provide real-time interaction, and seasonal themes can improve visibility. Exploring these strategies can lead to substantial improvements in engagement metrics. What might you try first? Key Takeaways Create interactive polls and surveys to encourage audience participation and gather valuable insights on preferences and trends. Share behind-the-scenes content to foster transparency and humanize your brand, enhancing audience trust and connection. Leverage user-generated content by hosting contests that encourage followers to share personal experiences, boosting engagement and community involvement. Conduct interactive quizzes and live Q&A sessions to engage audiences, gather insights, and address customer questions in real-time. Develop seasonal content that resonates with followers and highlights promotions, increasing visibility and fostering community connections. Polls and Surveys How can polls and surveys improve your social media strategy? By integrating polls and surveys into your social media content examples, you can greatly improve audience engagement. With 75% of users keen to share their opinions through these interactive formats, polls can boost your engagement rates, garnering 1.5 times more interactions than standard posts. Surveys provide invaluable feedback, helping you understand customer preferences, which influence 78% of purchasing decisions. Furthermore, you’ll quickly gauge audience sentiment on trending topics, encouraging discussions that 87% of consumers appreciate. Regularly using polls and surveys not only drives engagement but likewise offers insights to inform future marketing campaigns, potentially increasing customer spending by 20-40%. This strategy is crucial for how to build a social media following effectively. Behind-the-Scenes Content Even though many brands focus on polished marketing materials, incorporating behind-the-scenes content into your social media strategy can greatly improve audience connection and trust. This content category offers followers a glimpse into your brand’s operations, encouraging transparency and authenticity. Here are three effective examples of social media behind-the-scenes content: Team Highlights: Showcase your team members and their contributions, humanizing your brand. Production Processes: Share insights into how your products are made, building credibility and interest. Day-to-Day Operations: Offer a sneak peek into your daily activities, creating a relatable brand image. User-Generated Content (UGC) User-generated content (UGC) is an influential tool for brands looking to encourage creative contributions from their audience. By showcasing community involvement, you not merely promote a sense of belonging but additionally increase engagement and trust among your followers. Integrating UGC into your marketing strategy can greatly improve customer relationships and drive conversion rates. Encourage Creative Contributions Encouraging creative contributions from your audience can greatly improve your brand’s online presence and cultivate a loyal community. User-generated content (UGC) not only boosts engagement but likewise promotes authenticity. Here are three effective ways to encourage UGC: Contests and Challenges: Launch interactive contests that invite your audience to share their experiences with your brand, driving participation and creativity. Feature Customer Stories: Highlight and celebrate real stories from your customers, making them feel valued and enhancing your brand’s relatability. Incentivize Contributions: Offer rewards or recognition for the best submissions, motivating your audience to engage and contribute more actively. Utilizing UGC can lead to a 20% increase in engagement rates, making it an essential strategy for building brand loyalty. Showcase Community Involvement When brands actively showcase community involvement through user-generated content, they tap into a valuable resource that improves authenticity and cultivates a deeper connection with their audience. By encouraging followers to share their experiences, you can increase engagement rates by up to 28% compared to brand-generated content. Highlighting customer photos, videos, or testimonials builds trust and makes 79% of consumers more likely to engage. Running UGC contests or challenges motivates your audience to create and share content, boosting visibility and engagement—50% of consumers would share if incentivized. Posts featuring customer content receive 4.5 times more likes, and actively engaging with UGC by commenting or sharing encourages ongoing participation, with 64% of consumers feeling more connected to brands that acknowledge their contributions. Interactive Quizzes Interactive quizzes offer engaging formats that can captivate your audience and encourage participation. By analyzing quiz results, you can gain insights into user preferences and behaviors, allowing for more targeted content in the future. Incorporating these elements into your social media strategy can considerably improve engagement and expand your brand’s reach. Engaging Quiz Formats How can you effectively engage your audience and gather valuable insights? Engaging quiz formats can captivate users and provide feedback on their preferences. Consider using these popular quiz types: Personality Tests: Help users discover traits, which encourages sharing and conversation. Knowledge Assessments: Challenge your audience’s knowledge on relevant topics, boosting participation rates. Product Recommendations: Tailor quizzes to suggest products based on user responses, improving the connection with your brand. Incorporating visually appealing designs and interactive elements can further improve user engagement. Remember, promoting quiz results on social media not only increases visibility but likewise encourages sharing, creating a sense of community. Analyzing Quiz Results Analyzing quiz results is an essential step in grasping your audience’s preferences and behaviors. When you evaluate these results, you gain valuable insights that can shape your content strategy. With 60% of marketers using quiz data to improve their comprehension of target audiences, it’s evident that this information is significant. Incorporating personalized feedback based on quiz outcomes can boost user satisfaction by 38%, which encourages sharing on social media. This sharing increases your brand’s visibility and engagement rates by up to 40%. Furthermore, engaging quizzes can drive traffic, as 30% of participants are likely to revisit your page. By integrating quizzes into your social media strategy, you not only cultivate a sense of community but also strengthen brand loyalty and potential sales. Live Q&A Sessions Live Q&A sessions provide a unique opportunity for brands to connect with their audience in real time, addressing questions and concerns that may arise. These interactive events not only boost engagement but also build trust between consumers and brands. Here are three key benefits of hosting a live Q&A: Increased Spending: Engaging in live sessions can lead to a 20-40% increase in customer spending by nurturing a sense of community. Valuable Insights: You gain feedback on customer preferences, allowing for refined offerings and better content strategies. Higher Participation: Promoting the event in advance through teaser posts maximizes turnout and boosts interaction. Incorporating interactive features like polls can further improve the experience, making it dynamic and engaging for everyone involved. Contests and Giveaways When considering ways to boost your brand’s visibility, contests and giveaways stand out as effective strategies. About 34% of consumers participate in these promotions to win items they desire, greatly increasing brand awareness. Hosting giveaways can lead to an impressive 70% increase in engagement rates, as followers are enthusiastic to interact for a chance to win. To maintain genuine interest, make sure that prizes are relevant to your brand and resonate with your target audience. Utilizing specific hashtags can help track entries and improve visibility, further increasing reach and engagement. Moreover, encouraging user-generated content as entries not only engages participants but also provides authentic marketing material that you can share across your platforms. Seasonal Themes Contests and giveaways are just one way to engage your audience, but incorporating seasonal themes into your social media strategy can further improve your brand’s visibility and interaction rates. By leveraging seasonal trends and events, you can create content that resonates with your followers, leading to increased engagement. Here are three effective ways to utilize seasonal themes: Themed Posts: Create content around current holidays or events to grab attention and encourage shares. Interactive Polls: Ask your audience about their favorite seasonal activities, inviting them to participate and express their preferences. Celebrate Milestones: Recognize seasonal milestones, like New Year’s or summer’s arrival, nurturing community and encouraging followers to share personal experiences. These strategies can greatly boost your social media engagement. Frequently Asked Questions What Content Gets the Most Engagement on Social Media? Content that gets the most engagement on social media often includes visual elements like images and videos, which can increase interaction rates considerably. Posts that ask questions or utilize polls encourage user participation, whereas user-generated content builds trust and influences buying decisions. Furthermore, content related to trending topics sees higher shares, and engaging headlines with concise captions improve click-through rates. These strategies collectively drive engagement by attracting attention and inviting interaction. What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 Rule on social media suggests you share a balanced mix of content. For every five posts, you should curate five pieces from other sources and create five original posts. This method helps you avoid overwhelming your audience with self-promotion, whereas providing them with valuable information, entertainment, and engaging content. How to Boost Engagement on Social Media? To boost engagement on social media, focus on interactive content like polls and quizzes, which encourage participation. Post strategically, aiming for 2-3 times weekly on longer shelf-life platforms, during posting daily on faster ones. Encourage user-generated content by inviting followers to share their experiences. Use engaging visuals and attention-grabbing headlines to increase clicks. Finally, monitor engagement metrics to refine your strategies based on audience preferences and behaviors for better interaction. What Is the 50/30/20 Rule for Social Media? The 50/30/20 rule for social media content suggests you allocate your posts as follows: 50% should be engaging and entertaining, 30% should provide valuable information or education, and 20% should promote your products or services. This balanced approach helps maintain audience interest while ensuring they receive useful content alongside promotional messaging. Conclusion Incorporating these seven creative content strategies can greatly improve your social media engagement. By utilizing polls and surveys, sharing behind-the-scenes moments, and encouraging user-generated content, you create a more interactive experience for your audience. Furthermore, interactive quizzes, live Q&A sessions, contests, and seasonal themes can further attract attention and promote community involvement. Implementing these approaches not just strengthens your brand’s presence but also helps you better understand and connect with your audience. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "7 Creative Examples of Social Media Content to Boost Engagement" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In Q3 of 2025, Bot Auto achieved its first “driver-out” run on public roads: a trip in which the truck drove itself with no human behind the wheel, and in our case, no humans in the cab at all. This is a milestone reached by only a tiny handful of AV trucking programs. From the founding of the company to that milestone, we spent just $212,552 on one category of work that is usually very expensive in AI: paying people to manually label training data—for example, drawing boxes around cars and pedestrians—so a neural network can learn from them. To many people that number does not sound like a breakthrough. It sounds like something is missing: a cost not counted, a line item not disclosed, or some clever maneuver hidden just outside the frame. Such skepticism makes sense, because in AI, annotation is usually not a rounding error; it is a major line item. To see why this matters, consider nuScenes, a well-known dataset in autonomous driving. In total, it contains only about 5.5 hours of driving data. Keyframe by keyframe, human annotators had to identify and precisely label every vehicle, every pedestrian, every object in the scene. That work reportedly took 7,937 hours and cost about $100,000. The missing piece is not in the accounting. It is in the assumptions. What many people have missed is not a hidden expense, but a new era—a shift in how intelligence is produced. We are moving from a data-driven regime, where progress depends on the human annotated labels, into a compute-driven regime, where compute itself does that work at scale. When an industry encounters such a fundamental paradigm shift, the old lens does not merely become incomplete. It becomes misleading. FROM WORKSHOP TO FACTORY For most of the last decade, applied AI, especially autonomy, has operated like a workshop. A workshop runs on human effort. If you want your system to learn, you hire people to label data, tag edge cases, and build an entire pipeline around human labor. The scarce resource is not raw data since raw data is everywhere. The scarce resource is labeled signal. Human labor is what keeps the machine learning. A factory model changes the energy source. In the Industrial Revolution, steam replaced muscle, then electricity replaced steam. In the same way, a factory-era AI company replaces human labeling energy with compute. Instead of paying people to label everything by hand, it uses models to generate supervision at scale. Humans still matter, but their roles move upward, from manually drawing boxes to system verification and quality control. That is the real shift: Labeled signal stops being scarce, and the ceiling on intelligence starts to rise. This is not something that happens just because a company buys more GPUs. It is a new industrial capability, and it is still rare. Only in the last few years did it become plausible that computers could begin taking over part of the manual work of annotation, not just helping with it. High-profile models such as Meta’s Segment Anything were the first to demonstrate, at scale, that this shift was real. Even now, only a small number of frontier companies can actually do it—and do it well enough to matter. THE REVOLUTION IN PLAIN SIGHT We’ve already lived through this factory shift once, but most people didn’t notice the real reason it worked. The world talks about ChatGPT as an application miracle: It writes, it codes, it controls your home thermostat. But the deeper breakthrough was hiding in plain sight. ChatGPT did not get smart because humans labeled everything it read. It taught itself by reading text at internet scale and learning to predict what word comes next. Once that bottleneck loosened, scale exploded. Models could grow until they hit a new ceiling: compute. And with that shift came a step-change in capability. We saw the same pattern in another domain. AlphaGo was data-driven: It learned from human games. AlphaZero broke the ceiling by removing that dependency, starting only from the rules, generating its own experience through self-play. Once learning was no longer constrained by a finite archive of human examples, the ceiling moved. As a result, the new system didn’t just improve on the old regime. It rendered it obsolete. THE ONLY QUESTION THAT MATTERS Richard Feynman wrote, “For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled.” That is the right test for this era of AI. Every marketing team is trying to present its company as AI-native, futuristic, and built for the new era. But none of that tells you what is actually behind the curtain. The question worth asking of any AI company today is simple: Where does its labeled signal come from? If the answer is still a massive labeling vendor invoice, the workshop is still running, regardless of what the press release says. If compute is manufacturing supervision at scale, the factory has begun. The gap between those two answers is not a detail. It is the whole game. Xiaodi Hou is founder and CEO of Bot Auto. View the full article

A typical map of temperatures across the planet shows just a snapshot in time, listing the day’s various highs and lows. But temperature isn’t static; it rises and falls, and it’s influenced by all sorts of systems, from ocean currents to solar radiation. An animated map from Maps.com shows those variations, revealing the patterns that swirl around our planet—and even depicting the gradual way Earth heats up from east to west as the sun rises and sets. Maps.com The animated map is part of a new feature called Earth in Action, through which Maps.com (a platform by spatial analytics company Esri) produces daily, near real-time animated maps about Earth’s systems. “We created Earth in Action to provide a lens into what’s happening on our planet, as it happens,” Maps.com cartographic editor and Earth in Action creator Joshua Stevens says over email. “Whether it’s something typical, like the current air temperature, or an extreme event like a major dust storm, we wanted to provide an opportunity for people to see them,” he adds. By turning static data into moving animations, the maps reveal how interconnected Earth is, and how what happens on one part of the planet can influence another. “It’s one thing to tell someone that dust from the Sahara helps fertilize the soils of the Amazon rainforest,” Stevens says. “It’s another thing to show that actually happening, as dust is lofted from Africa and carried across the Atlantic Ocean . . . What happens here today influences other locations later.” Maps.com That dust is depicted on the aerosols map, seen in swirls of purple that whirl above Africa and then float across the planet’s surface. The aerosols map also shows the movement of black carbon, a dangerous pollution released by the combustion of fossil fuels, trees, and other organic materials; as well as sea salt, which enters the atmosphere via crashing waves and ocean winds, and which can affect the formation of clouds and rain. The movement of these aerosol particles “can reveal everything from wildfires to hurricanes,” Stevens says. The moving data can reveal how Earth’s climate systems transport that smoke, and how hurricanes move over oceans. The animated maps, which show such activity over seven days, adds context to these events, revealing how they emerge, evolve, and affect other locations. Currently, Earth in Action only produces maps about temperature and aerosols; the platform plans to add additional maps about rain and snowfall, active wildfires, sea ice and sea surface temperatures, the ozone hole, and more. Through this feature, Stevens hopes these scientific observations of Earth become more accessible to people, no matter their scientific background or level of expertise. He encourages people to check back in throughout the year and see how these systems change across seasons. “Earth in Action is more than animated maps,” he says. “It’s a view into scientific data sets that few people know how to access, let alone process or communicate with others.” View the full article

There is a budget line in your business that no one is managing. According to research by Leadership IQ, confirmed across multiple subsequent studies, the average 18-month failure rate across industries is 46%—meaning nearly one in two hires either underperforms significantly or leaves within 18 months. The cost of each of those failures runs between 50% and 200% of that employee’s annual salary, accounting for recruiting costs, onboarding investment, lost productivity, team disruption, and replacement. Run the math. A company making 50 hires a year at average fully-loaded salaries of $95,000—not a large organization, just a growing one—is sitting on a financial exposure somewhere between $1.1 million and $4.4 million annually. Not from a failed product launch or a bad acquisition. But from screening decisions made with confidently unreliable information. Most executive teams have no visibility into this number. It doesn’t show up cleanly on a P&L. It bleeds out across departments—in manager time absorbed by struggling new hires, in team productivity lost during extended onboarding, in recruiting costs paid twice when a role has to be refilled. The bill arrives in installments, which makes it easy to miss. But it is very much being paid. YOU’RE MEASURING THE WRONG THINGS Here is what makes this particularly frustrating: Most organizations have more hiring data than they’ve ever had. They track time-to-fill, cost-per-hire, offer acceptance rates, applicant volume by source. Dashboards are full. Reports go to leadership quarterly. And somehow, the same expensive mistakes keep happening—the impressive resume that doesn’t survive 90 days, the candidate who checked every credential box and delivered none of the results. The data isn’t failing because there isn’t enough of it. It’s failing because it’s measuring the wrong things. Time-to-fill tells you how quickly you processed candidates. It tells you nothing about whether you hired the right person. Those are fundamentally different questions, and most recruiting metrics are only equipped to answer the first one. The consequences of this measurement failure extend beyond individual bad hires. Joint research from Harvard Business School and the Burning Glass Institute found that fewer than 1 in 700 hires at companies that announced skills-based hiring initiatives were actually affected bythe change. For every 700 people hired at a company that publicly committed to evaluating candidates on skills rather than credentials, 699 of them still got the job the old way. That is a significant finding, not because skills-based hiring is a flawed idea, but because it reveals precisely why the financial exposure isn’t shrinking. The problem has been named, but the measurement systems that would actually fix it haven’t been built. The academic evidence on why this matters financially is stark. A landmark 2022 meta-analysis in the Journal of Applied Psychology—one of the most rigorous re-examinations of personnel selection research in decades—found that resume screening produces validity coefficients in the range of 0.2 to 0.3. In practical terms, using a resume to predict whether someone will be a high performer is about as reliable as using their commute time—a piece of information that’s easy to measure but tells you almost nothing about how someone will actually perform. Every year that an organization screens primarily on resumes and credentials, it is making its most consequential people decisions with a tool that research has shown to be barely better than chance. And it is paying, repeatedly, for the outcomes that tool produces. A BETTER WAY The evidence points to a better path. Workday’s 2025 workforce research 2025 workforce research found that hiring for demonstrated skills is five times more predictive of job performance than hiring for education—and more than twice as predictive as hiring for work experience. That predictive gap translates directly into financial terms: fewer failed hires, lower replacement costs, faster time to productivity, and reduced drag on managers and teams. There is also a revenue side to this equation that gets less attention. McKinsey research has identified an 800% productivity gap between high and low performers on complex work. Eight times the output. Same title. Same role. Same salary. When hiring systems are designed around credential screening rather than capability assessment, they consistently underperform at identifying the candidates responsible for that upside, because the competencies that drive exceptional performance rarely announce themselves on a resume. The organizations winning on talent aren’t just avoiding bad hires. They’re accessing a fundamentally different tier of performance. That’s not a talent strategy argument. That’s a revenue argument. Medical schools confronted an identical version of this problem two decades ago. Traditional admissions metrics—grades, test scores, institutional pedigree—predicted who could pass exams. They were far less reliable at predicting who would become an exceptional physician. Leading schools began evaluating candidates on demonstrated capability and trajectory rather than credential accumulation. The candidates admitted under those frameworks didn’t just keep pace with higher-credentialed peers. They frequently outperformed them. Corporate hiring is at the same inflection point. The methodology exists. The evidence base is established. What’s missing, in most organizations, is the decision to connect hiring metrics to financial outcomes, and to hold the function accountable for both. The question for CEOs and CFOs isn’t whether your recruiting function needs better tools. It’s whether you can account for what your current approach is costing you. Most organizations can’t, because they’ve never built the measurement systems that would make that cost visible. Until they do, the budget line keeps bleeding, hire by hire, quarter by quarter, invisibly enough that no one is required to explain it. That’s not a talent problem. That’s a measurement problem. And measurement problems are entirely within leadership’s control to fix. Natasha Nuytten is the CEO of CLARA. View the full article

Anyone who has spent time in a workplace knows the “go-to” person. They are the colleague who can figure things out when others cannot, and who steps in when something complicated needs to get done. Early in your career, becoming that person feels like success. In many ways, it is. Being capable accelerates opportunity. Leaders notice you, people trust you, and your reputation grows. But over time, something subtle happens. The more capable you prove yourself to be, the more people rely on you. I call this the capability curse. The capability curse occurs when someone’s proven ability to solve problems leads others to depend on them for nearly every challenge. With each success, expectations rise. What once impressed becomes the standard, and when something falls short, the disappointment is sharper because the bar became so high. Ironically, the people who can do the most often end up carrying the heaviest burden. WHEN COMPETENCE BECOMES A LIABILITY Early in my career, I was asked to build a database for people analytics. I was a recruiter, not a programmer. My manager handed me a book, recommended a consultant, and said, “Figure it out.” So I did. I spent nights learning the system and building something that worked. But because I was not a trained developer, it was not perfect. Eventually errors surfaced, and the same people who praised the initiative began to question the system when it did not perform like enterprise software. It was my first real encounter with the capability trap. If I had refused the assignment, it might have been viewed as a lack of initiative. But once I said yes, the expectation became perfection. This pattern appears everywhere in organizations. The more capable you are, the more complex problems land on your desk. THE EXPECTATION GAP There is another dynamic at play that capable people eventually notice. I think of it as the expectation gap. When someone not known for solving complex problems manages to fix something, the reaction is often admiration. People say, “Wow, look what they pulled off.” When a highly capable person solves the same problem, the reaction is very different. It is simply expected. And if the outcome is not perfect, the criticism can be sharper. I once stepped in to handle a complicated operational issue that belonged to another department. No one else volunteered, so I took it on. Despite raising risks and asking for support, things did not unfold as planned. When it was over, I was criticized for the outcome. The reason was simple: The expectation for me was higher. Capability raises the bar and pressure. WHY CAPABLE PEOPLE STRUGGLE TO SAY NO So why do capable people keep saying yes? Part of the answer is practical. They know they can figure things out. When you have a track record of solving problems, it becomes almost instinctive to step in. But another part is cultural. Many high-performing professionals, especially women, are often expected to be helpers and problem solvers. At work, that can mean filling gaps others avoid. At home, it can mean becoming the unofficial chief logistics officer for everything. THE LETTUCE VERSUS SALAD LESSON Later in my career, a founder shared a story that reframed the way I think about capability. He told me his girlfriend once asked him to bring home a salad. Instead, he came back with a head of lettuce. She asked, “What’s this?” “Lettuce,” he said. “It’s salad.” She paused, then said, “If I wanted lettuce, I would have asked for lettuce. Never mind. I’ll just buy the salad myself.” And that was the end of it. She never asked him again. What struck me wasn’t the misunderstanding. It was the expectation that was set. By bringing the lettuce, he defined what he would own and what he wouldn’t. And everything adjusted around that. We often think expectations are assigned. But more often, they’re set by what we consistently deliver. Sometimes the most important move is to just bring the lettuce and create space for others to make the salad. THE WHEELBARROW PROBLEM Another mentor once explained it to me differently. “Imagine you have one wheelbarrow,” he said. “Every task you accept goes into it. Eventually it becomes so full that it tips over.” It is a simple image, but an accurate one. Your capacity is finite. If you keep adding without limits, it will eventually topple. Capability often encourages people to keep adding more to the wheelbarrow. The solution is not to stop being capable. Instead, become more intentional about what you choose to carry. HOW TO AVOID THE CAPABILITY CURSE Highly capable professionals do not need to shrink their ambition. They do need to manage it strategically. Start by deciding where your capability matters most. Before saying yes, ask: Is this something only I can do? Is this something I could advise on rather than execute? Is this something someone else should own? Not every problem requires your full involvement. Another shift is moving from doing to advising. Instead of saying, “I will take care of it,” try, “I can help advise the person who owns this.” You still contribute, but you are no longer carrying the full weight. And if you do step in, clarity matters. One of the most powerful things you can say is: “I’m happy to help, but this is outside my core role and the solution will not be perfect. If it fails, I expect shared responsibility or you will take the responsibility and give me air cover.” That kind of clarity prevents resentment later. CAPABILITY IS STILL A STRENGTH None of this means capable people should stop being capable. Capability is what makes someone a versatile leader. It reflects resilience, judgment, and the ability to navigate ambiguity. But without boundaries, that same strength can quietly become a liability. Being capable should expand your opportunities and not exhaust your capacity. It can also get in the way of doing fewer things better. Leadership is often about focus. As Morten T. Hansen writes in Great at Work, the highest performers do less and obsess. They do not simply take on more. The real leadership skill is learning when to build the full salad and when to bring the lettuce. Tami Rosen is chief development officer at Pagaya. View the full article

If you don’t pay attention, you could miss it. There is a secret alligator emoji game hidden in your TikTok DMs. And while this news is coming on April Fools’ Day, it’s no joke—this easter egg (on the first day of Passover) is real! Here’s what to know. How to find TikTok’s hidden emoji game in your DMs Here’s how to find it: Go into your TikTok messages as if you were sending a DM, and send an emoji, then look for a tiny link that reads “tap emoji to play emoji game.” Click the link and you’ll see a green screen with alligators and floating emojis. Use your finger to swipe up on the profile picture of whomever you are messaging at the time, and viola, start bouncing on the alligators as you swipe up! However, beware of the skeleton alligators—users need to avoid them to keep a streak going. TikTok will show your high score (mine was 369 miles high, after a few tries) and your opponents’ if they join in the competition. Fast Company has reached out to TikTok for more context on the new feature. The social media giant told TechCrunch the game is available via messaging one-on-one and via group chats. While we don’t endorse all trends found on TikTok (we are looking at you, hot water trend—which, while detoxifying, has burnt a few mouths!), the emoji game is pure, clean fun we can get behind. That’s not to say we don’t see through TikTok’s marketing as just another way to hook us on more doomscrolling—but, this is the kind of time-waster that can actually bring a bit of joy to our day. And don’t forget to wish your friends a Happy April Fools’ Day! View the full article

If you’ve been thinking about joining Sam’s Club, you may want to act fast: The annual membership fee will go up $10 starting next month. The Walmart-owned chain of warehouse stores has been emailing existing members this week to alert them of the price increases. Effective May 1, a standard Sam’s Club membership will cost $60, up from $50, while the cost of a Plus membership will increase to $120 from $110. The company is clearly trying to push more people to its higher-cost Plus membership, as it’s also upped the cap on its 2% cash back rewards these members can earn—from $500 annually to $750. The company confirmed the price increases to Fast Company and indicated that current members will renew at the updated rate during their next billing cycle. However, a few people on Reddit have noted that they were able to renew their memberships early at the current prices. WHAT’S BEHIND THE PRICE INCREASE The forthcoming price change marks the second time in five years that Sam’s Club has increased annual membership costs, with the previous increase occurring in late 2022. “We have adjusted our membership pricing to support the things our members love,” a spokesperson for the Bentonville, Arkansas-based company said in a statement to Fast Company. Such benefits include expanded in-club hours, curbside pickup, and enhanced delivery options, the spokesperson said. The company plans to open six new Sam’s Club stores this year in Tennessee, California, and Texas, as USA Today has reported. It also named a new CEO, Latriece Watkins, earlier this year and has made a more concerted effort to woo higher-income customers away from rival Costco. Indeed, there’s no longer much of a discount, if any, to an annual Sam’s Club membership compared with its two main competitors. BJ’s Wholesale Club is likewise on an expansion tear this year and charges $60 and $120 for its two membership tiers, while it costs either $65 or $130 annually to be a member of Costco. MEMBERS SOUND OFF While some people on social media offered potential workarounds to the price increase, such as using a different phone number when signing up to take advantage of new member discounts, others have threatened to cancel their membership as a result of the price increase. And there’s something else that’s been rattling some Sam’s Club members: In late 2024, the company increased the minimum purchase threshold required for Plus members to nab free shipping on online orders, which is now $50. As one Redditor commented on a post about the price increases: ”Got the same email and I honestly wouldn’t care if they still had free shipping for Plus members. That change really bugged me when it happened.” View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The price of gas isn't the only thing going up. Starting tomorrow, April 2, the prices of all PlayStation 5 consoles and the PlayStation Portal are going up by as much as $150. It's no surprise, since we've been hearing about the cost of chips and storage going up over the years; throw in tariffs and a ongoing strong demand for the consoles, you start to get the whole picture. Luckily, it's not too late: You can still save up to $150 by buying refurbished consoles directly from the Direct PlayStation store, which come with a one-year warranty and have been tested to perform like new, provided you act quickly. Here are all the consoles you can still get today before the price hike goes into effect: Storage: 1 TB Certified Refurbished PlayStation®5 Digital Edition Console (model group - slim) $399.00 at Sony Get Deal Get Deal $399.00 at Sony Storage: 1 TB Certified Refurbished PlayStation®5 Console (model group - slim) $449.00 at Sony Get Deal Get Deal $449.00 at Sony Storage: 825 GB Certified Refurbished PlayStation®5 Console $399.00 at Sony Get Deal Get Deal $399.00 at Sony PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player $199.00 at Sony Get Deal Get Deal $199.00 at Sony SEE 1 MORE Going forward,the base Slim Model PS5 will be $649.99, but you can get a refurbished one today for $449. If you don't mind downloading your games and playing them from the cloud, the Slim Digital Edition PS5 will be $599.99 tomorrow, but you can get a refurbished one today for $399. An original, non-slim disc refurbished version PS5 with 825GB is $399 today. The PS5 Pro is getting the biggest price hike. It is $749 today, but it will be $899.99 tomorrow. The PlayStation Portal remote player is not escaping the price hikes either—you can get one today for $199, but starting tomorrow, it will spike to $249. If you're interested in bundles, the PS5 Fornite Bundle is $449 and will likely increase starting tomorrow. The PS5 Digital Fornite Bundle is $399 today and will likely increase tomorrow as well. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $199.00 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ 128GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet (Gray) — $202.00 (List Price $249.99) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $329.00 (List Price $399.00) Sony WH-1000XM5 — $298.00 (List Price $399.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Recently we heard from people who work at events — their horror stories and wins — and here are 10 of my favorite stories they shared. 1. The applause I was part of a round of lightning talks. The event organizers told us we had five minutes apiece, and for enforcement they told the audience to applaud violators off the stage. I was done in 90-odd seconds because I’m cool like that. “Blowhard Bob” the CISO, however, adored the sound of his own voice and did not believe time limits applied to him. He was barely halfway through his slides when the applause started. He tried to talk over it, being Blowhard Bob, but the audience only raised the volume of clapping until he had no choice but to leave the stage. I saw his thunderous face as he left the event venue. I never liked Blowhard Bob, so it was a petty treat to see him so uselessly offended. 2. The secret access I’m a vegetarian in a company that frequently hosts customers or suppliers (on the order of 100+ per week) for all-day meetings, where they are very much trapped and unable to get their own food. A large number of our visitors are also vegetarian/vegan. I have the fortunate ability to bring my own food, but the visitors cannot. There is almost never a veg option for our catered lunches. The options exist at every location we cater from, but the hosts never select one. I attempted for a year to get the hosts to start adding vegetarian options, but for unknown reasons this ask is impossible. Finally, I appealed to my network admin friend to give me backdoor access to the catering request website. Each Monday, my Good Deed of the Week is to log in and edit every single new catering form to include a veg option. The hosts often make surprised noises at finding themselves with a tray of veg food (and take the credit when it comes in handy), but no one ever tries to figure out how it keeps happening. Going on 2 years now executing my petty act of good will. 3. The nature soundtrack Each year, Big Corporation honored retiring 25-year employees with a fancy dinner and dancing at an expensive venue. The location chosen that year was an exclusive brand new hotel, and the company was excited to be able to show it and themselves off. As the guests arrive to the lounge for drinks, oohing and ahhing about the luxurious appointments suddenly stops as the piped-in music becomes audible. Tradition held that the music chosen for the cocktail hour be top 40 hits from the year these folks started at the company, but the intern charged with assembling the playlist decided that because the big new hotel displaced a wetland, recorded sounds of a swamp including croaking frogs and chirping crickets filled the cocktail lounge. People were confused as they held crystal champagne flutes. 4. The medical simulation One year, we invited a medical simulation team (similar to an emergency simulation, but for medical events) to present at the nursing conference I used to run. They did not tell us the simulation they would be running would involve copious fake blood – which got squirted in lots of different places, including the people sitting in the front row. I think the venue ended up charging us for carpet cleaning too. 5. The grape Kool Aid and the geese At a corporate headquarters campus preparing for the July 4th outdoor concert and fireworks, that summer had been extremely dry, and special permission and pre-show requirements were needed for the fireworks display to happen to prevent grass fires. Coincidentally, the campus ponds and fountains were attracting huge flocks of Canada geese because of the drought. Did you know that goose droppings are the size of small dog droppings? Before the hundreds of families came ready to spread their blankets to picnic on the lawns before the concert, vast quantities of goose doodoo had to be removed and said geese needed to be convinced not to return until July 5th . A two-pronged approach was to bring in border collies to scare off the fowl and then sprinkle huge quantities of grape flavored Kool Aid powder, because of course that would send the geese back to Canada (they hate one of the ingredients). Luckily, the problem with this plan was realized before the day of the concert when the landscape crew were doing the required lawn watering in compliance with the fire marshal. 6. The mini figurines Several years ago, I worked at a nonprofit where we spent all day, every day doing hard (rewarding) work with kids. Once a year, we had a fundraiser that revolved around Legos. We had 1000+ people (kids and adults) come in and pay to do Lego activities with us. That year, the fundraiser had an add on where you do a minifig (mini figurines) scavenger hunt type thing — join a session, help find minfigs and pick one to take home with you. For budget reasons, they were knockoff minifigs. They were things like Spiderman’s head on a construction worker body on purple and pink legs. Randomly put together pieces that had come in a giant grab bag. In the second session of scavenger hunt, someone pointed out that some of them were apparently historical figure minifigs? And someone handed me one and I looked carefully … huh, it had a red armband and double lightning bolts. Crap. Off brand Lego knockoffs provide minifigs for historical dioramas and apparently if you get the “grab bag,” they have Nazis mixed in with the superheros. We shut things down for a few minutes for us to panic and find all the hidden minifigs. They were replaced with “safe” figs, and we had one poor staff person spend the rest of the day sorting through the offensive and non-offensive minifigs, keeping us one session ahead of the scheduled sessions of scavenger hunt. As far as we know, no Nazis were sent home with children. Apparently the organization now only uses official minifigs for the Lego event. 7. The cast wrap party The catering company I used to work for was hired to cater the series wrap party for Game of Thrones. All the stars were there and most of us caterers were fans of the show, so we were psyched to be there. On the night itself, we wondered why the energy in the room seemed so off and oddly subdued. Then of course, the final season came out a few months later and we understood. 8. The invitation I worked in higher education development at an institution where the fellows had strongly resisted appointing a professional fundraiser and instead appointed a senior fellow in History as development director – a charming chap but not a fundraiser at all. This manifested in many ways, but perhaps the best one was the event we held to thank a major donor who had contributed a significant sum. We booked a nice location, sorted out some catering, briefed team members ahead of the event, arrived on the day and waited. And waited. And waited some more. DD had one job, which was to invite the donor; he had not done it. I left soon after this. 9. The chickens I run a small performing arts venue that hosts over 200 performances/events per year. Here is a recent favorite story that, while low-stakes and neither full disaster nor victory, exemplifies the weirdness of running a public event space. We had an event that was a collaboration between two very large, community-focused performance groups. Our venue has a strict no pets except licensed service animals and pre-approved on-stage animals policy. One of the performers had a service dog who came to the venue. This was fine. But it wasn’t clearly stated to the myriad other performers that this was a service dog. All of a sudden, the next day, several other cast members brought their dogs and then got deeply offended when we made them take them home. The next day was the public performance and, as audience started arriving, a man walked in with a hard-sided cat carrier. Imagine my surprise when I approached and discovered that it contained two chickens! Turns out his wife was in the show and wanted a picture in costume with her pet chickens. She had told her husband to wait outside for her, but he ignored that fact and was quite rude when we asked him to do so. So here I am, running all over the building, trying to figure out whose chickens these were and having to explain over and over again that no, I wasn’t joking. Yes, chickens. And then my staff kept pulling me aside and going, “Um … there’s a dude with chickens in the lobby?” It all worked out – they went outside and got their chicken picture and then the husband and the chickens went home and they were never free range in our venue … but its become an ongoing joke whenever things go sideways: Look out for the chickens! 10. The teenager I used to work fundraising walk events and we’d usually have a grab bag of random volunteers to help us run the event. One year, this older teenage boy who’d been signed up by his mum as part of his community service requirement (I think he was working off a traffic ticket) was assigned to my area. This kid was only supposed to be there for a short shift of a few hours and since I’m sure it wasn’t his first choice of how to spend his Saturday, I wasn’t expecting too much. He wound up being one of the last people to leave the site, having worked for something like eight or nine hours hauling a lot of stuff around and doing a really good job at whatever we told him to do, all on a really warm day. He said that he had a great time and he really enjoyed himself. I always wondered if that day was the start of his events career. The post the aggressive applause, the secret meal access, and other stories from event workers appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

JetBlue Airways just increased checked bag fees for the first time since March 2024, bringing the minimum cost to check a bag from $35 to $39. Fees now cost $4 to $9 more, depending on travel dates. This news comes amid rising jet fuel prices and may raise concerns among travelers about whether other major U.S. airlines will follow suit. Here’s what you need to know. How much more will travelers pay? Effective March 30, JetBlue raised checked bag fees by $4 to $9, depending on travel dates. The new prices apply to all bookings made on or after that date. The New York-based airline introduced peak-season surcharges in March 2024, meaning travelers pay more to check a bag during high-demand periods, like summer and national holidays. Here’s what travelers can expect when adding bags to a reservation more than 24 hours before departure on non-transatlantic flights. Off-peak travel dates: Most travelers will pay $39 for a first checked bag and $59 for a second, an increase of $4 each. Peak travel dates: Most travelers will pay $49 for their first checked bag and $69 for a second, an increase of $9 each. Travelers who add bags within 24 hours of departing, including at the airport, will pay an additional $10 surcharge on top of those prices. The prices above apply to most fare types. JetBlue Mosaic status members and select co-branded credit cardholders can check a bag for free. The rising cost of checked bags JetBlue’s new peak travel rate of $49 for a first checked bag is now the highest among major U.S. carriers. This is the airline’s first bag fee hike since March 2024, when it raised fees twice within months of each other. The move is part of a broader industry trend. American Airlines raised its second checked bag fee by $5 in February 2026, its second bag fee hike since early 2024. Both United Airlines and Delta Air Lines last raised fees in early 2024. Southwest Airlines famously offered two free checked bags to all fliers for over 50 years. However, the Texas-based airline began charging for checked bags in May 2025. Will other airlines follow JetBlue’s lead? Jet fuel costs have continued to climb as the Iran war drags on. Air travel is expected to get more expensive. Increased costs, whether fees or fare hikes, could push consumers away, leading to decreased travel demand. Many consumers are already stretched thin by rising prices across everyday life. Fast Company reached out to American, Delta, and United to ask whether they expect to increase checked bag fees. A representative for Delta declined to comment on bag fees but noted the airline is set to report Q1 2026 earnings next week. United pointed to a March 20 message that CEO Scott Kirby sent to employees. In it, Kirby outlined some steps that the airline was taking to manage rising jet fuel prices. One example Kirby gave was reducing flights for less in-demand routes, such as red-eye flights and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday flights. He noted that the airline had suspended service to Tel Aviv and Dubai. We’ll update this story if we receive a reply from American Airlines. View the full article

Nato’s top official urged key alliance members to offer help to US to reopen key waterwayView the full article