ResidentialBusiness

US president says military build-up will continue until return of oil and assets ‘they previously stole from us’View the full article

Alphabet’s robotaxi venture plans to expand to dozens of cities, including London and New YorkView the full article

You meet all your Service Level Agreement metrics, but customer satisfaction scores are low and falling fast. You’re in monthly meetings explaining how both can be true while executives read comments about tickets “disappearing for days” despite being resolved “on time.” You suspect handoff delays are happening somewhere in the gaps between teams as tickets move between them. But your SLA tracking shows clean handoffs; the timer pauses, ownership transfers, and the clock restarts. Everything looks fine in your dashboard. The problem? Your metrics don’t actually measure your customers’ experience. They track ownership as though moving a ticket between systems is instantaneous. It isn’t. Why SLA tracking misses handoff delays Your help desk closes a ticket at 23 hours 45 minutes after it’s opened. Excellent. The network team picks it up the next morning and resolves it in three hours. Also excellent. But the customer submits an angry satisfaction survey because their problem took two days to fix. Both teams met their SLAs, but the customer waited 32 hours. This pattern repeats constantly. Tickets bounce between teams and accumulate dead time: hours or days when the ticket exists in a closed state in one system while someone manually creates it in another, or when it sits in an email waiting for someone to log in and claim it. Your SLA tracking pauses during transfers. The customer’s experience doesn’t. A severity two incident escalates from the service desk to the application team on Friday afternoon. The service desk marks it as transferred in ServiceNow. The application team works in Azure DevOps. Someone needs to copy details from ServiceNow into a new Azure DevOps work item. Copying and pasting happens during business hours, when someone notices the email. The Azure DevOps ticket might not get created until Monday morning. Your SLA tracking shows a clean Friday handoff. The customer experiences a weekend-long delay. Your escalation workflows were designed for visibility within each tool. They assume information moves instantly from one place to another. In practice, information moves at human speed, when someone checks emails, logs into another system, or remembers to copy the ticket over. Healthcare emergency departments learned this lesson years ago. They track door-to-door time separately from total ED time. Both matter. You can have excellent treatment times and a terrible patient experience if the handoff to the next care unit takes hours. They track handoff completeness (e.g., all information transferred over) and handoff duration (e.g., going from “ready to transfer” to “receiving team engaged”). You need the same: time-with-ticket and time-in-transfer as separate metrics. Where tickets actually get stuck Handoffs create three types of delays your SLA dashboard doesn’t capture: Delay typeWhat happensCustomer experienceNotification delayEmail notification sits unread while the receiving team works in their own queue.Email notification sits unread while the receiving team works in their own queue.Recreation delayManual ticket copying takes time; key information in custom fields doesn’t transfer.Customer’s case restarts from zero with incomplete context.Context delayDescription transfers but understanding doesn’t; receiving team lacks customer history, political sensitivity, urgency contextCustomer must re-explain everything to the third person A ticket touching three teams accumulates all three delay types at each boundary. Even if each gap is only a few hours, the cumulative delay becomes substantial. You’re measuring work time while the customer measures actual time. IT managers can’t figure out how they’re SLA-compliant while customers are furious if they just look at a dashboard. The pattern is predictable: as tickets cross more boundaries, the gap between SLA compliance and customer satisfaction widens. Your most complex issues, the ones needing the most coordination, generate the worst satisfaction scores despite meeting technical SLA requirements. How to track handoff time as a separate metric Treat every handoff as a measurable state, rather than an instantaneous event. Define “in transfer” as a ticket status that means “escalated but not yet acknowledged by the receiving team.” When help desk escalates a ticket to networking, the ticket enters “in transfer to networking.” It stays there until a networking technician actively claims it. You now have three timestamps: Escalated time: When the sending team handed it off. Claimed time: When the receiving team acknowledged receipt. Started time: When the receiving team began active work. The difference between escalated and claimed is the handoff delay. The difference between claimed and started is the queue time in the receiving system. Both matter, but only one is currently invisible in your dashboards. Track both metrics: SLA compliance (i.e., time spent actively working) and delivery time (i.e., total calendar time including handoffs). Report them separately. When executives ask why satisfaction is low despite high SLA compliance, you can show them exactly how much time accumulates in handoffs. The invisible becomes visible. The conversation shifts from “we’re meeting SLA” to “we’re spending substantial time in handoffs.” This measurement approach reveals which handoffs are consistently slow. If tickets always sit around for an extended period in the void between help desk and the application team, you know where to focus your efforts. Maybe the application team checks the email queue only twice a day. Maybe they need notifications in their own system instead of through email. The data tells you where the friction is. How to implement handoff-aware SLA tracking Bringing visibility to handoff delays requires improvements in technical infrastructure and workflows. Track time across system boundaries Tracking handoff times means the receiving team’s system has to report when someone claims a ticket. If teams work in different tools, you need a way to keep these reports and updates consistent in all tools. Two-way synchronization maintains continuity when tickets cross system boundaries. The original ticket shouldn’t close when it escalates to engineering. It should retain its “escalated” status and update when the work item in the engineering system is updated. Now you can measure the time tickets spend escalated, representing your handoff delay. When the engineering work item moves to “In Progress,” the original ticket is automatically updated to reflect this. When the engineering team closes its ticket, the original ticket is automatically closed. The customer who submitted the request can see progress even though work is happening in another system. Your SLA tracking can measure the entire timeline because all state changes are captured in one place. Tools like Unito maintain this bidirectional synchronization across IT service management platforms, development tools, and service desk systems. When your service desk escalates a ticket to engineering in another system, you don’t lose visibility. The original ticket updates with the work item’s status. Handoff delays become visible because the original ticket remains active and continues updating. This requires mapping statuses across systems. Define which status in the engineering system corresponds to “claimed” (probably “Active” or “In Progress”) and which status in the service management system should reflect that (probably “Work in Progress” or “With Engineering”). The synchronization should update both tickets when either changes. Design workflows that enforce acknowledgment Make the receiving team explicitly claim transferred tickets. Claiming should be a quick action: acknowledging receipt and confirming they have enough context to start work. If they can’t claim because information is missing, the ticket goes back to “blocked, need information,” and the sending team gets alerted immediately. Structure escalation workflows to require acknowledgment within a defined timeframe (two hours, four hours, depends on your SLA). If the receiving team doesn’t claim within that window, the ticket escalates again: up the management chain or back to the sending team with a “blocked” flag. Make claiming easy. If it requires logging into another system and filling out a form, people will delay. If claiming is a single click in their existing queue, they’ll do it immediately. The synchronization should allow someone working in their native tool to claim an escalation from another system without switching contexts. Monitor and report handoff metrics Track average handoff time by team pair: service desk to networking, service desk to application team, networking to security. Identify outliers. If most handoffs complete quickly but service-desk-to-application takes significantly longer, that’s your target. Set alerts for handoff delays. If a ticket sits in “escalated” status for more than your threshold, someone gets notified. Not the customer—an internal alert. The receiving team’s manager or a coordinator who can reach out directly and make sure the ticket gets claimed. Report handoff time as a distinct metric in leadership reviews. Show: Total delivery time Active work time Queue time Handoff time When executives see that a substantial portion of total time is handoff delay, they understand why SLA compliance doesn’t equal satisfaction. The conversation shifts toward fixing handoffs rather than pressuring teams to work faster. Making SLA tracking match customer experience Traditional SLA tracking optimized for what’s easy to measure: time within each team’s queue. That created a perverse incentive. Teams moved tickets quickly out of their queue to meet SLA, even if that meant tossing them into a gap between systems. They met their number. The customer waited. Handoff-aware SLA tracking optimizes for what customers experience: total time from request to resolution, with visibility into where that time goes. When you measure handoffs separately, you stop optimizing handoffs away. You can’t hide them anymore. They’re in the dashboard. They count against your metrics. The fix comes from making the gaps visible so you can close them systematically. Start measuring handoff time this week. You’ll immediately see where tickets get stuck. Then you can do something about it: improve notification methods, simplify claiming processes, or implement synchronization that maintains visibility across system boundaries. Your customers don’t distinguish between work time and handoff time. They just know how long they waited. Your SLA tracking should reflect that reality. Want to see the impact of integrations on SLAs? Meet with a Unito product expert to see how a two-way sync can transform your ticket escalation workflow. Talk with sales View the full article

Robinhood is betting that its customers want to trade on absolutely everything. On Tuesday, the popular stock-trading app unveiled a slate of updates to its prediction markets business, aggressively expanding into sports. Now, Robinhood users can trade contracts tied to specific professional football players’ performances, as well as pre-packaged combos for individual games. Early next year, customers will be able to combine up to ten outcomes — such as winners, spreads, and totals — into a single, custom-built contract. Robinhood’s news site, Sherwood, is also launching a new sports newsletter, Scoreboard. Eventually, Robinhood plans to launch contracts that span not just multiple games, but multiple categories, from sports to climate to politics. “If customers say they’re looking to trade a specific category or specific event, we’re all ears,” Adam Hickerson, Robinhood’s senior director of futures and prediction markets, tells Fast Company. Robinhood’s entrance into prediction markets can be seen as a natural culmination of the trajectory it set into motion years ago. For the uninitiated, prediction markets allow people to trade on real-world events by buying and selling contracts. These events can range from sports matches to political elections to who Time will name as its “Person of the Year.” Since Robinhood launched prediction markets in late 2024, they’ve become the company’s fastest growing line of business: In the third quarter of 2025, it reported that users traded 2.3 billion prediction-markets contracts. Then, in October alone, that figure reached 2.5 billion. The most popular contracts have been in sports. Robinhood maintains that users are not gambling, as trading on the market sets the odds, not the platform itself. Still, the sports contracts tap into an enthusiasm for sports speculation. According to Pew, 22% of adults in the US have bet money on sports in the past year. Among men under 30, that figure rises to 36%. Robinhood isn’t the only app getting in the game: Fanatics, a global sports platform, just launched a predictions-market app, becoming the first sportsbook to do so. Some regulators believe decision markets cross the line into gambling. Numerous states have sent Robinhood cease-and-desist letters, demanding prediction markets stop offering sports contracts. In response, Robinhood sued New Jersey and Nevada earlier this year, maintaining that its markets are completely legal. There is no sign of regulatory turmoil dampening Robinhood’s ambition. In November, the company announced plans to start its own prediction market, launching an exchange with Susquehanna International Group. “This is just the tip of the iceberg,” Hickerson says. From meme stocks to prediction markets In 2013, Vlad Tenev and Baiju Bhatt founded Robinhood as an easy, commission-free way for users to trade on their phones. Business boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic as bored Americans, flush with stimulus checks, flocked to the app. The online brokerage became known for its popularity among young adrenaline junkies who treated investing less like retirement planning and more like a mobile game. Robinhood’s supporters applauded the company for democratizing finance. Critics, meanwhile, slammed it for encouraging users to trade stocks like gamblers betting on sports. In 2021, legendary investor Charlie Munger told CNBC that Robinhood was “a gambling parlor masquerading as a respectable business,” calling it a “sleazy, disreputable operation.” The anti-Robinhood backlash boiled over during the GameStock saga, when users fueled a trading frenzy that drove meme stocks to absurd highs. In the aftermath, Robinhood dialed back on its so-called gamified elements, removing a confetti animation that accompanied certain achievements. In a February 2021 hearing before Congress, Tenev testified that the “vast majority” of Robinhood’s customers were long-term investors, not day traders buying meme stocks. Eventually, however, Robinhood acknowledged the importance of its active day traders — users less interested in traditional stocks and far more interested in riskier products like cryptocurrencies. “These are our most engaged customers that generate the lion’s share of our revenue,” Tenev told the Wall Street Journal in November. “We put our best people on active traders.” Robinhood keeps these valuable customers happy by letting them invest in whatever their hearts desire. Increasingly, that means prediction markets. Betting on predictions Prediction markets have been around for more than a century. They have primarily existed as a niche curiosity, not a major focus for investors, amateur or professional. Then came last year’s election. More than $3.3 billion was traded in 2024 presidential election contracts, mostly on prediction market Polymarket. Robinhood launched its own contracts a month before the election, its first foray into the prediction markets. By the time The President won — as forecast by the markets — the concept of prediction markets had cemented itself in the American mainstream. At the time, it was not legal for Americans to use Polymarket. As a result, it operated offshore, although Americans likely still used it via VPNs and thanks to Polymarket’s reliance on cryptocurrency. Reports alleged that much of the election-trading volume came from “wash trading,” which inflates market activity and is a form of market manipulation. In January, Kalshi launched “100% legal” sports trading in all 50 states, regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The next month, Robinhood announced a partnership with Kalshi for Super Bowl contracts. But mere hours after the announcement, Robinhood cancelled the contracts, at the request of the CFTC. The agency had “serious concerns” that the contracts “may not be permissible under the law,” CFTC a representative said at the time. Robinhood was undeterred. In March, just ahead of the NCAA basketball tournament, the company launched its prediction markets hub, still in partnership with Kalshi. A CFTC official told Sportico that the agency had “no legal justification to prevent Robinhood from offering access to these contracts.” Robinhood is competing not only with Polymarket and Kalshi, but also Coinbase, which is reportedly planning to introduce prediction markets thanks to its own partnership with Kalshi. Defining ‘gambling’ Laws on gambling — and how regulators interpret those laws — are set to be one of Robinhood’s biggest obstacles when it comes to decision markets. Kalshi and Robinhood maintain that their users are trading, not gambling. Kalshi and Robinhood do not make money based on outcomes, but instead earn revenue via transaction fees. They emphasize that, unlike sportsbooks, prediction markets do not take bets or set odds. For example, if the New England Patriots are playing the Tennessee Titans, a user who thinks the Titans will win could buy shares on the “yes” position. Shares will be less expensive if Tennessee is the underdog, but the price is set by the markets’ perceived probability. If the Titans win, each winning share pays out $1, while those who picked the Patriots are left empty handed. If regulators agree with decision markets’ line of reasoning, companies like Robinhood and Kalshi should be able to offer sports contracts online in all 50 states, including states where sports betting is illegal or restricted. Gambling is banned for people under 21, but 18-year-olds are typically allowed to trade event contracts. Many sports-betting regulations — such as safeguards to prevent game fixing — do not currently apply to prediction markets. Not every regulator is convinced by decision markets’ arguments. In addition to New Jersey and Nevada, Connecticut, Ohio, Maryland, Illinois, and Arizona have sent Robinhood and other decision markets cease-and-desist letters. Nonetheless, the decision markets have amassed some powerful allies. In January, Donald The President, Jr. joined Kalshi as a strategic advisor. Polymarket’s return to the U.S. and its legalization came, in part thanks to the president’s son becoming an investor and advisor. In September, President The President nominated Kalshi board member Brian Quintenz to chair the CFTC. A month later, The President Media announced a prediction market partnership involving Crypto.com and Truth Social. Everything, everywhere, all at once Folding sports contracts, stock trades, online banking, and crypto into a single app will inevitably upset traditionalists. Old-school investors might also be skeptical of Robinhood’s other announcements on Tuesday, focused on artificial intelligence: upgrades to its AI-powered investing assistant and the launch of personalized daily Digests that analyze users’ portfolios. For Robinhood, the grab bag of choices is the point. “Everything comes down to: What does the customer want?” Hickerson says. Robinhood takes feedback seriously, he said, and executives have heard “loud and clear that these are some features that they really want to trade on.” Scrolling through the contracts on any prediction market reveals just how many topics inspire speculation. As of Monday, more than $17,000 in contracts had been traded on Kalshi related to the topic: “What will Vlad Tenev say during the Robinhood keynote?” (Trading activity indicates a 72% chance that Tenev says “sport.”) “Ultimately,” Oren Naim, Robinhood’s vice president of platforms, says, “our long-term vision for the company is to become your one-stop shop for anything — any financial need — across the board.” View the full article

Administration cites war and weak governance without citing evidence of specific security threats from nations listedView the full article

Suzanna’s Kitchen, a Georgia-based food production company, has issued a recall of 62,550 pounds of fully cooked, bone-in breaded chicken products. The chicken, which was distributed nationwide, was recalled over mislabeling. While the product was labeled with a product code that classifies it as non-allergen-containing, the product contains soy. According to the recall notice, which was issued on December 12, the affected product is the eight-piece cut, bone-in breaded chicken portions that were produced on October 16, 2025. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mark of inspection and establishment number printed on the side of the package is “P-1380.” According to the USDA, soy is one of the “big nine” allergens and could result in serious allergic reactions. “Symptoms of food allergies typically appear within minutes or up to two hours after a person has eaten or has come into contact with the food to which they are allergic,” the department’s website explains. It also notes that common signs of an allergic reaction include hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of the tongue, lips, face, throat, and vocal chords; a drop in blood pressure, and more. It’s unlikely that the products will be found in home refrigerators, as it was distributed to restaurants across the country. However, restaurant-goers with soy allergies should be aware of the heightened concern. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) says restaurants should carefully check their stock. “FSIS is concerned that some products may be in restaurant refrigerators or freezers. Restaurants are urged not to serve this product; these items should be thrown away,” the recall notice states. The notice also said there have been no confirmed illnesses due to the affected products, but that consumers concerned about a potential illness should contact their healthcare provider immediately. Otherwise, questions about the recall can be directed to Dawn Duncan, Customer Service Director, Suzanna’s Kitchen, at dduncan@suzannaskitchen.com, the notice states. The USDA’s Meat and Poultry Hotline is also available for questions at 888-674-6854. View the full article

Upsized deal was closely watched as a sign of investor appetite for new listingsView the full article

Apple's updated Safari browser enables site owners to more accurately track critical Core Web Vitals metrics. The post Apple Safari Update Enables Tracking Two Core Web Vitals Metrics appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

It’s “where are you now?” month at Ask a Manager, and all December I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. My boss sent me a bereavement gift, then demanded to know how I felt when I received it Your advice and everyone’s comments really helped me get some perspective on the issue. I took your advice and sent a brief thank-you to the boss for the bereavement gift, saying I hoped my colleagues had passed on my appreciation at the time. I decided to treat the weird tone of the boss’s initial email as likely ChatGPT / Autocomplete / Inbox-wrangling-fatigue strangeness and definitely not take it personally. I haven’t heard back from the boss — not that I’d expect to — but now that some time has passed and the bereavement fog has lifted and I’m seeing straight again, I’ve been hoping to run into them to say hi and thanks again in person. But I haven’t seen them in the office at all, since — now I come to think of it — February. I have since learnt that they’ve taken a year’s sabbatical. We have a new interim CEO now, who I haven’t met. Remember how I said that my colleagues are a bit prone to gossip? It turns out that the boss is in a long-running and acrimonious dispute with another senior employee, with accusations going both ways about each other’s conduct, and mediation has been unsuccessful. About the time the boss sent me that odd email about the bereavement gift, they’d also contacted a few others, including people from client organizations who’d had contact with them, asking for comments about their working relationship, as evidence in support of their case in the dispute. I’m “officially” not supposed to know this. A colleague sort of blurted it out one break time, when — despite my “oh dear, so sorry, but let’s not” responses — once they started, couldn’t stop. I’m staying very, very neutral and professional when I’m in the office and avoiding the kitchen and informal spaces where most of the gossip happens. But the atmosphere is kind of sad and strained. Thanks again for responding to my letter, Alison, and to everyone who commented, and for all the good advice. 2. How to ask people who want free advice to pay me for it (#4 at the link) I received an email from a former manager after they had received a major violation because they missed a massive piece of work from my former position. I actually don’t know how it was missed. In that email, two other managers were copied — my former boss and a person who was covering some of my former work, but who I had screened out for an opportunity due to lack of experience. They sent this email to my new work email, and I had to notify my manager because it was now public record. I used some of your wording to tell them I could request permission to do a short-term contract and could send them my anticipated rates, or they would need to handle this without me. There was some legal liability involved, and I no longer had authority to advise them; I would have wanted to protect myself from any legal implications under a contract as well. I never performed my job for free before, so continuing to answer questions and navigate them through enforcement wasn’t something I was going to do. When I brought up a contract and payment, I never heard from them after that. Although I am glad I don’t have to untangle the mess, I was disappointed that I didn’t even hear anything over a year, given that we had a positive work relationship. No keeping in touch even just to be pleasant, it was crickets. Overall I am glad I am off the hook and I have a way to respond to other requests in the future. My “new” job has been going well, and I am glad to have a large team instead of drowning in work and managing chaos. I also replaced a toxic manager who was terrorizing my team, and overall everyone seems happy with my more laid-back style. 3. How to interpret new daily meetings with my boss (#3 at the link) My daily 1-on-1s with my boss continued for about a month, and then priorities in our company shifted and my boss couldn’t sustain the time and they just kind of petered out. While we were still meeting daily, I did try to take the advice of using the time to my advantage. I tried to step things up myself — not just projecting confidence but showing more evidence of my work and strategic thinking — and I do think that helped reassure him and make things feel less tense, and make me feel like I was getting something out of the meetings as well. I never asked point-blank about why the meetings were happening, but looking back, it does seem like there was more going on affecting my boss than I was aware of. I was so focused on the why me of it that I didn’t recognize about how much had been changing for him as well, and how he probably felt under additional pressure and scrutiny at that time and was probably using these meetings to pass on some of that to me (not maliciously but probably just to, in a roundabout way, get some support himself). After a few months, I had an opportunity to switch divisions and step into a role starting to manage some junior folks, which I’m really enjoying! I’m trying to be really clear in my communication with them so I don’t pass on anxiety and ambiguity myself going forward, but I also have a little more appreciation now for the stresses of being responsible for other people’s successes. The post updates: the bereavement gift, the free advice, and more appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

The trade group's letter to FHFA Director Bill Pulte pointed out that lenders were facing credit report price hikes for four straight years. View the full article

The latest employment numbers have dropped—and the job market still looks tough for workers. Today’s jobs report shares data from November, which was delayed due to the government shutdown that lifted last month. As jobs growth has slowed in recent months, the unemployment rate has climbed to 4.6%, up from 4.4% in September and the highest it has been in four years. Employers added only 64,000 jobs in November, and the market also shed 105,000 jobs the month prior. Wage growth has stagnated to a degree that hasn’t been seen since 2021. The jobs report seems to confirm what many workers are likely encountering as they try to navigate the current job market: Employers are simply not hiring at the same rate, due to economic uncertainty and the The President administration’s crackdown on immigration. The current climate has been described by experts as “low hire, low fire,” which means the workers who do lose their jobs are struggling to find new employment. The share of Americans who have been out of work for over six months has jumped to 1.9 million, when it was 1.7 million a year ago. That’s not great news for people affected by the layoffs sweeping through companies like UPS and Amazon, which had raised alarm bells about the broader labor market. On the whole, however, the jobs report indicates employers are not cutting jobs at a concerning rate: Initial claims for unemployment insurance are still relatively low, which is usually a measure of whether layoffs are roiling the economy; (The job losses from October also reflect the exit of over 150,000 federal workers who had accepted deferred resignation offers and are no longer on the payroll.) The rising unemployment rate seems to be fueled by the hiring slowdown—which has left workers who are laid off with fewer job opportunities. At the same time, however, economists say that a decline in immigration has kept the unemployment rate lower than it should be, since there are fewer people entering the labor force. That might explain why the unemployment rate isn’t even higher, given the hiring outlook, though Black workers are also seeing a significant spike in unemployment—a sign that the labor market might be weakening. It’s a confusing picture for people who are seeking new jobs or entering the workforce. The jobs report tells us that the labor market has, in fact, cooled, but perhaps not to the extent that you might expect amid recurring reports of layoffs. There are a number of other factors that workers are up against: Artificial intelligence is fueling fluctuations in the workforce, with some employers citing the technology as they issue layoffs, though that might not be the true reason for shedding workers. Still, there don’t seem to be clear recession indicators—at least for now. There might even be a glimmer of hope for workers in the job growth figures from November: While the gains were modest, it looks like private employers may be slowly starting to hire more, particularly in the healthcare sector. View the full article

FIFA slashed the price of some World Cup tickets for teams’ most loyal fans following a global backlash and some will get $60 seats for the final instead of being asked to pay $4,185. FIFA said Tuesday that $60 tickets will be made available for every game at the tournament in North America, going to the national federations whose teams are playing. Those federations decide how to distribute them to loyal fans who have attended previous games at home and on the road. The number of $60 tickets for each game is likely to be in the hundreds, rather than thousands, in what FIFA is now calling a “Supporter Entry Tier” price category. FIFA did not specify exactly why it so dramatically changed strategy, but said the lower prices are “designed to further support travelling fans following their national teams across the tournament.” The World Cup in North America will be the first edition that features 48 teams—up from 32—and is expected to earn FIFA at least $10 billion in revenue. But fans worldwide reacted with shock and anger last week on seeing FIFA’s ticketing plans that gave participating teams no tickets in the lowest-priced category. The cheapest prices ranged from $120 to $265 for group-stage games that did not involve co-hosts the United States, Canada, and Mexico. FIFA had set those prices despite the co-hosts having pledged eight years ago—when they were bidding for the tournament—that hundreds of thousands of $21 tickets would be made available. Criticism from fans, especially in Europe, had been increasing for several months over plans for “dynamic pricing” plus extra fees on a FIFA-run resale platform—both features which are common in the U.S. entertainment industry but not to soccer fans worldwide. Fan anger intensified last week when it became clear loyal supporters would have no access to the cheapest category tickets and that fans who wanted to reserve a ticket for all of their team’s potential games—through the final—would not get refunded until after the tournament. In another climbdown Tuesday, FIFA said it would waive its administrative fees when refunds are made after the July 19 final. View the full article

Kraft Heinz announced on Tuesday that new CEO Steve Cahillane will join the food giant to help steer its split into two companies. The former head of Kellanova joins the ailing food giant after years of declining sales and slow growth, and as shares are down 75% since 2017. In 2026, the company will split into two independent, publicly traded companies, Global Taste Elevation Co. and North American Grocery Co., with the first focused on condiments and the Heinz ketchup brand, and the second on Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles, and Lunchables brands. Cahillane comes on board January 1, 2026 and will serve as chief executive officer of the first of those companies, which will rebrand as Global Taste Elevation Co. and continue to house the Philadelphia and Kraft Mac & Cheese brands, along with Heinz. “I’m confident the planned separation will accelerate the Company’s ability to compete and win in today’s environment,” Cahillane said in a statement. Cahillane brings a wealth of industry experience to Kraft Heinz, having most recently served as chief executive of Kellanova, where he oversaw the recent acquisition by Mars and the expansion of household brands including Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, and Kellogg’s. More notably, he led Kellogg Company through the successful separation of its North American cereal business and the launch of Kellanova, a global snacking powerhouse. That experience that should come in handy in the coming months. “Steve is uniquely qualified to lead this organization into the future, and we are delighted he will be taking on the role of CEO,” Kraft Heinz’s chair Miguel Patricio said in a statement. Kraft Heinz financials In its third quarter earnings, the food giant reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.61, beating analyst estimates. However, revenue fell short of expectations, with the company reporting a year-over-year net sales decline of 2.3%. View the full article

Hollywood studio and streaming company open to new bid but there are doubts over Ellison funding View the full article

The country’s automotive future doesn’t look as electric as carmakers had once hoped. But it doesn’t mean the EV industry is entirely dead. On Monday, Ford Motor Company announced that it’s taking major steps to pull back on its EV-focused future. The automaker is scrapping plans to produce a new electric truck, repurposing an EV battery plant to produce storage for the grid, and converting its fully electric F-150 Lightning into a hybrid. It’s also planning to expand its gas and hybrid options. The strategy shift away from fully electric vehicles will cost the automaker $19.5 billion. Ford’s stock has been mostly flat since the news was announced, with shares trading down roughly 0.11% as of late Tuesday afternoon. The move may seem like an indictment against electric vehicles at large. It may also seem counterintuitive given that EV sales in the U.S. hit record highs this year. But experts say it illustrates the specific headwinds that EV makers have faced in the U.S. this year, and the challenges of scaling an emerging technology. Tax credits and tariffs Manufacturing vehicles in the U.S. has become increasingly expensive, due in part to higher labor costs, stricter environmental regulations, and supply-chain issues. And a more expensive manufacturing environment means more investment risk. In 2025, it became even more challenging. “A lot of things designed to mitigate that risk have been unwound,” says Albert Gore, executive director of the Zero Emissions Transportation Association (ZETA), a coalition advocating for EV advancement. President The President scrapped federal tax credits for EVs and enacted sweeping (and at times unpredictable) tariffs. He also rolled back fuel economy standards, and generally added immense uncertainty to every investment decision in U.S. manufacturing. “The cost of doing business in the U.S. has gone up significantly,” Gore says. Ford’s announcement even speaks to this, noting that “regulatory changes” have affected its EV plans. Profitability concerns Ford’s situation in this landscape is unique in part because of the specific type of EV it offers. Ford’s flagship EV was its F-150 Lightning, a full-size pickup that came with a steep price. Though the F-150 Lightning was announced in 2021 with a price of $40,000, once production began, that cost increased. The 2025 F-150 started around $55,000 though other versions came in even higher; the F-150 Lightning Platinum, for example, starts around $85,000. Ford had been struggling with its EV profitability for a while; it was losing money on every EV it sold even at the start of 2024. And though EV demand has been strong—Gore says that for the past 15 years, EV demand has “far exceeded industry estimates”—price is an important component of that demand. In general, the U.S. auto market focuses on SUVs and trucks, which have higher average transaction prices than sedans. That impacts U.S. consumers, who have been facing increasing costs in multiple sectors, including groceries and electricity. It also makes it more challenging for U.S. companies to compete internationally. In 1960, about 52% of global automotive sales were U.S.-made vehicles. Today, it’s around 11%, and falling. Some of that is just the rest of the world growing its manufacturing, Gore notes, but “some of it is the way that cars made here for this market have changed in a way that places them somewhat out of step with the rest of the world.” Ford isn’t totally giving up on EVs, though. The automaker’s changing strategy is specifically about no longer producing “select larger electric vehicles where the business case has eroded due to lower-than-expected demand, high costs and regulatory changes.” So while it has scrapped the F-150 Lightning, it still has plans to make smaller, affordable models, as well as expand its hybrid and extended range EVs. EVs need scale—and China is dominating In order for EVs to be profitable, production needs to reach a certain scale. But these factors—vehicle type, as well as shifting trade and tax policies—hinder automakers’ abilities to do so. And EVs are still somewhat nascent, at least compared to internal combustion vehicles. “Manufacturing new powertrain vehicles is hard,” Gore says, “and particularly takes economies of scale that have been achieved over a century with internal combustion vehicles, but are just now starting to be achieved in the U.S. with electric vehicles, within the last seven years or so.” One out of every four vehicles sold around the world in 2025 will be an EV. But right now the market is dominated by China, which accounts for about 70% of global EV production. China has come to own the global EV industry in part because of its technological advancements, specifically around battery innovation—and its ability to make ultra-affordable EVs. Some Chinese EVs start as low as $10,000; Ford CEO Jim Farley himself test drove (and loved) a Xiaomi SU7, which retails for around $30,000. China’s EV success reveals just how far behind the U.S. is when it comes to EV advancements. And though China’s dominance isn’t quite affecting the U.S. car market—former President Biden imposed 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs as a way to protect American auto manufacturing—it is having global impacts. The European Union is abandoning a ban on combustion vehicles after automaker pressure, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, giving more time for automakers to go electric. The move comes as European carmakers face increased competition from China, as well as steep tariffs from the U.S. EV consumer sentiment is hit—but there’s hope Another factor playing into the complicated EV landscape, particularly in the U.S., is the changing consumer sentiment around the technology. EV sales did hit a record high in the U.S. this year, but that was likely influenced by consumers racing to qualify for the federal tax credits before they expire. A recent study by CDK Global found that EV interest among gas car drivers dropped 20%. When asked if they will buy an EV in the future, 31% of gas drivers said yes in 2024, compared to 11% in 2025. Interest even dropped among hybrid drivers, 54% of whom said in 2024 they would switch to an EV in the future, compared to 35% in 2025. Gore wasn’t involved in that survey, but he points out that the conversation around EV’s has become increasingly politicized. “The rhetoric is by its nature extremely negative , and it’s loud,” he says. That can affect EV adoption, particularly for a technology that needs to vie for mainstream appeal. Early adopters drove EV’s initial surging growth, but then the industry has had to figure out how to attract everyone else who isn’t as invested in being a frontrunner. But Gore isn’t concerned about the long-term appeal of EVs. “That’s something that has been absolutely consistent, that regardless of what anyone’s heard, the experience of driving an EV is overwhelmingly positive, and the same with owning one,” he says. Though EV sales dipped 1% in North America this year compared to 2024, they’re still up 24% globally. Despite the challenges the EV industry faces in the U.S. and abroad, experts like Gore are positive there’s still plenty of market to reach—and that continued advancement, particularly in battery technology, means electric vehicles make sense for the future. The U.S. EV industry has seen ups and downs before. And though it might be the right current move, economically, for automakers to pull back on EV plans, they risk falling behind if and when the market swings back. “For people who don’t [scratch their EV plans], I think the reward will be a much bigger market than a lot of companies,” Gore says. View the full article

Automakers Hyundai and Kia must offer free repairs to millions of models under a settlement announced Tuesday by Minnesota’s attorney general, who led an effort by dozens of states that argued the vehicles weren’t equipped with proper anti-theft technology, leaving them vulnerable to theft. Under the nationwide settlement, the companies will offer a free repair to all eligible vehicles at a cost that could top $500 million, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said. Hyundai and Kia must also outfit all future vehicles sold in the U.S. with a key piece of technology called an engine immobilizer and pay up to $4.5 million of restitution to people whose vehicles were damaged by thieves. The settlement was reached by 35 states, including California, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The vehicles eligible for fixes date as far back as 2011 and as recently as 2022. About 9 million eligible vehicles were sold nationwide. Thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles soared in part because beginning in 2021, videos posted to TikTok and other social media demonstrated how someone could steal a car with just a screwdriver and a USB cable. Minneapolis reported an 836% increase in Hyundai and Kia thefts from 2021 to 2022. Ellison announced an investigation into the automakers in early 2023. Ellison said the two companies installed engine immobilizers on cars sold in Mexico and Canada, but not widely in the U.S., leading to car thefts, crimes and crashes that injured and even killed people, including teenagers. “This crisis that we’re talking about today started in a boardroom, traveled through the Internet and ended up in tragic results when somebody stole those cars,” Ellison said at a news conference. He was joined by Twin Cities officials, a woman whose mother was killed when a stolen Kia crashed into her parents’ vehicle and a man whose car was stolen nine times — as recently as Monday night, and including seven times after a previous software fix. Under the settlement, Hyundai and Kia will install a zinc sleeve to stop would-be thieves from cracking open a vehicle’s ignition cylinder and starting the car. Eligible customers will have one year from the date of the companies’ notice to get the repair at an authorized dealership. The repairs are expected to be available from early 2026 through early 2027. In a statement, Kia said the agreement is the latest step it has taken to help its customers and prevent thefts. “Kia is eager to continue working with law enforcement officers and officials at federal, state, and local levels to combat criminal car theft, and the role social media has played in encouraging it, and we remain fully committed to upholding vehicle security,” the company said. The Associated Press emailed Hyundai for comment. —Jack Dura, Associated Press View the full article

Hart, who came over from Ellie Mae, starts in the position of Jan. 1, as Tim Bowler moves to a new role within ICE's Fixed Income and Data Services division. View the full article

Remodeling your house can be an exciting experience. It can also be an expensive one, which is why a lot of homeowners opt to go the DIY route. But any DIY remodel can also be daunting, even if you’re relatively comfortable with home maintenance and repair tasks. Whether you’re contemplating a DIY remodel for the cost savings or because it’s a fun challenge, there are a lot of online tools that can make the planning and execution of your project a lot easier. The 10 apps below can help you find inspiration, identify furniture and other items that will support your vision, and even show you how to tackle the entire project, step-by-step. Best apps for DIY inspirationEvery home remodel starts with a need for change: you're bored with your current look or you feel a sense of dissatisfaction with the flow or functionality of your house. But that feeling that something isn't quite right doesn’t mean you immediately know what you want. These apps can help you get inspired: Houzz. One of the most popular interior design tools out there, and for good reason: With the Houzz app, you can see nearly infinite examples of interior design that you can leverage for inspiration. You can search by paint color, design aesthetic, or other details to see what other folks have done so you can steal their ideas and make them your own. LIKEtoKNOW.it. Instagram can be a treasure trove of design ideas, but folks don’t always think to tag every stick of furniture or lamp in the photo for your shopping convenience. This app takes screenshots of Insta posts or other sources and searches for the product, serving up links to stores where you can buy it. RoomStyler. This website offers a 3D plan creator and a moodboard tool, but it’s best used for inspiration. You can easily browse through designs created by people all over the world, and connect with other people who are also planning remodels so you can trade ideas and tips. Morpholio Board (iOS) / MoodBoard Maker (Android). If you’re the sort who likes to make a mood board when tackling a visual project like a home remodel, these tools are perfect. Collect product images, color swatches, and other visuals from just about any online source with the flick of a finger. Best apps for DIY planningOnce you have a project in mind, it's time to make it more concrete. These apps can help you plan out your project: CubiCasa. If you want to know whether your dream furniture will fit in a space, or you need to calculate how much flooring or cabinetry you’ll need for a kitchen remodel, CubiCasa makes creating an accurate floor plan of your house a snap. Just scan your rooms with your phone, and in a day or so you’ll get a clean floor plan with dimensions that you can use for planning. Pantone Connect (iOS / Android). It’s not free, but the myPANTONE app leverages the color-matching power of the Pantone folks to help you come up with pleasing, professionally-blessed color schemes for your home. It can even match a color in a photo and deliver a color palette for you. Paint My Room (iOS / Android). If you want to take a bit more of a DIY approach to choosing paint colors, this nifty app lets you apply a color to the walls of your room so you can see what it will look like before committing. HomeByMe. This is an incredibly useful app that lets you create 2D floorplans that you can easily convert into 3D floorplans. Then you can populate those floor plans with real, actual products to see what it will all look like. HomeZada. HomeZada is a platform that makes it easy to manage all aspects of running your home, from maintenance schedules to budgets. But it can be used more narrowly to manage a renovation or remodeling project, tracking materials, costs, and timelines in one handy place. If the sprawl of a remodel intimidates you (or you’re just the type to forget how much tile needs to be ordered the moment you’re standing in the store), this app can help keep everything managed. The best step-by-step app for DIY projectsFinally, it's time to get the thing done. But how? wikiHow (iOS / Android). If you’re not sure you have the skills and experience needed to tackle your DIY project, this classic online resource can show you how to do just about any task, complete with photos and videos to guide you. Using the app is a lot more streamlined and organized than sifting through 1,000 YouTube videos. View the full article

Michael Hutchins, the two-time interim chief executive at the government-sponsored enterprise, will remain with the company in his role as president. View the full article

The U.S. stock market is drifting lower on Tuesday following mixed data on the economy’s strength, which did little to clear uncertainty about where interest rates may be heading. The S&P 500 fell 0.4% in afternoon trading and remains a bit below its all-time high set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 271 points, or 0.6%, as of 1:53 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was mostly unchanged. Treasury yields eased a bit, following a larger initial drop, after one report said the U.S. unemployment rate was at its worst level last month since 2021, but employers also added more jobs than economists expected. A separate report, meanwhile, said an underlying measure of strength for revenue at U.S. retailers grew more in October than economists expected. The mixed data initially sent Treasury yields lower in the bond market. The knee-jerk reaction seemed to be that the reports could encourage the Federal Reserve to see the slowing job market as the biggest threat to the economy, rather than high inflation, and cut interest rates further in 2026. But yields quickly recovered and then drifted up and down. What the Fed does with interest rates is a top driver for Wall Street because lower rates can give a boost to the economy and to prices for investments, even if they also may worsen inflation. A report coming on Thursday will show how bad inflation was last month, and economists expect it to show prices for U.S. consumers continue to rise faster than anyone would like. A report released on Tuesday after U.S. stocks began trading suggested price pressures are rising sharply, with average selling prices for businesses climbing at one of the fastest rates since the middle of 2022. The preliminary data from S&P Global also said growth for overall business activity slowed to its weakest level since June. “Higher prices are again being widely blamed on tariffs, with an initial impact on manufacturing now increasingly spilling over to services to broaden the affordability problem,” according to Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.16% from 4.18% late Monday. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, eased to 3.48% from 3.51%. Helping to keep the overall market in check were continued swings for stocks that have been caught up in the frenzy around artificial-intelligence technology. Oracle rose 2.4%, and Broadcom rose 0.1%. They both had dropped to sharp losses last week, even though both reported stronger profits for the latest quarter than analysts expected. But CoreWeave, which rents out access to top-of-the-line AI chips, fell 4.9%. Questions remain about whether all the spending underway on AI technology will produce the kind of profits and productivity that will make it worth the expense. Elsewhere on Wall Street, Pfizer fell 5.2% after giving a forecast for profit in 2026 that was below what some analysts expected. Its forecast for revenue next year, of between $59.5 billion and $62.5 billion, was close to analysts’ expectations. Kraft Heinz fell 0.1% after saying Steve Cahillane, who was most recently CEO of Kellanova, will join as CEO on Jan. 1. After Kraft Heinz splits into two companies, which is expected to happen in the second half of 2026, Cahillane will lead the one that will hold onto the Heinz, Philadelphia and Kraft Mac & Cheese brands. In stock markets abroad, indexes fell across much of Europe and Asia. Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 1.6% ahead of an expected hike to interest rates by the Bank of Japan later this week. Other markets in Asia also had some of the world’s sharper swings. South Korea’s Kospi dropped 2.2%, while indexes fell 1.5% in Hong Kong and 1.1% in Shanghai. —By Stan Choe, AP business writer AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed. View the full article

It’s “where are you now?” month at Ask a Manager, and all December I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. There will be more posts than usual this week, so keep checking back throughout the day. Remember the letter-writer who was asked out on LinkedIn (#2 at the link)? Here’s the update. It was really interesting seeing the commentariat split. I come from a family with a lot of public and semi-public figures (think your local news station’s traffic guy rather than, like, celebrity nepo baby) and unfortunately, we’ve dealt with actual stalkers that required police involvement before, so I’ll admit to being on higher alert to being tracked down on LinkedIn than your average bear. As people said, it wasn’t being asked out that gave me pause but being tracked down in such a manner. This situation ended fine — I took what one might call the coward’s way out and didn’t respond via LinkedIn but saw him at the same cafe a month or two later and waved, but didn’t engage. He didn’t engage either. There were some responses that were mildly condescending about how “freaked out” I got by one message, so I hope this clarifies a bit. I work as a librarian, which means my job is public-facing day in and day out. To have someone suddenly know where I worked, at a job that had a set schedule, and therefore how and when to find me had me thinking a lot more about the optics of wearing a branded jacket out and about. It’s gathering dust in the closet at the moment, unfortunately not primarily because of this — because a colleague got harassed in a public park by someone upset by our policies about a month after this happened. (To anyone considering libraries as a career, they will not cover this in graduate school). For the record, the initial interaction was sparked because we have the same gender-neutral name. The cafe employee called out “order for Taylor” and we both jumped at it, so there was kind of no way to avoid giving my name I realized after sending in the letter that yes, it would be a little ridiculous for the cafe staff to give out my relationship status, but that’s hindsight for you! Update that is very little related to the initial post: my long-term partner is now my fiancé, and I was just(!) promoted out of my branch and therefore away from the coffee shop where this all went down. Sometimes you win a salary increase and the respect of your colleagues, but you lose the really good cappuccino. The post update: I was asked out on LinkedIn appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Construction document management is critical to keeping complex building projects organized, compliant and on schedule. With multiple stakeholders, evolving plans and strict regulatory requirements, construction teams need a reliable way to store, track and share documents in real time. Effective construction document control ensures that the right stakeholders are working from the latest versions, reducing errors, delays and costly rework while improving collaboration across the project lifecycle. What Is Construction Document Management? Construction document management is the process of organizing, storing and controlling all digital and physical construction documents throughout a project lifecycle. Effective construction document management enables construction companies and project managers to maintain a single source of truth, ensure real-time access to information and track changes across drawings, contracts and work orders. Using document management software and cloud-based construction software, teams improve compliance, streamline decision-making and reduce time spent on data entry and version control. Why Is Construction Document Management Important? Keeping construction documents organized and accessible is essential for ensuring projects stay on schedule and within budget. A strong document control system gives project managers and team members real-time access to digital documents, tracks changes and maintains a clear history for compliance audits. Centralizing documents in a cloud-based system helps construction companies reduce errors, prevent cost overruns and make informed decisions throughout the project lifecycle. Managing construction documents in ProjectManager is easy. Leverage the sheet view to see all tasks, documents, attachments and status in one sortable grid. You can link files to specific tasks, track document updates and monitor completion alongside progress. Centralized access to all construction documents makes it simple for construction teams to manage documentation efficiently. Sign up for a free 30-day trial, no credit card required. /wp-content/uploads/2024/03/sheet-view-cta-light-mode-construction.jpgLearn more Construction Document Management Process Now that we know more about the definition and importance of construction document management, let’s explore the steps. 1. Document Creation & Intake Project documents are created or received from internal teams, designers, contractors or authorities. This includes drawings, specifications, contracts, RFIs, submittals, permits and reports. Each document is logged, named consistently and assigned basic metadata (project, discipline, date, version). 2. Classification & Organization Documents are categorized by type, phase and discipline (e.g., design, procurement, construction, closeout). Folder structures or document registers are applied to ensure files are easy to locate and consistently stored across the project lifecycle. 3. Version Control & Change Tracking Revisions are managed to ensure only the latest approved versions are used on site. Superseded documents are archived, version histories are maintained and changes are clearly tracked to prevent rework, errors or disputes. /wp-content/uploads/2025/06/version-control-hero-600x435.pngLearn more 4. Review, Approval & Distribution Documents requiring review follow defined workflows for checking, approval or rejection. Once approved, documents are formally issued to relevant stakeholders, ensuring the right people are working from the correct information. 5. Access Control & Security User permissions are assigned based on roles and responsibilities. Sensitive documents such as contracts or financial records are restricted, while construction drawings and schedules are shared with broader project teams as needed. 6. Ongoing Updates & Coordination As the project progresses, documents are continuously updated to reflect design changes, site conditions and decisions. Coordination between teams ensures document updates align with schedules, procurement and field activities. /wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-construction-ebook-banner-ad.jpg 7. Audit Trail & Compliance Management All document actions—uploads, revisions, approvals and distributions—are logged to create a clear audit trail. This supports contractual compliance, regulatory requirements and dispute resolution if issues arise. 8. Archiving & Project Closeout At project completion, final versions are compiled and archived. As-built drawings, warranties, operation manuals and closeout documents are organized for handover to owners and facility management teams. Important Documents for the Construction Document Process Managing construction documents effectively requires knowing which files are most critical to your project’s success. From contracts to change orders, understanding the key documents in the construction document process helps teams stay organized, maintain compliance and ensure smooth project execution. Construction Drawings At the heart of every construction project are the drawings—detailed visual guides showing architectural, structural and mechanical designs. Proper document management ensures that all team members work from the latest version. Cloud-based systems and document control make it easy to share, update and track drawings throughout the project lifecycle. Construction Specifications Specifications define the materials, quality standards and workmanship required for construction. Rather than just a checklist, they guide daily decisions on the job site. Centralized document management allows construction managers and team members to quickly access specs, monitor updates and maintain a clear history for compliance and quality assurance. Construction Contracts Construction contracts formalize agreements between owners, contractors and subcontractors, covering responsibilities, timelines and payment terms. Storing these documents in a document management system reduces risks, provides easy version tracking and ensures that project managers can reference obligations or resolve disputes efficiently. Related: 14 Types of Construction Contracts: Pros, Cons & Best Practices Construction Submittals Submittals, including shop drawings and product samples, require approval before installation. A structured construction document management system ensures timely review, prevents delays and keeps all stakeholders informed. With real-time access, project managers can track status, ensure proper approvals and avoid mistakes during execution. Construction Requests (RFP, RFQ, RFI) Requests for proposals, quotations or information are critical communication tools during a project. By managing these requests within a document control system, teams maintain visibility, ensure accountability and preserve a complete record. This process simplifies decision-making and keeps all project participants aligned. Construction Project Management Plan The project management plan serves as a roadmap, detailing objectives, risk strategies, schedules and resource allocation. Document management software ensures this plan is accessible to all team members, maintaining version control and real-time updates. Centralizing the plan supports informed decisions and keeps the project aligned with its goals. Construction Statement of Work A statement of work (SOW) clearly defines the project scope, deliverables and responsibilities. Integrating the SOW into a document management system ensures stakeholders have one source of truth. This transparency prevents scope creep and supports efficient project execution by providing a reference point for all decisions. Construction Budget Construction budgets detail expected costs for labor, materials and contingencies. Keeping the budget in a cloud-based document management system enables project managers to compare planned versus actual spending. This real-time visibility reduces cost overruns, ensures compliance and provides a historical record for future construction projects. Related: 18 Budget Templates for Business & Project Budgeting Construction Schedule The construction schedule coordinates tasks, dependencies and milestones. When integrated into a document management system, schedules become dynamic tools. Project managers and team members can access updates in real time, track progress, adjust resources and maintain accountability, ensuring that deadlines are met across the project lifecycle. /wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Gantt-chart-in-project-management-construction-project.pngLearn more Free Construction Documents Templates We’ve made several free Excel construction templates designed to improve project outcomes. We’ve highlighted only a few that we encourage you to explore. Construction Management Plan Template This ready-to-use template helps construction project managers outline objectives, tasks, schedules, budget and responsibilities in one organized document. By centralizing your plan, you can improve collaboration, maintain clear document control and keep your construction projects on track from start to finish. Construction Scope of Work Template This template helps construction project managers clearly define project deliverables, timelines and responsibilities, ensuring all stakeholders are aligned. By documenting the scope in one centralized location, teams can prevent misunderstandings, maintain proper construction document control and streamline project execution from planning through completion. Construction Budget Template Designed for construction project managers, this template makes it easy to plan, track and control costs for labor, materials, equipment and contingencies. With centralized budget data, teams can reduce the risk of cost overruns, support better decision-making and keep financials aligned with project schedules throughout the construction lifecycle. Construction Document Management Participants Successful construction document management relies on the collaboration of multiple participants. Understanding the roles and responsibilities of each team member ensures documents are organized, controlled and accessible, helping projects run smoothly and stay on schedule. Project Owner/Client Provides project requirements, approves key documents and ultimately receives final deliverables at closeout. The owner relies on accurate document control to make decisions, manage risk and support operations after handover. Project Manager Oversees document workflows and ensures documents align with scope, schedule and cost. The project manager coordinates reviews, tracks approvals and makes sure teams are working from the latest authorized information. Construction Document Control Team Manages day-to-day document handling. The construction document control team is responsible for filing, version control, naming conventions, distribution, access permissions and maintaining audit trails throughout the project lifecycle. Architects & Design Consultants Produce and revise design documents such as drawings, specifications and reports. They respond to RFIs, issue design updates and ensure design documentation remains coordinated and compliant. Related: 10 Free Construction Scheduling Templates for Excel, Word & Google Sheets Engineers (Structural, MEP, Civil, etc.) Develop discipline-specific documents and calculations. Engineers submit revisions, respond to technical queries and support design changes during construction. General Contractor/Construction manager Consumes design documents, submits RFIs, submittals and change documentation and distributes approved documents to site teams. They rely heavily on controlled documents to execute the work accurately. Subcontractors & Supplier Submit shop drawings, material submittals, product data and certifications. They must follow document control procedures to ensure their work complies with approved designs and specifications. ProjectManager Is Powerful Construction Document Management Software ProjectManager provides construction teams with a centralized, online platform to manage documents and ensure construction document control throughout the entire project lifecycle. Construction project managers and team members can store, organize and control drawings, contracts, change orders and work orders in one secure location. Collaborate Across Project Views Views like the Gantt chart enable real-time collaboration. Use the Gantt chart to improve document control by linking documents to scheduled activities and milestones. This ensures drawings, specifications and contracts align with timelines and dependencies, reducing errors caused by outdated information. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Gantt-wide-comment-collaboration.png Organize Documents by Phase The kanban board makes it easy to organize and sort your construction document management approach. Build custom workflows and ensure that they align with stages, such as draft, submitted, under review, approved or issued. Drawings, RFIs, change orders and contracts can be attached directly to kanban cards, keeping files tied to the work they support. /wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Manufacturing-overlay-LIGHT-Task-collab-comment.jpg Related Project Management Content 8 Free Construction Forms for Excel and Word 14 Types of Construction Contracts: Pros, Cons & Best Practices How to Manage a Construction Project Step by Step 10 Types of Construction Projects with Examples The Construction Process Explained Step-by-Step ProjectManager is online construction project management software that connects teams, whether they’re in the office or on the job site. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Construction document control has never been easier. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post Construction Document Management: A Quick Guide appeared first on ProjectManager. 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. Whether you’re looking for a more immersive sound experience (and clearer dialogue) to elevate movie nights and TV shows, or to upgrade your music listening experience, Samsung is widely known for its highly rated soundbars that combine a sleek aesthetic with a space-saving design that avoids the clutter of a full home theater system. Right now, a new Samsung Q990F soundbar is more than 50% off at $967.99 (originally $1,997.99) on Woot, making this an especially good time to invest. Samsung Q990F 11.1.4ch Q Series Soundbar CA$967.99 at Woot CA$1,997.99 Save CA$1,030.00 Get Deal Get Deal CA$967.99 at Woot CA$1,997.99 Save CA$1,030.00 PCMag gives this soundbar glowing reviews and an Editors’ Choice Award, calling it the “best-sounding soundbar you can buy.” The Q990F is a premium four-piece surround system with a soundbar, a subwoofer, and a pair of rear satellite speakers. Compared to its predecessor, the HW-Q990D, this model has 23 drivers, seamless compatibility with other Samsung products, and multiple wired and wireless connections. While it’s slightly larger than other soundbars on the market, its performance justifies the extra size. Its sound, described by PCMag as “deep lows and crisp, detailed highs,” delivers stunning sound, as do the multitude of drivers and frequency range. It delivers the closest performance to a surround-sound home theater system, but is much more convenient, compact, and affordable at this steep discount. Along with an HDMI cable and a power cable to connect to each speaker, it also comes with a small, no-frills remote that’s intuitive to use. Bluetooth 5.3 and wifi connectivity allow it to work with Google Cast and Apple AirPlay 2, allowing for multi-room audio, and it also supports direct streaming via Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect. The companion app has adjustable EQ controls, and while it only lets you tweak bass and treble, you can fully control the volume level of each channel to further fine-tune. If you’re looking for a soundbar-based surround sound system that provides the most immersive listening experience with as few components as possible, the Samsung Q990F soundbar stands in a class of its own and is well worth the splurge at a $1,030 discount. Just note that Woot only ships to the 48 contiguous states in the U.S. If you have Amazon Prime, you get free shipping; otherwise, it’ll be $6 to ship. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $209.99 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Sony WH-1000XM5 — $248.00 (List Price $399.99) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 10.9" 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Graphite) — $149.99 (List Price $219.99) Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant — $329.00 (List Price $429.00) Blink Outdoor 4 1080p 3-Camera Kit With Sync Module Core — $74.99 (List Price $189.99) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — $29.99 (List Price $49.99) Meta Quest 3 512GB Mixed Reality VR Headset with Controllers — (List Price $499 With Code "QUEST50") Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

When the government shutdown came to an end last month, the much-delayed jobs report for September was finally released, revealing that the unemployment rate had inched up to 4.4%—the highest it had been in four years. Amid a tough job market and economic uncertainty, it’s little surprise that unemployment is on the rise again. In the latest jobs dispatch that was published today, unemployment had ticked up to 4.6% for the month of November. But it’s a specific segment of the workforce that is most acutely feeling the effects of this spike in unemployment: For Black workers, the rate has stretched to 8.3%, up from 6%, in just the last six months. The rate among white workers, by comparison, has remained relatively steady, hovering just over 3%. Why Black unemployment is rising There are many reasons for this particular increase in unemployment. But experts say the dizzying pace of the The President administration’s attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion has notably contributed to the rising unemployment rate among Black workers—and, more specifically, Black women, though the new jobs report for November indicates that unemployment among Black men has also increased. The DEI pullback orchestrated by the The President administration is not solely to blame for this dip in employment, though it plays a significant role. Since assuming office, The President has taken aim at DEI programs across the public and private sectors. Starting in January, The President issued a flurry of executive orders that shut down DEI offices across the federal government. He also reversed a key executive action that had promoted racial equity by curtailing discriminatory employment practices among contractors that work with the federal government. In addition, The President has sought to dissolve DEI efforts across corporate America by directing federal agencies to investigate private companies—a move that has led many employers to reevaluate their DEI policies or eliminate certain programs altogether. The job losses catalyzed by The President’s directive to cut DEI roles across the federal government have affected Black workers, who also tend to hold diversity jobs in higher numbers. Even beyond that, the federal job losses—which are on track to reach 300,000 by the end of the year—have hit Black workers especially hard, because they are overrepresented in that part of the workforce. Data from September 2024 indicates that almost half of federal workers are women and about 41% are people of color. An analysis by the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) earlier this year found that women and people of color were overrepresented at many of the federal agencies that saw significant reductions in their workforce. The The President administration’s cuts have also targeted probationary workers—those in their first year of service or people who have recently been promoted—who are more likely to be women. “It really boils down to sort of a perfect storm of factors,” says Valerie Wilson, the director of the program on race, ethnicity, and the economy at the Economic Policy Institute. “We have the federal layoffs and job losses. We have the retraction of DEI policies . . . and organizations, including the federal government, that have essentially eliminated DEI departments or roles that were likely held by a large number of Black women.” Wilson also notes that job losses across industries have disproportionately impacted women—from manufacturing to professional and business services. How the DEI backlash has impacted Black workers While it’s difficult to quantify the full scope of how anti-DEI measures have impacted Black employment, Wilson says there’s no doubt that there’s a correlation—and that the fallout goes beyond the elimination of DEI jobs held by Black workers. The The President administration’s approach to DEI has also reshaped the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which has made “unlawful DEI-related discrimination” a focus of its enforcement under new chair Andrea Lucas. Wilson argues the administration’s actions have a chilling effect, both on corporate DEI efforts and when it comes to how workers can seek recourse if they do face discrimination in the workplace. The fear that they might be targeted or face litigation has already driven employers to make significant changes to their DEI programs in recent years, dating back to the Supreme Court decision that struck down affirmative action in 2023. Tech companies like Meta and Google have dropped representation goals that were intended to diversify their ranks—once a common practice in the industry—while major employers like Walmart and McDonald’s have stopped prioritizing diverse suppliers and pulled out of the Human Rights Commission’s Corporate Equality Index, an influential benchmarking survey that measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ workers. Lauren Khouri, the senior director of workplace equality at the NWLC, points out that there are plenty of other programs that have been harmed by federal cuts and, in turn, impact workers of color—even if they are not explicitly denoted as DEI initiatives. “It’s not just the cuts that we’ve seen in the federal workforce,” she says. “If you look at the repercussions of cuts in grant programs across the federal government, we’ve seen an attack on domestic violence and sexual assault service provider organizations across the country, both at the state and local level. We’ve seen an attack on Department of Labor grant programs that specifically went to lifting up women in the trades. Without that funding, those organizations—whose mission and job is to lift up women, people of color, and marginalized communities—have had to make really hard choices to keep the lights on.” The erosion of DEI programs will also play a major role in how Black workers bounce back from this surge in unemployment. “I think we have yet to see the full impact,” Wilson says. “It’s going to come into play on the other end of job losses, when we’re looking at how quickly people recover—and not just how quickly they recover, but what kinds of positions they recover into. The purpose of a lot of those programs wasn’t just to hire a more diverse set of workers for any kind of role—it was also [creating] opportunities for people to gain access to higher-level positions.” What it will take to recover jobs When Black employment is lagging, it is often a sign of a broader economic downturn, according to Khouri—so it’s not just Black workers who might be faced with job insecurity, if that’s any indicator. Since Black workers are concentrated in lower-wage jobs that are more vulnerable to fluctuations in the economy, they are often impacted first when a recession is on the horizon. (This was evident during the pandemic, when unemployment spiked to over 16% and Black workers experienced job losses at a record high.) The ongoing backlash to corporate DEI programs is, however, far more likely to impact Black workers seeking out jobs in industries that have historically shut out those workers. In the tech industry, DEI initiatives had slowly helped bring more underrepresented groups—namely Black and Latino workers—into technical and leadership roles (even if that progress had been halting). The finance industry had made marginal progress on promoting Black employees into senior roles, and Black representation on boards had improved amid calls for greater diversity. A Bloomberg analysis found that in 2021, after many companies made significant investments in DEI efforts, the S&P 100 added more than 300,000 jobs—and a whopping 94% of those jobs were filled by people of color. Amid an ongoing federal hiring freeze and slowing employment, Black workers may also face an uphill battle even when it comes to finding steady employment in the federal workforce—which, until now, had been a more reliable path to the middle class for Black Americans. “The reason why we have a more diverse federal workforce is because at one point, the federal government was actually willing to sort of be a leader in establishing more equitable employment practices that were ultimately adopted in states and cities and, to some extent, the private sector,” Wilson says. “So when we start cutting federal jobs, we’re actually cutting jobs from a sector that had—at least since the 1960s—been more of a leader in establishing equity. That may not be messaged or presented as explicitly anti-DEI, but it has that effect.” The federal government was once a model for how equitable hiring practices could actually transform the workplace and cultivate true diversity. Now, not only has The President culled the federal workforce—but he has also chipped away at the very DEI policies that could have offset those losses and empowered Black workers to find work in the private sector. View the full article

If you’ve ever been to a museum or on a school field trip, you may have had a tour guide walk you through a historical exhibit of 19th-century households or of ancient Mesopotamian agricultural tools. Now, a current TikTok trend suggests that one day in the future, those exhibits will be the modern workstation—standing desks, Zoom meeting headsets, and all. The viral series titled “Historical tour of a corporate worker’s desk,” by marketing professional and content creator Heike Young, imagines what that will look like. “Now in those times, it would have been really common for a corporate worker to sit at a desk, much like this one, and be on calls all day,” she says in the skit, now with over 116,000 views. Behind Young, a standing desk is set up with two screens, one for work and the other for online shopping, she says. The desk is scattered with an assortment of beverages, or “brown liquids,” plastic food containers, and packets. “Believe it or not, this worker would’ve actually been considered very lucky to have a job like this,” she continues. “People would submit hundreds of applications and submit themselves to many humiliation rituals just to get a job like this one.” In another video, Young highlights a few common tabs workers would have had open on their screens. “Yes, Amazon. That’s the same name as the extinct rainforest, that’s right,” she replies to a “question.” “We got some history buffs in here.” She also educates on the linguistic practices of the period, more commonly known as business jargon or “work voice.” “There was one sound that always got the laborers moving. It was a mild form of psychological torture,” she explains in yet another skit. “Our museum’s immersive effects team will play it now. And there were two common variations. One was more typical among workers who used Windows technology. And the next one is often for people who used Apple Mac.” The comments are filled with corporate workers who feel horrifyingly seen by the series. “With every video I watch, the more I’m horrified by the reality of the life I currently live,” one commenter posted. Others, though, had the opposite reaction. “This made me feel really hopeful in a very strange way,” someone wrote, finding comfort in the fact that, for better or worse, the current economic reality cannot continue forever. “Much of corporate landscape right now is pretty bleak, and it’s easy to get frustrated with it all,” Young told Fast Company. “But we are living in one moment. There’s so much history before and after us.” With the series, she thought to zoom out and examine the corporate experience from an entirely different point of view, much the same as we might now look back on laborers in the past and their working conditions. “When viewing it from the future as a detached museum docent, what is striking?” Young continues. “What little, mundane details seem quaint, absurd, or even grotesque?” As for what anthropologists will be uncovering about the corporate worker experience centuries from now, Young says: “A bunch of Amazon returns that may never go back. Chips, gotta have chips. A fork with an empty plastic container. Three different beverages—some for their caffeine and some for the illusion of hydration. And a picture of the people you’re doing this for.” View the full article