BossFeed Briefing for May 6, 2019. Last Monday, Amazon revealed plans to create crime news content from the footage captured by its video doorbell subsidiary. Last Wednesday, more than 1,000 Google employees protested the company’s retaliation against co-workers who have spoken out about sexual harassment. Last Friday, Washington passed Massachusetts to become the 10th largest economy in the nation. Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo, originally marking the anniversary of Mexico’s battlefield defeat of the French empire, but which in the US now generates beer sales on a scale similar to the Super Bowl. And Sunday is Mother’s Day, originally dedicated to the eradication of war but which in the US now generates greeting card sales on a scale like nothing else.
Three things to know this week:
Lyft has lost its court challenge attempting to overturn New York City’s minimum pay floor for app-based drivers. The company continues to argue in a different case before a different court that they do not have to follow the Americans with Disabilities Act because Lyft “is not in the transportation business”.
New research finds that increases to the minimum wage correspond to reductions in the suicide rate. Suicide rates have also been linked to the prevalence of evictions and foreclosures.
Stephen Moore’s controversial nomination to the Federal Reserve has been withdrawn. Moore faced opposition over past remarks in support of child labor, claims that it is “dangerous” for a woman to make more than a man, and more.
Two things to ask:
But did he send a thank you email after his interview? While in office, the former mayor of Wapato created a new city administrator position paying $95,000 a year and including the use of a new SUV plus $500/month in gas money. He then resigned as mayor and was immediately appointed to the new position.
Where are they supposed to go? Eight homeless people have sued the city of Aberdeen to try and block the city's plans to clear their encampment without offering any alternative shelter. The city purchased the property where they live for almost $300,000 last year in order to evict them and their hundred or so neighbors.
And one thing that's worth a closer look:
You could take Burger King’s new “Real Meals” campaign as a simple troll of McDonald’s, you could take it as a bold effort to raise issues of mental health in a time of growing despair, or you could take it as just a hot mess — and you very well could be right no matter your pick. But the promotional video — a music video montage of various miseries apparently rolled out in conjunction with May’s Mental Health Awareness Month — is one of those internet spectacles that’s worth a closer look no matter how high your eyebrows are raised at the very idea. And while you may watch with mouth-agape cynicism, that kind of attitude may actually be right on program here, since the company describes their campaign as being inspired by the recognition that “no one is happy all the time” and therefore offers an “intimate and raw look into the reality of feeling your way”. Those realities are of course addressed in-store (at select locations) by ordering a Whopper, fries, and drink in a box labeled either Pissed Meal, Blue Meal, Salty Meal, Yaaas Meal or DGAF Meal.
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!