BossFeed Briefing for December 7, 2020. Last Monday, a poll found that 86% of Americans support government financial relief for COVID shutdowns. Last Tuesday, major US corporations—including Nike, Apple, & Coca Cola—came out in opposition to a bill in Congress that would ban goods made using forced labor by Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in China’s Xinjiang region. Last Thursday, the Seattle Times editorial board called for ESD director Suzi Levine to get a handle on her department’s responsibilities. This Friday is “National App Day”, which comes 177 days after Instacart CEO Apoorva Mehta became a billionaire. This Saturday will mark 260 days since Congress last passed a COVID relief bill.
Three things to know this week:
WA state is raising workers’ compensation premium rates for Amazon, recognizing the especially hazardous conditions inside the company’s fulfillment warehouses. Amazon’s workers’ comp premiums will increase by 15%, while premiums in other warehouses will decline 20%, reflecting lower injury rates.
Food service workers in Los Angeles will receive an $800 stipend as the city restricts dining operations to combat the latest COVID surge. Seattle is also considering direct cash relief for restaurant workers, but there has been no similar action at the state level.
The Cheesecake Factory was fined $125,000 by the federal Securities & Exchange Commission for lying to its investors about the success of its delivery business. No word on whether they told the truth about providing PPE to workers or their compliance with other COVID health & safety standards.
Two things to ask:
Are they checking his references? There’s a growing push for President-elect Biden to nominate former Obama administration lawyer Tony West for Attorney General because of his “proven record on civil rights.” West has been the top lawyer at Uber for the past three years.
Who ya gonna call? Spiffy’s in Chehalis is the latest WA restaurant to defy the public health order banning indoor dining. After state investigators tasked with protecting workers’ health arrived to talk with management, a call to action for people to “keep the peace” went out on social media — and that’s when armed members of the People’s Rights militia group showed up.
And one thing that's worth a closer look:
With COVID cases soaring nationwide, the White House coronavirus task force is warning people over 65 to stay home and have critical supplies delivered. But the White House panel didn’t address what was being done to ensure the health and safety of older, high-risk workers whose job *is* delivery. It’s important for people at high risk to be able to have their groceries and medicines delivered, but no government income support programs have been created to allow at-risk workers to stay safely at home. We’re nine months into the pandemic, so here’s a third thing to ask this week: How on earth is that still the case?
Read this far?
Consider yourself briefed, boss.
Let us know what you think about this week's look at the world of work, wages, and inequality!