Upwards of 4.5 million Americans voluntarily left their jobs in November, the highest in the two decades the government has been keeping track, according to the Labor Department. Many workers are quitting to take advantage of strong employer demand to pursue more profitable opportunities. Employers posted 10.6 million job openings for the month, down from 11 million the previous month and just below July’s record. The resignations remained concentrated in the leisure, hospitality and retail trade sectors.

Only 17% of workers say their pay has kept pace with inflation. - The New York Times

Covid Drove Workers to Quit. Here’s Why From the Person Who Saw It Coming. - Barron’s

@byHeatherLong: To me, this is the most alarming chart from the Great Resignation: Skyrocketing quits in health care. Doctors, nurses, aides and more are burned out and we're still in a pandemic. Healthcare quit rate: March: 2.3% April 2.5 May 2.4 June 2.5 July 2.7 Aug 2.8 Sept 2.8 Oct 2.7 Nov: 3%

A new gauge from the New York Federal Reserve shows global supply chain pressures that have been blamed for disrupting the flow of goods and high inflation may have finally peaked. Known as the Global Supply Chain Pressure Index, the new metric suggests global supply pressures are about 4.5 standard deviations above normal but might start to moderate. The prediction comes as companies have begun testing whether the U.S. can regain some of the manufacturing output it ceded in recent decades.

Biden hungry to squelch food inflation - Axios

Covid-19, Inflation Make a Mess Out of Predictions - The Wall Street Journal

@fadde: At the end of 2021, inflation hit a 40-year high of 6.8%; adjusted pay was 1.9% lower YoY; and rent growth was 17.8% (pre-pandemic rent growth was 2.6%). Inflation is affecting everyone, especially the most economically vulnerable. Lawmakers must make this the top priority.

Officials across the U.S. have been insistent on avoiding shutting down businesses or ordering closures to contain the latest coronavirus surge, but omicron may be taking the decision out of their hands as many workers are testing positive, leading to staff shortages. To combat the spread, President Joe Biden said the U.S. will double its order for a pill from Pfizer to treat COVID infections so it has enough courses for 20 million people.

Chicago public school classes are canceled after teachers union backs remote learning - NPR

Hong Kong Bans Flights, Shutters Nightlife After Omicron Bursts Pandemic-Free Bubble - The Wall Street Journal

@luckytran: Uncontrolled transmission leads to mass closures, but more chaotically and unpredictably than if we intentionally help people to work from home and implement public health measures that keep workers safe. We either control COVID or COVID controls us.

More than a quarter of all professional job positions across North America are expected to be fully remote by the end of this year, up 18% from at the end of 2021, according to a new report from Ladders Inc. The report predicts that more than 20 million jobs will not be going back to the office after the pandemic. Many employees have grown accustomed to the more flexible working arrangements and are not willing to go back into the office full time.

Future of Work: Computer vision and machine learning may soon bolster restaurant jobs - The Washington Post

@Gleb_Tsipursky: To prevent work-from-home burnout, reframe your company culture and policies to remote work as the new normal. @TrainingMagUS #riskmanagement #emotionalintelligence #neuroscience

The number of children and teens killed by gunfire has risen sharply during the pandemic, with researchers saying the increase is a product of rising nationwide homicide rates, untreated traumas of COVID-19 and a surge in pandemic gun-buying. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a 50% increase in the rate of gun death of children 14 and younger from the end of 2019 to the end of 2020 and the toll appears to

President Joe Biden's administration announced it will make up to 20,000 temporary H-2B visas available for foreign workers to help with the labor shortage during the winter season, a first for the Department of Homeland Security. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas praised the move as the administration faced pressure from businesses to help alleviate the national labor shortage. Labor unions expressed concern over the program which they say makes it difficult for workers to escape exploitative working conditions.

Increase in H-2B visas could ease island staffing woes - The Inquirer and Mirror

Biden to raise number of guest worker visas, with more for Haiti, Central America - Reuters

Bank of America told New York employees they will be allowed to work remotely during the holiday weeks as COVID-19 cases have spiked on Wall Street. The move follows similar announcements from financial giants Citigroup Inc. and Citadel, as well as Harvard and Syracuse universities, who have instructed students and staff to work remotely where possible into the January term.

Is it time to hire a head of remote work? - Raconteur

Some Google employees may resign if not offered flexibility over remote working - Computing

PC monitor sales slide as remote work rush fades - ZDNet

The Environmental Protection Agency strengthened the limit requirements for pollution coming from automobile tailpipes in a reversal of former President Donald Trump’s looser fuel standards. Under the rule, passenger vehicles must travel at an average of 55 miles per gallon by 2026. Following the announcement of the rule, some automobile trade associations warned further government support including consumer incentives and supply chain development would be needed to achieve the agency’s goals.

New Mexico governor seeks low-carbon fuel standard - Associated Press

Oil Prices Crash On Renewed Omicron Panic - Oilprice

@tveitdal: New Biden rule reducing climate emissions from cars and SUVs reverses major Trump rollback The EPA regulation finalized Monday marks Bidens’s single biggest step to fight global warming. But Congress has stymied his most ambitious electric vehicle plans

Inflation has continued to haunt low-income Americans as shoppers reported high prices for everyday products and gifts for the holiday season despite some retailers saying they expect record-breaking sales to end the year. Roughly 45% of Americans earning less than $50,000 annually have said they have had a harder time affording gifts this year.

How Inflation Has Changed Prices—and the Menu—at One Small Business - The Wall Street Journal

Inflation? There’s Another Explanation for Rising Housing Costs - The Washington Post

Holiday light shows have been highlighted as a “bright spot” amid rising COVID-19 cases this holiday season as industry officials and onlookers have taken notice of their number and extravagant designs across the United States. Some experts have estimated the average budget for light shows this year to be around $500,000 with a roughly 45% increase in popup events across the United States. Event planners have said the light shows offer a fun activity for the holidays with a low risk of infection amid rising coronavirus cases.

A man strung Christmas lights from his home to his neighbor’s to support her. The whole community followed. - The Washington Post

How neighborhoods are helping their communities through holiday lights - ABC 57

Omicron sweeps across nation, now 73% of new US COVID cases - Associated Press

"Inflation squeezes holiday budgets for low-income shoppers" - Associated Press / Source: AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research

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The next Turbine Labs Leadership briefing will be delivered on Wednesday, December 22 at 9:30AM ET.

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Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin delivered a massive blow to President Joe Biden’s proposed $2 trillion spending bill over the weekend, announcing on “Fox News Sunday” that he had withdrawn his support for the legislation. Manchin’s break from the Democratic party would remove the key vote necessary to achieve a 50-50 vote in the Senate, upending the fate of the Build Back Better Act. Goldman Sachs quickly lowered its U.S. economic outlook following the news, while economists said the U.S. must brace for a tight fiscal squeeze in the new year.

Pelosi hopeful of Build Back Better Act deal in 2022 - Axios

What losing Build Back Better means for climate change NPR

@kylegriffin1: In a letter to colleagues, Leader Schumer vows to bring up BBB despite Manchin's objections and "we will keep voting on it until we get something done." He adds: Every senator will have "the opportunity to make their position known on the Senate floor, not just on television."

U.S. Treasury yields ticked lower on Monday as investors and economists grew more concerned that the omicron variant could derail economic recovery. Several European countries have imposed new coronavirus restrictions such as lockdowns, curfews and the closure of nonessential businesses to stem the spread of the new variant, while more uncertainty has prompted U.S. offices to close for in-person work.

Omicron uncertainty prompts WEF to delay Davos summit to mid-2022 - Reuters

Biden admin eyes a potentially stark shift in messaging around ending the pandemic - CNN

Moderna said Monday that its coronavirus booster appears to protect against the omicron variant, sending the company's shares higher amid warnings that the new variant is “raging” through the world. While most of the world’s vaccines do offer some protection against severe illness from omicron, a growing consensus of public health experts say that those vaccines will not prevent infection. They say a new global surge not only threatens the health of vulnerable people around the world but increases the opportunity for the emergence of even more variants.

Sens. Warren and Booker test positive for breakthrough COVID - Associated Press

South Africa Hospitalization Rate Plunges in Omicron Wave - Bloomberg

'It is embarrassing': CDC struggles to track Covid cases as Omicron looms - Politico

Fear of the omicron variant is prompting some Americans to rethink their travel plans, compounding troubles for U.S. airlines as they brace for flight disruptions ahead of a new 5G cellular service slated to go live on Jan. 5. The telecom and airline industries have been in a long-lasting dispute over the new wireless signals, which air carriers say could inhibit landings in poor visibility and create a cascade of delays and cancellations.

Israel set to ban travel to US as Covid curbs widen - France 24

@SquawkCNBC: "People are still getting on airplanes, believe it or not," says @Jefferies Analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu on the #omicron variant's impact on travel $UAL, $AAL, $DAL. "It's scaring people and people are rerouting from international travel to domestic."

The new installment of the Spider-Man franchise achieved a pandemic-record opening over the weekend, marking the third-best opening in cinematic history despite the spread of the omicron variant. The blockbuster success of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” comes as live-audience performances such as Saturday Night Live return to pandemic-era recordings with no audiences.

Covid-19 Vaccine Issues Create 'General Hospital' Drama and Increased Costs on Movie Sets - The Wall Street Journal

@carlquintanilla: “Not only did more than 20 million people leave their homes to see a blockbuster .. but they faced down the Omicron variant to do it — a reflection .. of .. pent-up desire to be part of a big cultural moment @brooksbarnesNYT

"U.S. Economy Loses Fed, Fiscal Props After Powell-Manchin Pivots" - Bloomberg / Source: Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, Brookings Institution

The U.S. Air Force discharged 27 people for refusing to get the coronavirus vaccine, making them the first airmen to be removed for refusing to get the shot. Thousands of Air Force members either declined or sought an exemption by the Nov. 2 deadline. A Navy commander was fired Friday for refusing both the vaccine and testing for the virus, the first member of that branch of service to be removed from their duties for refusing to comply with COVID-19 rules.

Vaccine holdouts in U.S. military approach 40,000 even as omicron variant fuels call for boosters - The Washington Post

DoD considering requiring booster vaccines for troops - Federal News Network

@meganranney: Let’s try this headline again: 96% of active duty military have received their first shot.

California will reinstate a month-long statewide indoor mask mandate Wednesday as COVID-19 cases jumped nearly 50% since Thanksgiving in the nation’s most populous state. New York’s indoor mask mandate went into effect Monday, although some local counties balked at enforcing the rule. New York’s mandate allows for a proof-of-vaccination exemption, but California’s mandate will be enforced regardless of vaccination status.

Bay Area says goodbye to mask-free offices and gyms - San Francisco Chronicle

Masks Now Required Inside Businesses And Venues Across New York State, But Enforcement Long Term Remains To Be Seen - CBS New York

As California’s COVID cases rise, antibody treatments go unused - Times-Herald

@Elex_Michaelson: #BREAKING California is implementing a statewide indoor mask mandate from Dec. 15-Jan. 15. If you’re unvaccinated and want to attend a mega event (1,000 plus people), you must show a negative antigen test within 1 day of the event or a negative PCR test within 2 days.

Pfizer announced its experimental pill for treating COVID-19 reduced combined hospitalizations and deaths by 89% in high-risk adults when taken shortly after initial symptoms, and the pill also appears to be effective against the omicron variant. The first real-world study of the variant found that two doses of Pfizer’s vaccine gave 70% protection against hospitalization versus its 90% effectiveness in the delta wave.

How the Global Vaccination Campaign Has Succeeded—and Failed - Bloomberg

Omicron Is a Dress Rehearsal for the Next Pandemic - The New York Times

The National Football League had 36 positive coronavirus test results returned Monday, marking the highest single-day total since the league started testing last year. Just 29 players had tested positive between Nov. 14-27. With at least five teams entering into the league’s enhanced coronavirus protocols, the NFL and the NFL Players Association began discussions about how to update those health and safety protocols following the report.

NFL requires tier 1, 2 coaches, staff get COVID vaccine booster shots - Axios

@JPFinlayNBCS: Per @TomPelissero report Washington had Tier 3 employee test positive for Omicron. Per NFL Tier 3 can be operational workers, in-house media or broadcasters, field managers, etc. Full Tier 3 explanation here

Gift shoppers are spending less as retailers resist their typical holiday sales amid rising costs and supply chain challenges. Prices are higher than in past years both online and in-store as retailers adopt more personalized strategies, a shift industry insiders say could become long-term. Shippers like the U.S Postal Service, FedEx and UPS warned that online gift orders placed after Dec. 15 may not arrive in time for Christmas.

How Covid Turbocharged the American Consumer - Bloomberg

Supply Chain Disruptions, Travel, BNPL: Holiday Shopping Trends - Payments Journal

Gift giving: Is it really the thought that counts? Psychologists weigh in. - The Washington Post

"Worried About Inflation? Here’s What That May Reveal About You." - The New York Times / Source: New York Fed

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Turbine Labs has tracked 25,037 media articles and blogs and...

California’s OSHA branch extended the state’s pandemic regulations into the new year for both vaccinated and unvaccinated employees in a move criticized by business groups and hailed by labor advocates as cases rise in the nation's most populous state. Lawmakers in Indiana are fast-tracking a bill to deter companies from mandating vaccines despite members of the business community and local health experts pleading to halt the bill.

California’s COVID workplace rule is changing. Why some businesses say it’s not feasible - Sacramento Bee

Upcoming bill would prohibit employer vaccine mandates in Iowa - Iowa Capital Dispatch

Harvard University will extend a policy that allows students to apply without SAT or ACT scores for an additional four years — a milestone in an educational movement that aims to limit the role of standardized testing in college admissions. The university first lifted the requirement for applicants in the Class of 2025 and again for the Class of 2026, citing ongoing challenges made by the pandemic. The 2021-2022 school year marks the third year of disrupted learning for students.

Schools nationwide increase security in response to TikTok threats - The Hill

Covid Hits Europe Schools Hard as Omicron Stalks New-Year Return - Bloomberg

@MichaelGrant_CJ: Critics have long argued that they are racially and culturally biased and do not reflect the true ability of many students, but instead their ability to pay for tutoring.

The Justice Department petitioned the Supreme Court to allow a vaccine mandate for health care workers to go into effect nationwide, which the lower courts have blocked in about half the country. The request marks the first time the U.S.’s highest court has been asked to weigh in on the federal mandate aimed at getting more Americans vaccinated.

Gov. Abbott Refuses DoD Vaccine Mandate for National Guard - NBC 5

@AGEricSchmitt: The Biden DOJ has asked the United States Supreme Court for a stay on our injunction halting the vaccine mandate on health care workers - this is the first stay motion to reach SCOTUS. We're going to continue to fight at the nation's highest court to uphold that injunction.

U.S. inflation reached a 39-year high in November, driven by strong consumer demand clashing with ongoing supply constraints. The Bank of England became the first major central bank to raise interest rates since the pandemic began to counter surging prices. Turkey’s central bank has repeatedly cut interest rates, spiking consumer costs in the country by more than 21% in the year to November.

Omicron Is an Economic Threat, but Inflation Is Worse, Central Bankers Say - The New York Times

How bad is inflation? Even millionaires are worried about it. - CNBC

@BobOnMarkets: Re-upping this given the breaking news on #Turkey: Turkey's economy is in turmoil, but its quixotic president shows no sign of changing course

A cream cheese shortage is forcing grocers to limit the number of packages consumers can buy, along with other purchase limits on holiday staples like bacon, half and half and frozen pie crusts. Kraft, which owns Philadelphia Cream Cheese, is asking consumers to not make cheesecakes for the holidays, offering reimbursement for any other dessert for the first 18,000 people who sign up to counter the shortage.

Supply-chain issues and a cyberattack: Why your bagel’s cream cheese might be spread a little thin - The Washington Post

Kraft will literally pay you not to make cheesecake this holiday season - NPR

"Inflation Is Near a 40-Year High. Here’s What It Looks Like." - The Wall Street Journal / Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Turbine Labs has tracked 21,540 media articles and blogs and 18,833 social media posts over the last 24 hours.

The next Turbine Labs Leadership briefing will be delivered on Monday, December 20, at 9:30AM ET.

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The cost of office maintenance is increasing as employees head back to the office due in part to more robust air filtration and newly installed outdoor spaces. By December, about 40% of workers had returned at least part time. Earlier in the pandemic, operating costs were down as more companies went remote, saving on services like cleaning and security.

Facebook Pushes Ahead With NYC Farley Project in Bet on Offices - BloombergWhat if we didn't build a single new building in 2022? - Fast Company

@JunkScience: "Many companies are scrutinizing their ventilation, which could involve... replacing the building’s air more frequently." Existing 'green building' calculations of energy efficiency are out the window.

New York City’s tourism industry is taking a hit as museums, concerts and Broadway theaters struggle to keep doors open amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. The city limited the number of revelers who can attend the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square to 15,000 – a fraction of the million people who packed in for celebration in years past. The Metropolitan Museum of Art re-instituted half-capacity restrictions and Broadway attendance has dropped by 23% from the prior week.

'Ain't Too Proud' to Close on Broadway as Covid-19 Takes Its Toll - The New York Times

@AliBaumanTV: Omicron is forcing some Broadway shows to cancel performances. The uncertainty is bad for business and bad for the 97,000 jobs Broadway generates.

Strong consumer demand, continuing supply chain issues and the emergence of the omicron variant threaten to prolong sharply rising prices well into 2022, potentially positioning inflation as the premier economic challenge of the new year. Snack giant Mondelez – whose brands include Oreos, Ritz and Chips Ahoy – said it is planning a 7% U.S price increase in January.

These Food Items Are Getting More Costly in 2022 - The Wall Street Journal

China's Stable Economy Clouded by Property and Export Outlook - Bloomberg

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating 86 cruise ships with reported COVID-19 cases on board, considering cruise travelers to be at high risk of contracting the virus due to close quarters. Cruises resumed sailing in the U.S. in June after more than a year of being domestically halted due to the pandemic.

CDC moves 3 more European destinations to its highest travel risk category - CNN

Why isn't vaccination proof required for domestic flights? - Los Angeles Times

@leadlagreport: Whatever you do, don’t sneeze at the buffet… A Royal Caribbean cruise ship has been denied entry to Curacao and Aruba following an outbreak that infected at least 55 crew members and passengers.

Speaking with journalists, Dr. Anthony Fauci said the CDC’s decision to reduce COVID-19 isolation time guidelines will help people get back to jobs and reiterated the decision is based on science. The updated guidelines have confused the public during a time when more people are testing positive.

CDC draws criticism for shorter COVID quarantine, isolation as omicron bears down - Ars Technica

‘Each Society Creates Its Own Pathology’: Vaccine Specialist Says Don’t Blame the CDC for Cutting Covid-19 Isolation Times - Barron’s

CDC significantly cuts estimate of omicron's prevalence in US - The Hill

"4 Charts That Explain the U.S.'s 2021 Economic Rollercoaster" - TIME / Source: Emily Barone/BLS

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Turbine Labs has tracked 8,683 media articles and blogs and 34,968 social media posts over the last 24 hours.

The next Turbine Labs Leadership briefing will be delivered on Thursday, December 30, at 9:30AM ET.

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Apple indefinitely delayed the date which corporate employees will return to the office, announcing its new return date is “yet to be determined.” The company said it would provide an additional $1,000 to each employee to help furnish home offices. Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, said the decision was made due to the surge of COVID-19 cases, fueled by the omicron variant.

Apple temporarily closes three stores in response to rising Covid rates - CNBC

'Boost everybody.' CEOs should mandate boosters before returning office workers, Andy Slavitt says - CNN

Reddit confidentially filed paperwork with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering, saying it sits at a valuation of about $10 billion. Reddit has been seeking to build on the attention it gained when its WallStreetsBets forum became a hot spot for the individual investors who rallied around Gamestop Corp. and other stocks.

Meme stocks AMC and GameStop tumble to lowest levels in months as investors dump risky positions - CNBC

A Wild, Emotional Year Has Changed Investing—Maybe Forever - Bloomberg

@newley: The company counts Sequoia Capital, internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd. and venture firm Andreessen Horowitz among its backers. Reddit, founded in 2005, in March named its first finance chief. At the time, it said it had about 52 million daily users.

Vox Media will merge with Group Nine Media Inc., a deal that unites two of the biggest players in digital publishing. In August, Vox Media agreed to acquire cocktail website Punch and has continued exploring ways to raise cash for further growth. Mergers and acquisitions in 2021 stimulated the initial post-pandemic economic recovery, hitting an all-time peak of 1.52 trillion in the third quarter.

Why publishers like Vox Media are merging with their biggest rivals - The Washington Post

SPAC merger troubles get worse - Axios

The Federal Reserve policymakers said they would cut back more quickly on their pandemic-era stimulus at a moment of rising prices and strong economic growth. A fresh set of economic projections released Wednesday showed that officials expect to raise interest rates, which are now set near-zero, three times next year.

U.S. Jobless Claims Rose Slightly Last Week From 52-Year Low - Bloomberg

Analysis: The three data reports that persuaded Powell to speed up Fed's taper - Reuters

The 2022 economy will be hotter and pricier than the Fed expected just three months ago - Insider

The National Football League, National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League have all seen a spike in COVID-19 cases that threaten to sideline major players in upcoming games, leaving many rosters shorthanded and creating competitive imbalances. The NFL, which has a vaccination rate of 94%, mandated boosters for coaches but stopped short of daily testing.

As COVID cases surge, pro sports leagues reevaluate their safety protocols - NPR

These are some of the players who will miss upcoming games due to Covid-19 protocols - CNN

@tunkuv: The Browns and Rams are suffering through outbreaks while NBA stars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden are sidelined by the virus. But the games are going on—even if Covid helps determine the outcome.

"The Information’s Return to the Office Tracker: Winter 2021" - The Information / Source: company filings; The Information

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Turbine Labs has tracked 28,005 media articles and blogs and 27,781 social media posts over the last 24 hours.

The next Turbine Labs Leadership briefing will be delivered on Friday, December 17, at 9:30AM ET.

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Kellogg’s and unionized workers reached an agreement that ended weeks of negotiation between the company and striking employees. The new contract includes wage increases, improved benefits and a path toward “legacy” wages and enhanced benefits for new employees. Kellogg’s CEO Steve Cahillane said he was pleased with the settlement while labor activists praised the striking workers for “standing their ground” after contentious negotiations.

Starbucks says it will negotiate with workers forming a union in Buffalo, New York - CNBC

American Workers Are Burned Out, and Bosses Are Struggling to Respond - The Wall Street Journal

Architects Are the Latest White-Collar Workers to Confront Bosses - The New York Times

The Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration warned that unruly passengers will lose their TSA PreCheck approval as incidents have spiked in the past year. With the number of holiday travelers this year expected to exceed that of 2020, the FAA’s Administrator Steve Dickson said that if passengers “act out of line, [they] will wait in line.”

Airlines Prepare for Busy Travel Week Amid Omicron Surge - The Wall Street Journal

6 warnings for travel during Christmas week - The Washington Post

@KayBurley: "Be flexible, be open minded" Telegraph's Travel Editor @IrvAtLarge gives her advice to those with Christmas holidays abroad amid the uncertainty of more COVID restrictions to come.

Retail pharmacy giants Walgreens and CVS announced a limit on the amount of at-home COVID-19 tests customers can purchase as demand spiked with the omicron variant accounting for nearly three-quarters of recent cases. Spokespeople for the companies assured customers they are working with suppliers to meet booming demand while President Joe Biden has pushed for increased testing and vaccine resources for Americans amid criticism that the federal government has failed to provide low-cost tests.

Rite Aid is closing more than 60 stores - CNN

Biden unveils Omicron plan, including free at-home COVID tests and more troops for hospitals - CBS News

The World Economic Forum postponed the Davos economic summit for the second year in a row, citing concerns over the omicron variant. The organizers will attempt to hold the meeting again in early summer of 2022 with virtual meetings planned for January on topics that were meant to be covered during the summit, including an acceleration of stakeholder capitalism and supporting an inclusive future of work.

Davos is dead - Politico

Most of the World’s Vaccines Likely Won’t Prevent Infection From Omicron - The New York Times

Candy cane makers have struggled to profit from and meet holiday demand due to a combination of a labor and sugar shortage as well as general supply chain challenges. Industry insiders have reported a spike in demand for seasonal confectionery items this year as weak sugar harvests and global shipping constraints have caused sugar prices to surge to its highest price in roughly ten years.

Candy cane shortage fueled by COVID, weak peppermint harvest - New York Post

@halanderson: Christmas is only 5 days away and there’s a candy cane shortage. I think I speak for most people when I say, why can’t it be fruit cake.

"America’s Mixed Response to the Omicron Variant Comes Down to Geography" - The Wall Street Journal / Source: Johns Hopkins University and the Census Bureau

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Turbine Labs has tracked 22,685 media articles and blogs and 21,480 social media posts over the last 24 hours.

The next Turbine Labs Leadership briefing will be delivered on Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at 9:30AM ET.

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Several large U.S. hospital systems dropped coronavirus vaccine mandates for staff following a temporary halt on the Biden administration’s requirement that healthcare workers get the shot. As labor costs soar, the medical industry has seen worker shortages — compounded by burnout — rise alongside hospitalizations. Since the beginning of the year, over 450,000 people in the U.S. died from coronavirus complications, bringing the total number of deaths to over 800,000 last week. Most of the deaths were in unvaccinated patients.

Germany approves COVID vaccine mandate for medical staff - Deutsche Welle

Why U.S. Job Gains Are So Hard to Count During Covid-19 - The Wall Street Journal

@kylegriffin1: Dr. Rob Davidson: I'm an E.R. doc in Michigan, where the unvaccinated are filling hospital beds "I'm mad at the Fox personalities and the Republican politicians who downplay vaccination." "A vaccine mandate is the only way to break the endless cycle."

The UK reported its first death from the omicron variant as Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged Britons to increase protection with boosters. Surging demand for boosters crashed the National Health Service’s appointment website. European officials warned that omicron could become the dominant variant “within days, not weeks” on the continent due to its growth advantage over the delta variant.

UK's Johnson warns of Omicron 'tidal wave', says two doses not enough - Reuters

What omicron's fast spread could mean for the U.S. – and the world - NPR

@CarlosdelRio7: First Omicron death as ‘variant to become dominant in London tomorrow’ What happens in the U.K. happens in the U.S. about 4 - 6 weeks later.

Deadly tornadoes tore through six states Friday night, killing scores of people and hurling debris as high as 30,000 feet. Nearly 40 reported tornadoes arose from a single severe thunderstorm system over Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee. One tornado in Edwardsville, Ill., flattened an Amazon distribution center in the company’s peak employment season, killing six employees.

Prom photo, baby pic: Strangers find family mementos miles away from tornado wreckage - The Washington Post

FEMA administrator blames climate change for deadly tornado outbreak - Fox News

From heatwaves to floods, climate change worsened weather extremes in 2021 - Reuters

Toyota halted more production Friday at some factories in Japan due to a component shortage, cutting output by 9,000 vehicles. Though temporary, the cuts come as the automaker tries to make up for earlier supply chain disruptions. Toyota announced last week it will use blemished parts amid rising material costs, marking a departure from the company’s stringent quality control.

Europe's car industry too reliant on other regions, says Bosch chairman - Reuters

JIT Supply System Under Review, GM’s Barra Says - Ward’s Auto

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Senate will pass President Joe Biden’s nearly $2 trillion economic package before Christmas, though several key pieces of the bill are still under negotiation. Biden downplayed November’s surging inflation numbers, arguing that the data showed Congress must pass the Build Back Better Act to offset the U.S. dollar’s declining value.

Economist group touts Build Back Better as inflation offset - Axios

Sixty-nine percent of Americans disapprove of Biden's handling of inflation: poll - The Hill

The global economy is increasingly out of sync - CNN

@HotlineJosh: WEST VIRGINIA poll, conducted by Remington Research (R) for the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors: “Do you believe the multi-trillion $ package being considered by Congress, known as Build Back Better Act, will:” Make inflation worse: 64% Decrease inflation: 14%

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/13/us/covid-deaths-elderly-americans.html

"As U.S. Nears 800,000 Virus Deaths, 1 of Every 100 Older Americans Has Perished" - The New...

U.S. consumer prices jumped 6.8% in November when compared with last year as the cost of food, energy and other items reached the highest annual inflation rate since 1982. Analysts predict that supply shortages will likely to continue into next year, pushing inflation even higher.

Economist group touts Build Back Better as inflation offset - Axios

The Fed’s inflation challenge: Getting the policy and the messaging right - The Washington Post

@JoeNBC: “This is not a question of demand at pre-covid levels and supply taking a while to reach back up to that pre-covid capacity.” Rather, he said, the economy is experiencing “sustained higher demand. This is not really a bottleneck story anymore.”

General Electric, Union Pacific and other large employers have suspended their vaccination requirements after a federal judge on Tuesday blocked the Biden administration’s plan to mandate vaccines for federal contractors. Amtrak told lawmakers on Thursday that if the remaining 5% of its unvaccinated employees do not get shots by the mandate’s Jan. 4 deadline, it will need to cut services and implement slowdowns beginning this winter.

Trump-appointed judges question role of vaccines in fight against Covid as they block mandates - CNN

66% of employees want better office cleaning practices - CNBC

'The days you were considered fully vaccinated with two shots are going to be a thing of the past' - Barron’s

New indicators are emerging that while the omicron variant is poised to overtake delta in the U.S., the public is growing more accustomed to living with some risk of infection. Public transit ridership in the Northeast has rebounded strongly, and air travel spiked just before Thanksgiving. Omicron’s short-lived effect on the markets had some market analysts calling it “omi-whatever.”

Opinion | We’ve Living Through the ‘Boring Apocalypse’ - The New York Times

Endless pandemic? Asia’s Omicron retreat shows COVID is political - Al Jazeera

@umairh: "Americans are acting, by and large, like Covid’s over. It isn’t. If anything, a brutal, bitter pandemic winter lies ahead."

Newly built skyscrapers in central business districts are faring well in the pandemic, with many developers saying those buildings have been filled with tenants willing to pay top rents. But thousands of older buildings continue to sit unoccupied as companies continue to push back return plans, prompting developers to convert them into warehouses, apartments or other uses. Large cities such as New York and San Francisco have a higher share of old buildings, leaving planners to question how their cities will look in the years ahead.

If the Office Is Really a Thing of the Past, These Investors Will Make a Killing - The Wall Street Journal

Officely raises $2M to help hybrid teams coordinate office time right in Slack - TechCrunch

The office holiday party is back. Kind of. - NBC News

The city-state of Dubai is enjoying an economic boom brought on by high vaccination rates, low coronavirus infections and open borders. Entrepreneurs, wealthy investors and tourists are packing bars and restaurants and working in-person, drawn to Dubai by zero income tax and relatively relaxed pandemic restrictions.

Fix the global vaccine rollout or face even worse COVID variants, experts warns - NPR

COVAX scheme needs rules to prevent vaccine hoarding - WHO advisor - Reuters

@GaviSeth: This is exactly why #COVAX calls for high quality dose donations with plenty of notice and longer shelf lives. Countries need predictable and reliable #COVID19 vaccine supply to ensure a successful rollout.

"Covid Crisis Threatens Holiday Season as U.S. Hospitals Overflow" - Bloomberg / Source: Department of Health and Human Services

CONTENT FACTS

Turbine Labs has tracked 25,992 media articles and blogs and 30,228 social media posts over the last 24 hours.

The next Turbine Labs Leadership briefing will be delivered on Monday, December 13, at 9:30AM ET.

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