World According to...

Walmart ends night shifts for greeters

Editor — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:39:46 +0000

Walmart has removed greeters from the overnight shift at its U.S. stores, in a move to save money and ensure proper staffing levels during peak shopping times, the company said. The retailer has been reassigning night-shift greeters at its 3,000 U.S. supercenters to other jobs during the last six months.

Quote of the Day: “I might have tacos when I go home. I’m not quite sure yet.”

Editor — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:46:40 +0000

Just hours after four of his town’s police officers were arrested on federal charges of harassing and abusing Latinos, East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo in Connecticut responded to WPIX-TV’s Mario Diaz, who asked the mayor, “What are you doing for the Latino community today?” East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo responded, “I might have tacos when I go home. I’m not quite sure yet.”

The remark, which was roundly condemned by Connecticut’s governor Dannel P. Malloy, and others, prompted the mayor to issue an apology. Maturo declared he would stop giving interviews in the aftermath of the outcry caused by his answer on Tuesday.

Fed says it is unlikely to raise key interest rate until late 2014, extending timeframe

Editor — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:45:50 +0000

The Federal Reserve says it is unlikely to raise interest rates before late 2014, extending a period of record-low rates by more than a year. The Fed says it is keeping rates low to help lift a weak but modestly growing economy.

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Quote of the Day: “Apple’s an example of why it’s so hard to create middle-class jobs in the U.S. now”

Editor — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:09:46 +0000

“Apple’s an example of why it’s so hard to create middle-class jobs in the U.S. now,” said Jared Bernstein, who until last year was an economic adviser to the White House. Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/business/apple-america-and-a-squeezed-middle-class.html

Taco Bell begins rolling out its breakfast platform

Editor — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:55:22 +0000

Taco Bell is rolling out its long-awaited breakfast menu next week in about 750 locations in 10 states, the first wave of what the chain promises will be a year of change and innovation.

The Irvine, Calif.-based chain is also testing a new Cantina menu in about 150 stores. The menu includes higher quality options developed with celebrity chef Lorena Garcia, all in an attempt to position Taco Bell against fast-casual Mexican brands.

Facebook ‘to float in third week of May’

Editor — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:42:08 +0000

Facebook is expected to make its long-awaited initial public offering (IPO) in the third week of May, according to US reports. The IPO is expected to value Facebook at about $100bn (£64.4bn), making it the biggest technology IPO in history.

Study of Retail Workers Finds $9.50 Median Pay

Editor — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:54:57 +0000

According to the NY Times, Retail workers in New York City earn a median of $9.50 an hour, most are part-time or temporary, and just 3 in 10 receive health insurance through their jobs, according to a new study of the city’s larger retailers.

The study, based on interviews with nonunion workers and released on Monday, largely found poverty wages and highly unstable schedules for the city’s retail employees, with less than a fifth having a set schedule each work week. The study said many workers had a hard time planning for child care or classes because more than half learned their schedules a week or less before a work week would begin.

PayPal Does $4 Billion in Mobile Volume in 2011, Projects $7 Billion for 2012

Editor — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:16:14 +0000

PayPal Inc. projects its mobile-payments volume this year will reach $7 billion, almost double the $4 billion its mobile service processed in 2011. The final numbers for 2011 came in significantly higher than the $3.5 billion PayPal estimated late in the year, and far ahead of the original 2011 forecast of $1.5 billion.

PayPal Does $4 Billion in Mobile Volume in 2011, Projects $7 Billion for 2012

Editor — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:16:12 +0000

White House plans forum “Insourcing American Jobs”

Editor — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:34:02 +0000

The White House plans a forum Wednesday, called "Insourcing American Jobs," that will bring together business leaders who shifted work back home. The president said Saturday in his weekly radio and Internet address that the event will discuss ways business leaders can return more jobs to the country.