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American workers' job enthusiasm hits 10-year low

Data: Gallup; Note: Employee engagement is defined as the involvement and enthusiasm employees feel toward their work and workplace; Chart: Axios Visuals

Employee engagement โ€” the involvement and enthusiasm employees feel toward their work and workplace โ€” is at a 10-year low, per a Gallup survey out Tuesday.

Why it matters: Workers had a rough 2024: Many felt stuck in jobs as hiring slowed, while others were forced back to the office full-time or felt a spun out by a lot of internal restructuring.


  • Research shows that "when organizations have people with clear roles, who have people who care about them, who feel connected to the mission or purpose of the company, where their opinions count, they tend to produce more," said Jim Harter, Gallup's chief scientist of workplace management.

Zoom in: Gallup measures engagement by surveying full-time and part-time workers across 12 measures โ€” including if they're satisfied with their workplace, know what's expected of them and feel like they have the opportunity to "do what I do best every day."

The measures that saw the biggest drops versus pre-pandemic survey data from March 2020:

  • Fewer employees said they clearly know what is expected of them at work, down 10 points from a high of 56%.
  • Only 39% of workers felt strongly that someone cares about them as a person at work, down from 47%.
  • Only 30% said that someone encourages their development, down from 36%.

Zoom out: The new data follows a separate report late last year, where Gallup identified a "Great Detachment," with more folks saying they're not satisfied at work and want a new job.

The big picture: Engagement had a good run, steadily rising after the 2008 recession as corporate management improved and leaders realized the importance of culture, said Harter.

  • But the pandemic changed everything, and engagement has been falling since 2020 as everyone adjusted to a rapid series of changes in the workplace, from the rise of remote work, to a wave of resignations and hiring, and then a subsequent slowdown.
  • "In the last two years or so, there's just been an overwhelming sort of lack of interest in things like employee engagement," said Massella Dukuly, head of workplace strategy at Charter, a future-of-work media and research company.
  • The attitude seems to be that workers don't have anywhere else to go in this job market, she said.

๐Ÿ’ญ Emily's thought bubble: It seems more than coincidental that workplaces became more focused on good management and culture at a time when interest rates were very low and they could afford such luxuries as making sure employees feel valued.

  • Perhaps high worker engagement was another ZIRP phenomenon.

Starbucks says you're going to have to buy a drink to sit around at their stores

A Starbucks store in Hong Kong.
A Starbucks store in Hong Kong.

Sebastian Ng/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

  • Starbucks is reversing its open-door policy, which lets non-paying guests sit around or use its loo.
  • This means you'll have to make a purchase โ€” or accompany someone who does โ€” to use Starbucks facilities.
  • The chain told BI that the change was made to prioritize paying customers.

You'll have to buy a cuppa to sit around at Starbucks or use its loos.

The coffee chain said on Monday that it would be reversing its open-door policy, which allows non-paying guests to use its restrooms or hang around in its stores. It will now reserve its cafรฉs, patios, and restrooms for its customers and staff.

"Implementing a Coffeehouse Code of Conduct is something most retailers already have and is a practical step that helps us prioritize our paying customers who want to sit and enjoy our cafes or need to use the restroom during their visit," Starbucks' representative, Jaci Anderson, told BI in an emailed statement.

Anderson said the change will go into effect on January 27 in all its North American stores. She clarified that a customer is anyone making a purchase or accompanying someone making a purchase.

She also shared a company memo, which said that signs with the new code of conduct will be displayed in every store, which "makes clear that our spaces, including our cafes, patios, and restrooms, are for use by paying customers and our partners."

Anderson said its staff will be trained to enforce the code of conduct and ask anyone violating it to leave. She said they may also get support from local law enforcement if the situation calls for it.

The change reverses the company's open-door policy, which it implemented in 2018 after a controversy in one of its stores in Philadelphia.

Two Black men who had been sitting at the store were arrested after one of them asked to use the restroom. He had not purchased a drink and was denied entry by the store staff, who called the police.

The reversal of the open-door policy comes after CEO Brian Niccol in September announced his vision for the chain to become a third space for people to hang out in.

"Our stores will be inviting places to linger, with comfortable seating, thoughtful design, and a clear distinction between 'to-go' and 'for-here' service," he said in an open letter in September.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Russia's energy giant is planning to cut 40% of its HQ staff as Moscow's war snatches away its Western customers

Russian leader Vladimir Putin speaks with Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller as they visit the Lakhta Centre skyscraper, the headquarters of Gazprom.
A letter from a member of Gazprom's board sent a letter to CEO Alexei Miller, pictured on the left, requesting for a 40% cut to staff at the company's St. Petersburg headquarters.

ALEXANDRE ZHOLOBOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

  • Russia's state-owned gas giant is mulling a sweeping cut to its managing staff in St. Petersburg.
  • A letter from Gazprom's board to its CEO suggested layoffs of 40% for its headquarters amid "challenges."
  • The letter said wages among managers had risen to nearly $500 million a year.

Russian energy giant Gazprom is considering a 40% cut to its headquarters staff after posting its first loss in 24 years, according to a letter from one of its board members to the firm's CEO.

The letter, first reported by St. Petersburg-based outlet 47News on Monday, proposed that the central office head count be reduced from 4,100 to 2,500 people. It was dated December 23, 2024.

A Gazprom spokesperson confirmed the letter's authenticity with Agence France Presse and the state media outlet TASS.

In the proposal, Elena Ilyukhina, the board's deputy chairperson, wrote that wages for Gazprom managers had risen several times in the last two decades to about $486.5 million a year.

"The challenges facing the Gazprom group require a reduction in the time required for preparing and taking decisions," she wrote to CEO Alexei Miller.

Ilyukhina added that the company could instead rely on "automation and digitalization" for roles like accounting and planning.

47News wrote that Ilyukhina also estimated a 40% cut would align Gazprom's management-to-employee ratio with that of Rosatom, a state-owned nuclear energy firm.

Gazprom said in June 2024 that it had 498,000 employees for 2023. In comparison, Rosatom's director general told Russian leader Vladimir Putin in October that his company planned to have about 400,000 employees in 2024.

Ilyukhina added that some money saved in the proposed job cuts could be diverted to offering new performance bonuses for remaining employees.

Gazprom Group, which is mostly owned by the Russian state, posted its first annual loss in 24 years in May as wartime Western sanctions pushed its European customers to sever ties with Russian energy.

The company announced a net loss of 629 billion rubles, worth about $6.84 billion at the time, for the year 2023. It last suffered a net loss in 1999.

The gas producer has continued to face headwinds, with its flagship company announcing a $3.2 billion loss for the nine-month period ending in September 2024.

It's unclear if Miller has approved the layoffs suggested by Ilyukhina, and TASS reported that the company declined to comment beyond confirming that the letter is real.

Gazprom's press service did not respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.

Russia had for years been a major supplier of natural gas to the European Union until Moscow's invasion of Ukraine prompted most of the region to start weaning itself off Russian energy. The transition has taken years, with the union whittling down Russia's share of gas imports from 40% in 2021 to 8% in 2023.

Much of the gap has been filled by American gas supplies, with US gas imports to the EU jumping from 18.9 billion cubic meters in 2021 to 56.2 billion cubic meters in 2023.

More recently, Kyiv allowed the expiration of a pre-war contract to pipe Russian gas to Western customers such as Austria. Ukraine declined to renew the contract in early January.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Scoop: House Democrats' factions try to make nice ahead of Trump return

House Democrats' two largest ideological factions are trying to tamp down their disagreements ahead of President-elect Trump's return to the White House, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: House Democrats see their number one task as taking on Trump and winning back control of Congress in 2026. Everything else, they say, can wait.


  • "Across the board, I think all of us in the Democratic Caucus want to focus on taking back the majority," said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the former chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

What we're hearing: Members of both the Progressive Caucus and the center-left New Democrat Coalition โ€” which each contain roughly 100 of the 215 House Democrats, with some overlap โ€” confirmed the talks to Axios.

  • "Those conversations are starting," a Progressive Caucus member, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Axios.
  • A New Dems member said the focus is on "finding common ground."

What they're saying: Progressive Caucus chair Greg Casar (D-Texas) told Axios there are "conversations being had about trying to make sure that we're unified and cordial and understanding of everybody."

  • After Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) was elected New Dems chair in November, Casar said, "he reached out to me ... about us finding areas of common ground and making sure that we maintain unity across the Dem caucus."
  • Schneider told Axios: "We actually had a meeting, and we both said this โ€” we should be talking to each other every day and the best way to avoid unintended circumstances is to communicate with each other."
  • "So as long as we're talking and not dropping surprises on the other, I think we'll have a good working relationship," Schneider added.

Zoom in: While Republicans' infighting has generally grabbed the headlines over the last two years, Democrats have grappled with their fair share of internal divisions.

  • The Oct. 7 attack and the resulting Israel-Hamas war, in particular, have put House Democrats at odds and resulted in public swiping.
  • The party's 2024 election loss has also resulted in a new round of finger-pointing over which ideological flank of the party was to blame.

Zoom in: Separate from these talks, members of both caucuses also described an informal consensus that is emerging around not endorsing primary challengers against incumbent House Democrats.

  • Said Jayapal: "We are trying to get to a [Democratic] caucus-wide agreement that we do not weigh in against incumbents and that we focus on open seats."
  • Schneider noted the two caucuses "both respected" that practice last cycle and said he "would expect that to continue."

The bottom line: "I think we're all united on ... one purposes, and that's 218 [House seats], the majority," said Schneider.

  • "We need to keep the eyes on that. I want to see Hakeem Jeffries as speaker. I want to see Democrats with gavels in their hands."

Scoop: Blinken to present post-war plan for Gaza on Tuesday

Secretary of State Tony Blinken will lay out a plan for rebuilding and governing Gaza after the Israel-Hamas war on Tuesday, three U.S. officials tell Axios.

Why it matters: Blinken is down to his last week in Foggy Bottom, but he hopes his blueprint will become a reference point for any future day-after plan for Gaza, including for the incoming Trump administration.


Driving the news: Blinken will lay out his plan in a speech at the Atlantic Council on Tuesday morning amid efforts to conclude a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal.

  • President-elect Donald Trump told Newsmax on Monday night that Israel and Hamas are "very close" to a deal. "I understand that there has been a handshake and they are getting it finished โ€” maybe by the end of the week," he said. Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff is participating in the negotiations in Doha.
  • A plan for the post-Hamas governance structure in Gaza would be crucial for efforts to implement the second phase of the Gaza deal, which is designed to lead to a permanent ceasefire and the end of the war.

State of play: Blinken has presented his plan for Gaza's security, administration and reconstruction after a ceasefire agreement is in place to several U.S. allies.

  • "We are ready to hand that over to the Trump administration so it can work on it and run with it when the opportunity is there," he said at a press conference in Paris last week.

Behind the scenes: Blinken's plan has become a highly contentious issue inside the State Department and a source of fierce internal fighting.

  • Some State Department officials were concerned the plan would serve Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's interests and marginalize marginalize the Palestinian Authority and President Mahmoud Abbas.

Catch up-quick: Axios reported in October that Blinken was working on a post-war plan for Gaza based on ideas developed by Israel and the United Arab Emirates and wanted to present it after the presidential election.

  • Blinken appointed his adviser and close friend Jamie Rubin as the point person for the day-after plan.
  • Several week ago, Rubin traveled to Israel and the West Bank to discuss the plan. U.S. officials said Palestinian Authority officials gave Rubin a long list of reservations about the plan, signaling they don't support it.
  • The State Department has briefed the Israeli government, the Palestinian Authority, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries on the main points in the speech, U.S. officials said.

Blinken's plan is based on establishing a governing mechanism that will include the involvement of international community and Arab countries that could also send troops to Gaza to stabilize the security situation and deliver humanitarian aid.

  • The speech will call for reform of the Palestinian Authority, while making clear the PA must be a part of any future government in Gaza.
  • The Israeli government wants Arab countries to be involved in a post-war Gaza but has so far refused to agree to any day-after plan which includes the involvement of the Palestinian Authority.
  • Blinken's speech will also reiterate the principles he laid out in Tokyo early in the war and that object to any permanent Israeli occupation of Gaza, the decrease of its territory or the forced transfer of Palestinians from Gaza.
  • State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller declined to comment.

The bottom line: "Blinken wants to try and shape the outcome of the war and he will make clear in his speech how he thinks Israel can turn its tactical wins against Hamas into strategic gains," a U.S. official said.

Starbucks reversing policy on non-paying visitors, enacted after arrest of Black customers

Starbucks is rolling back a policy that allows people to hang out there or use the bathroom without buying anything.

Why it matters: The chain implemented the policy in 2018, following a national uproar when two Black men who hadn't purchased anything were arrested at a Starbucks in Philadelphia.


The big picture: The shift is part of a new code of conduct at Starbucks cafes.

  • Among the changes will be the posting of signs banning discrimination and harassment, violence or abusive language, outside alcohol, panhandling, drug use, and other disruptive behavior.

What they're saying: "By setting clear expectations for behavior and use of our spaces, we can create a better environment for everyone," Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson says.

Between the lines: It's one of the first big changes after the company hired CEO Brian Niccol, who is under pressure to pull off a turnaround amid disappointing sales.

  • "Our values, developed with input from hundreds of partners, aren't changing," Niccol wrote Thursday in a message posted on Starbuck's website before the policy change surfaced.

How to use Microsoft Teams: A guide to the collaboration application, its features, and how to join meetings

A laptop shows a demo of Microsoft Teams, featuring a video call with multiple participants and a chat window.

Jesus Hellin/Europa Press via Getty Images

  • Microsoft Teams is a live meeting platform and virtual collaboration space.
  • Microsoft first launched teams as a direct competitor to Slack.
  • Here's what to know about Microsoft Teams and how to use various features.

If you need to set up a remote meeting wherein you can conduct video calls, swap notes, share files, align calendars, and much more, the Microsoft Teams just might be the right platform to use. A part of the Microsoft 365 subscription service that includes programs like Word, Excel, Outlook, and more, Teams easily integrates with much of the software and many apps you are likely already using.

Teams was first created because Bill Gates was against buying Slack, the workflow management platform. In 2016, Microsoft almost made an $8 billion bid for Slack, but the company's founder and former CEO was opposed to the move.

Satya Nadella, Microsoft's CEO, agreed with Gates, and the offer was never made. Instead, Microsoft would develop Teams as a competitor to Slack, releasing it the next year.

Let's take a closer look at Microsoft Teams and what it allows its users to do.

What is Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration app that allows users to communicate and work together in real time. It's designed to help users stay organized and connected, and can be used for a variety of purposes, including meetings, during which people can use features like PowerPoint Live, Microsoft Whiteboard, and AI-generated meeting notes.

Teams can also be used as a phone call platform. Users can make group calls, send voicemails, and transfer calls to others.

It's also a chat platform, letting users message individuals or groups, and access features like emojis and suggested replies.

Teams users can share files and share apps, and can use the program to help align and manage their calendars and schedules.

A photo illustration shows a hand holding an iPhone displaying the Microsoft Teams logo, while a laptop in the background displays another Microsoft Teams logo.
Microsoft Teams offers features like phone calls, calendar management, and AI-generated meeting notes.

Thiago Prudencio/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Is Microsoft Teams still free?

There is a free version of Microsoft Teams that offers many of the same functions as the paid version, albeit in scaled down form. Called "Teams for personal life," the free version limits video calls to 60 minutes, but it allows chat, file sharing, and up to five gigabytes of cloud file storage. The free version limits participants in a single session to 100 users.

How to join a Teams meeting โ€” even without an account

You don't need to install Microsoft Teams join a meeting. You can join a meeting using your browser, or you can download the Windows app. On your computer, you need to use Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome as your browser to join a Teams meeting.

You can also join a Team's meeting even if you don't have a Microsoft Teams account, and that's true on a smartphone or tablet or on a computer.

To join without an account, first find the meeting invite in your email or on your calendar, then select "Join Microsoft Teams Meeting." On a computer, choose "Join on the web," whereas on a mobile device, you will be prompted to download the Team app. Enter your name, allow the device to use your camera and microphone, then hit "Join now."

The meeting organizer will then be notified that you've joined, and someone in the meeting can admit you.

Which is better: Teams, Zoom, or Google Meet?

Each better serves different users and use cases, so it's not a matter of which platform is better, but rather which is better for a given situation. Google Meet is a stripped-down and easy-to-use platform ideal for more casual meetings, as among friends or small groups of coworkers. Zoom allows for a high number of participants, so it's good for major presentations or remote conferences.

And Microsoft Teams offers a robust suite of features, as discussed here, making it ideal for ongoing use by groups that need to regularly collaborate in productive ways.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Southern California Edison accused of "profits over safety" in L.A. fires lawsuit

Southern California Edison is being sued by residents and businesses impacted by the Eaton Fire, who allege the Los Angeles utility's equipment may have started the deadly blaze.

The big picture: It's among multiple wildfires that have erupted across the L.A. area since last week in extremely dry conditions with powerful Santa Ana winds, and the National Weather Service has issued a rare "Particularly Dangerous Situation" Red Flag Warning that's set to last until Wednesday.


  • There have been at least 25 reported wildfire-related deaths, including 17 in the Eaton Fire. The 14,117-acre blaze ignited on Jan. 7 and was 33% contained as of Monday evening, per Cal Fire.

Driving the news: The cause of the Eaton Fire is still being investigated, but lawyers for Singleton Schreiber allege in the lawsuit on behalf of the plaintiffs that it may have begun when Edison's electrical equipment contacted or caused sparks to contact surrounding vegetation.

  • The complaint that was filed in the L.A. Superior Court against the utility and Edison International says the utility reported itself to the California Public Utilities Commission on Jan. 9 to say "its equipment was located within the general area of ignition."
  • The complaint added: "Defendants deliberately prioritized profits over safety. This recklessness and conscious disregard for human safety was a substantial factor in bringing about the Eaton Fire."

What they're saying: Southern California Edison spokesperson Jeff Monford said Monday evening SCE was aware that a lawsuit related to the Eaton Fire had been filed, but it had not yet been served with a complaint.

  • "SCE will review the complaint when it is received. The cause of the fire continues to be under investigation," Monford said by phone.
  • "Our hearts remain with our communities during the devastating fires in Southern California, and we remain committed to supporting them through this difficult time. SCE crews, contractors and mutual assistance partners are dedicated to safely restoring power to our customers."

More from Axios:

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