Executive Leadership Briefing

Goldman Sachs will require employees to wear masks and prove they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the firm’s U.S. workplaces. People who are not fully vaccinated by Sept. 7 are expected to work from home. The multinational investment banking company was one of the first companies on Wall Street that returned to the office two months ago and is among many other corporations implementing more stringent return to work requirements.

White House Covid officials up the pressure on private employers to mandate vaccines: 'Now is the time' - CNBC

Credit Suisse tells unvaccinated U.S. staff to work from home, memo says - Reuters

Can I Be Required to Get a Covid-19 Vaccine? What the Law Says - The Washington Post

BMO Delays Investment Bankers’ Office Return a Month to November - Bloomberg

The overall effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among front-line workers declined from 91% to 66% after the delta variant became the dominant virus strain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Research shows that after five to six months, the effectiveness of both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines begins to decrease by upwards of 10% when compared to a month after the second dose.

JandJ says its Covid vaccine booster shot generated a promising immune response in early trials - CNBC

The CDC Only Tracks a Fraction of Breakthrough COVID-19 Infections, Even as Cases Surge - ProPublica

@mugecevik: All studies assessing the performance of vaccines against Delta are based on real-world data (vaccine effectiveness), which are influenced by variant transmissibility, human behaviour, and immunity status of the population, therefore they require careful interpretation. (3/n)

The SandP 500 recorded its 50th record close of 2021 Tuesday as economically-sensitive stocks like banks, oil producers and companies in the travel industry lifted the market. U.S. stock futures were flat Wednesday, suggesting a pause from investors following the markets' record close as they await news from the central bank’s Jackson Hole symposium.

The Pandemic Is Testing the Federal Reserve’s New Policy Plan - The New York Times

Inflation vs jobs hole: A tradeoff the Fed still hopes to skirt - Reuters

@RyanDetrick: Six years ago today was the first time the Dow ever dropped 1,000 points. Since that day the SandP 500 has made an even 250 new highs. That day was pretty scary, but that puts things in perspective for sure.

The Supreme Court denied President Joe Biden’s plea to rescind an immigration policy implemented by former President Donald Trump that forced thousands of asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their claims were evaluated by U.S. authorities. The Remain in Mexico policy has not been in use since 2019 before the start of the pandemic and both the Trump and Biden administrations have been turning back migrants under public-health orders from the CDC.

Migrants stuck in Mexico faced 6,356 violent attacks since January, report finds - CBS News

US immigrants faced higher unemployment under COVID-19 but gap has closed - Pew Research

U.S. food distributors reported difficulties in fulfilling orders as a lack of workers takes a toll on the supply chain. Sysco Corp. is among many food retailers that have had to turn away customers where demand is exceeding capacity as prices for key goods climb. Retailers are reaching manufacturer capacity as they stockpile ahead of the holiday season.

McDonald’s runs out of milkshakes due to ‘supply chain issues’ - The Guardian

A pizzeria in Alabama has offered to 'literally hire anyone' in a sign the labor shortage continues to hit restaurants hard - Insider

Chick-fil-A closes some dining rooms amid worker shortage - CBS News

"Stock futures are flat a day after the Nasdaq closes above 15,000 for the first time" - CNBC / Source: CNBC

CONTENT FACTS

Turbine Labs has tracked 18,483 media articles and blogs and 18,759 social media posts over the last 24 hours.

The next Turbine...

Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives postponed a vote to advance President Joe Biden’s $3.5 trillion package of healthcare, education and climate policies. The ambitious plan expands social programs that make up Biden's economic agenda. Centrists urged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to vote on the Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure bill before the House approves the $3.5 trillion budget.

Fed Chairman Powell Navigates the Inflation Debate - The Wall Street Journal

Wall Street is telling investors to prepare for the two big spending bills Congress is set to pass - CNBC

@jtemple: If Congress passes the Clean Electricity Payment Program it could be one of the most consequential climate policies in US history – cutting more than 1 billion tons of annual emissions by 2030 and setting us up to decarbonize transportation and buildings.

The seven-day average of COVID-19 cases in Arkansas and Missouri – states that were previously considered delta variant hotspots – is down 12% from its peak. Following the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, Biden said companies should impose vaccine mandates on employees.

Cruise Passenger Dies From Covid, Testing Industry Plans - The New York Times

NYC mandates vaccinations for public school teachers, staff - Associated Press

U.S. energy firms launching employee COVID-19 vaccination mandates - Reuters

State offers $100 incentive to get first dose of COVID-19 vaccine by Labor Day - Wisconsin State Journal

@kylegriffin1: President Biden on the Pfizer approval news: "The moment you've been waiting for is here. It's time for you to go get your vaccination. And get it today. Today."

U.S. factories and service providers reported substantially slower growth in August. The IHS Markit survey of purchasing managers found the broadest segment of the economy, the service-sector, fell to 55.2 in August from 59.9 in July – an eight-month low. Recent cancellations of events like concerts as well as Apple, Amazon and Facebook’s postponements to returning to the office likely slowed consumer spending and economic growth.

Delta variant, supply woes crimp business activity in August - Reuters

Kamala Harris Stresses Cooperation on Supply Chains in Singapore Visit - The Wall Street Journal

Are concerts safe? For a growing number of artists and tour pros, risk outweighs reward - The Los Angeles Times

States that withdrew from federal unemployment programs in June saw slightly higher job growth through August when compared to states that did not end benefits. Still, the large majority of people who saw benefits reduced or eliminated did not find employment, fueling nearly a $2 billion cut in household spending and hurting local economies.

Democrats Unlikely to Extend Federal Unemployment Benefits - Insider

Cutoff of Jobless Benefits Is Found to Get Few Back to Work - The New York Times

@jbartash: The tide has definitely turned: A majority of business economists now believe the Federal Reserve needs to cut back on stimulus. Taper, in other words. Shift reflects confidence in economic recovery and more worries about inflation.

Remote work throughout the pandemic cost German companies $62 billion in damages from cyber attacks. The estimates were more than double the value reported in 2019 with increased working from home accounting for at least a quarter of the increase. An increasing number of employees still want to work from home at least half of the time.

Millennial women want remote work, but many fear they’ll miss opportunities if not in office, according to report - CNBC

For Some College Students, Remote Learning Is a Game Changer - The new York Times

"Ending unemployment benefits had little impact on jobs and fueled $2 billion spending cut, study finds" - CNBC, Aug. 23, 2021 / Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

CONTENT FACTS

Turbine Labs has tracked 17,241 media articles and blogs and 19,651 social media posts over the last...

Chevron will require certain employees to receive COVID-19 vaccinations after several outbreaks affected operations in key sites. The mandate asks expatriate employees, workers traveling internationally and employees on certain U.S. ships to get vaccinated, covering thousands of employees.

Remote Work May Now Last for Two Years, Worrying Some Bosses - The Wall Street Journal

University of Virginia disenrolls 238 students for not complying with university's vaccine mandate - CNN

@joncoopertweets: College students are big fans of vaccine mandates — in many cases, bigger fans than their university administrators. 73% say their school should implement a vaccine mandate, while 52% say their schools are doing so. 86% say they're fully vaccinated.

The Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech vaccine is expected to receive full approval from the Food and Drug Administration this week, potentially pushing more employers to issue vaccine requirements. Meanwhile, the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating Canadian data that suggests the Moderna vaccine may carry a higher risk of myocarditis in younger people when compared to Pfizer. Moderna recently updated its own company vaccine policy, mandating COVID-19 vaccines for all U.S. workers starting Oct. 1.

Arizona AG: Businesses can require employees, customers be vaccinated - Arizona Daily Star

Georgia's governor signs order letting businesses ignore local Covid-19 rules - CNN

Coronavirus cases in children under 12 have jumped dramatically over the past six weeks, with hospitals in the South and Midwest treating more children than ever before. The surge is driven by the delta variant as children under age 12 aren’t yet eligible to be vaccinated. Alabama saw 50 children hospitalized with COVID-19 last week compared to nine hospitalized as of July 15.

Child Covid-19 cases have 'steadily increased' since the beginning of July, AAP says, with 121,000 new cases last week - CNN

As Children's COVID Cases Surge, There's Another Virus On The Rise - NPR

@MiaFarrow: The year after i had polio, a new vaccine was released. Parents rushed to get their kids vaccinated. Polio is now gone from our country and most of the world. Thankfully there were no politicians dividing us. Americans gratefully embraced the vaccine. It was a gift- a blessing.

Stock futures edged higher Monday following a volatile week on Wall Street as investors await data on the American manufacturing and services sectors. All focus is on the Federal Reserve’s annual economic policy symposium later this week where investors expect news on when policy makers may slow bond purchases.

It's Called The Bond Taper And It's Making Markets Very Anxious - NPR

In nod to Delta variant, Fed moves Jackson Hole meet online - Reuters

@steve_hanke: With the explosive growth in the US money supply, US inflation is not going anywhere anytime soon. Millions of Americans are paying the price with inflation at 5.4%/yr for the month of July. I expect inflation to be between 6% to 9% by the end of the year.

A flood of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Florida caused a regional shortage of liquid oxygen, prompting city officials to ask residents to stop watering their lawns and washing their cars. Liquid oxygen is a standard treatment for many COVID-19 patients, helping them breathe. Officials warned that the lack of liquid oxygen to treat water could lead to deteriorating water quality if consumption is not reduced.

COVID situation in Florida is a 'crisis,' and getting worse - USA TODAY

Covid cases overwhelm the Gulf Coast, leaving region with no I.C.U. beds. - The New York Times

@NikkiFried: 17,253 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 in Florida. And 6.3% of our ICU beds are left. Experts are telling me we may be close to a plateau of new cases and hospitalizations as more Floridians are vaccinating and masking indoors. But we have a long way to go. Do your part.

"Child Covid-19 hospitalizations soar, filling...

Facebook developed a virtual reality app called Horizon Workrooms that offers remote workers the ability to collaborate in the same virtual space. The app will work with the Oculus Quest 2 VR headset and allow users holding meetings as avatar versions of themselves. Global spending on AR and VR, a market that is largely unsaturated, is expected to jump more than sixfold in 2024 as more companies adopt the technology.

Facebook pushes VR for remote work but practicality, cost and nausea may stand in its way - The Washington Post

Virtual Reality Lets You Travel Anywhere—New or Old - Wired

@MikeIsaac: a weird thing happened over the past nine months: millions of people actually got into VR (including companies buying headsets for employees) after years of fizzled hype cycles, is mainstream virtual reality….*actually* around the corner?

U.S. stock futures retreated Friday and left the index on track for its biggest weekly loss since mid-June. The data followed jobless claims hitting a pandemic-era low last week, offering investors a sign that the jobs market is improving despite worries over the delta variant. Still, the pace of COVID-19 hospitalizations is surging, especially among children and adults under 50.

Alabama Hospitals Have Run Out Of ICU Beds As COVID-19 Cases Surge - NPR

65% of workers are looking for a new job, and the numbers could get higher - CNBC

The Federal Aviation Administration is calling for more than $500,000 in fines against 34 airline passengers accused of disrupting flights – pushing total civil penalties for the year upwards of $1 million. The FAA summaries portrayed passengers determined not to wear masks, vaping and behaving abusively toward other travelers and airline crews.

United Airlines reminds crew not to restrain unruly passengers with duct tape - The Guardian

@FAA_Steve: Airline passengers: $1M in fines = zero tolerance for bad behavior. #FlySmart

The owner of Saks Fifth Avenue is converting parts of department stores into coworking spaces, a strategy that marries the popularity of remote work with the struggles of brick-and-mortar retail. With more businesses looking toward a hybrid work model, franchise partnerships have risen by 350% in the first half of the year.

Commercial real estate firms, co-working companies join forces" - Marketplace

Co-Working Giants Turn to Franchising Model in Era of Remote Work - Skift

Boulder's co-working scene is booming - Boulder Weekly

OnlyFans, the online creator platform known for its adult content, will ban sexually explicit videos starting in October. OnlyFans exploded in popularity during the pandemic, attracting more than 130 million users, but struggles to find investors despite the company never once mentioning porn in its pitch-deck – something multiple investors called “disingenuous.”

OnlyFans promotes its SFW app as it seeks funding at a $1B+ valuation - TechCrunch

Sex Sells, but Startup Investors Are NSFW-Wary of OnlyFans - Insider

@Misyrlena: Spoke to OnlyFans content creators about the financial implications of the company’s latest decision to ban sexually explicit content. “The interpretation for most sex workers is you’re being basically pushed out”

"Cutting off jobless benefits early may have hurt state economies." - The New York Times, Aug. 20, 2021 / Source: Earnin via Coombs, et al.

CONTENT FACTS

Turbine Labs has tracked 19,399 media articles and blogs and 19,928 social media posts over the last 24 hours.

The next Turbine Labs Leadership briefing will be delivered on Monday, August 23, at 9:30AM ET.

Questions or feedback? Don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.

President Joe Biden announced that as a condition for nursing facilities to continue receiving federal Medicare and Medicaid funding, his administration will require all nursing home staff to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. The mandate will affect more than 15,000 nursing homes that employ 1.3 million workers. Currently, only 60% of nursing home staff are vaccinated nationally.

Nursing homes are frustrated by Biden's new vaccine mandates for staff - The Washington Post

Can The Government Make Me Get The COVID Vaccine? - NPR

Federal Reserve minutes from a late July meeting indicate the economy is rebounding from pandemic lows and moving towards the central bank’s inflation and employment goals, increasing the possibility that the Fed will reduce asset purchases to potentially raise interest rates. The Fed is currently buying $120 billion a month in Treasury securities and mortgage-backed bonds.

Top Fed official warns massive bond purchases are ill-suited for US economy - Financial Times

Jobless claims hit new pandemic-era low in a sign of hope for the employment picture - CNBC

@Schuldensuehner: Major US stock indexes slipped for a 2nd day w/Dow Jones down 383 points after the Federal Reserve signaled that a decision on a reduction of its massive bond-buying program could happen in 2021. Most Fed officials concluded they reached their inflation goal, Minutes showed.

Washington State will require all teachers and school personnel — including coaches, bus drivers and volunteers at both public and private facilities — be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18 as a condition of employment under a new policy announced by Gov. Jay Inslee. The announcement comes the same day President Biden ordered Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to take action against governors who have banned universal masking in public schools.

Colleges Grapple With Costs for Covid-19 Tests, Unvaccinated Students - The Wall Street Journal

Most Americans support state or local mask mandates, poll shows - The Washington Post

New studies on vaccine efficacy against Delta, kids' noses have more immunity - Reuters

@SecCardona: Students first.

A group of small business owners in New York sued Mayor Bill de Blasio with hopes to stop the city’s coronavirus vaccine mandate for certain indoor public venues, saying it will “severely and irreparably damage” businesses' livelihoods throughout the city. New Orleans and San Francisco have announced similar measures, with more cities following suit.

NYC Starts COVID Vaccine Mandate—What You Need To Visit Restaurants, Bars and Venues - Gothamist

Vaccine mandates are mounting — and that’s likely to affect your next trip - The Washington Post

@Laurie_Garrett: New @CDCgov "During May3–Jul25 the overall age-adj'ed #vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization in New York was stable (91.9%–95.3%). The overall vaccine effectiveness against #COVID19 infection for all New York adults declined from 91.7% to 79.8%."

Amazon said it plans to open large, physical retail stores across the U.S. to extend the company’s reach. Amazon recently reported a slowdown in e-commerce sales which has been growing at a double-digit rate. The tech-giant took home $30 billion in profit in the past year as millions of consumers continued to shop online.

How American retailers have adapted to the Amazon effect - The Economist

How Amazon Won Shopping - The New York Times

More sales are happening in-store - Chain Store Age

"Jobless claims hit new pandemic-era low in a sign of hope for the employment picture" - CNBC, Aug. 19, 2021 / Source: Dept. of Labor. Data

CONTENT FACTS

Turbine Labs has tracked 21,688 media articles and blogs and 43,395 social media posts over the last 24 hours.

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

Questions or feedback? Don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.

The number of COVID-19 deaths returned to highs seen last April due to worsening outbreaks of the infectious delta variant, prompting federal officials to extend mask requirements on flights and other public transportation into January. Local outbreaks and clashes over mask mandates in some states made for a rocky start to the school year for thousands of students who returned to the classroom this week.

In a Handful of States, Early Data Hint at Rise in Breakthrough Infections - The New York Times

No bus driver? Schools are paying parents to drive their own kids as economic disruptions hit classrooms. - Washington Post

Gov. Greg Abbott tests positive for COVID after jam-packed, maskless GOP event - Houston Chronicle

@kylegriffin1: Five states have intensive care units over 90% full: Alabama (99.31%) Florida (91.63%) Georgia (91.03%) Mississippi (91.26%) Texas (91.38%)

The rise of coronavirus infections poses a substantial threat to small businesses awaiting office workers' return, the main source of revenue for many in business districts. Office-building owners are keeping a close eye on the success of coffee shops, corner stores and other small businesses as their survival determines the fate of their cash flow and property values.

Here we go again: These companies say the Delta variant is hurting business - CNN

47% of Small Businesses Fear Another Government Shutdown Over Delta Variant - Small Biz Trends

While NYC Businesses Are Starting To Rebound, Many Are Still On Shaky Ground - NPR

Digital transactions skyrocketed during the pandemic and show no sign of retreating. A survey of Visa customers in March found that tap-to-pay transactions grew over 30% year-over-year, while nearly half of consumers said they will not shop at a store that doesn’t offer a contactless way to pay.

NYC transit agency builds new strategy around contactless payments - American Banker

Digital Commerce at the Crossroads: The Case for a Digital Trade Agreement - U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Walmart Seeks Crypto Expert to Oversee Digital Currency Push - Bloomberg

@McKinsey: Live commerce could account for as much as 10 to 20 percent of all #ecommerce by 2026. Here's what leaders should know about this fast-growing #sales channel:

The nationwide labor shortage is driving some low-wage workers to bargain for a more clear career path in addition to better wages and benefits. While wages rose strongly in July, especially for workers in hospitality, many employees say they want prospects for a brighter future. Walmart, Chipotle and Amazon have responded with improvements to their tuition and training programs.

U.S. Wealth Gap Rises With Jackson Hole Coming at the Top - Bloomberg

Burger King, Popeyes owner says labor shortage is driving up beef costs - Fortune

Extreme heat from climate change puts 32 million U.S. workers at risk of lost wages and illness - Market Watch

The coin shortage first affecting Americans last summer has persisted, resulting in a frantic search for change among those who use public laundromats. The shortage is a circulation disruption first triggered by a lack of coins introduced to the market during shutdowns and rising digital payments last year that continues to linger due to coin requests from banks that outpaced deposits as businesses reopened.

Why Is There Still A Canning Lid Shortage? - CBS Minnesota

@samanthajgross: Me, crying to the bank teller who has literally no way to help me:

"Jobs are still down 22% for low-wage workers. They’re up for everyone else" - CNBC / Source: Opportunity Insights Economic Tracker citing Paychex, Intuit, Earnin, and Kronos data

CONTENT FACTS

Turbine Labs has tracked 23,820 media articles and blogs and 19,581 social media posts over the last 24 hours.

The next Turbine Labs Leadership briefing will be delivered on Thursday, August 19 at 9:30AM ET.

Questions or feedback? Don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.

Federal health officials are expected to recommend COVID-19 booster shots for all Americans eight months after they received the second dose of the shot in an announcement this week. The guidance comes as the delta variant spreads across the country. Preliminary studies in Israel suggest that protection against serious illness dropped among those who were vaccinated in January.

As Delta Surges, Covid-19 Breakthrough Cases Remain Uncommon - The Wall Street Journal

Delta Surge Drives Home Painful Truth: Covid Isn’t Going Away - The New York Times

New Zealand announces a nationwide lockdown ... over one Covid case - CNN

Among France's poorest, once-lagging vaccine rates jump - Associated Press

U.S. retail sales fell in July even more than economists predicted, dipping 1.1% last month as consumers shifted to spending on services over merchandise. The emergence of the delta variant could curb demand for services like travel and entertainment, while higher prices for groceries, meals out and apparel could also limit discretionary spending in the coming months.

Treasury yields ebb lower ahead of retail sales data - CNBC

Are Americans heading back to stores for back-to-school shopping? We’re about to find out - MarketWatch

@carlquintanilla: JPMORGAN: The decline in #UMich consumer sentiment “aligns with recent indications that the Delta variant may be suppressing consumer spending and we look for a well below consensus 1.5% m/m drop in tomorrow’s July retail sales report.”

Walmart reported a rise in sales in second-quarter earnings, although the retail giant said that online growth slowed. Home Depot sales also continued to surge, but economists expect the “DIY frenzy” to cool as uncertainty looms from the delta variant.

Delta, beef prices threaten to take the sizzle out of U.S. steakhouses - Reuters

Those Surging Home Prices May Not (Totally) Be A Bubble - NPR

@charliebilello: With 89% of companies reported, SandP 500 earnings are on pace to hit another record high in Q2. $SPX

U.S. officials declared the country’s first-ever water shortage on Monday, prompting water supply cuts that will compound other supply issues for Western states, especially for farmers in Arizona. Monday’s declaration highlights how drought conditions intensified faster than scientists predicted in 2019, even as local governments worked to diversify their water sources.

How This Year's Drought, Extreme Heat Are Impacting America's Crops - Forbes

@benstracy: Water levels at Nevada’s Lake Mead have dropped so low the federal government just declared a “shortage” for the first time in history. This triggers automatic cuts to the water supply in NV and AZ. If lake keeps falling CA could also suffer cuts.

More than half of Americans said in a survey that they plan to travel over Labor Day weekend this year, but 75% said the delta variant poses either a big or slight concern. Similar surveys found that most respondents would cancel or postpone a trip if they knew that a place they planned to visit was experiencing a virus surge.

What Airbnb's earnings reveal about the future of travel - Fortune

Tourism Australia's new campaign isn't about travel -- it's about vaccination - CNN

"U.S. consumer sentiment nosedives as Delta variant spikes" - Axios / Source: University of Michigan

CONTENT FACTS

Turbine Labs has tracked 19,426 media articles and blogs and 19,459 social media posts over the last 24 hours.

The next Turbine Labs Leadership briefing will be delivered on Wednesday, August 18, at 9:30AM ET.

Questions or feedback? Don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.

New York City’s restaurants must begin enforcing the city’s vaccine mandate starting Monday, with numerous restaurants hoping for more detailed guidance on how much information they need to record. Until then, some restaurant owners have described the enforcement process as a “free for all.” Across the U.S., the share of employers requiring coronavirus vaccination in their job postings has nearly doubled in the last month.

The Texas Supreme Court temporarily suspended local mask mandates across the state on Sunday after numerous cities, counties and school districts defied the governor’s edict in an effort to contain surging cases of COVID-19. The order comes days after Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett refused to block vaccine mandates to be imposed by Indiana University for all students and employees, marking the first time the high court has weighed in on a vaccine mandate.

Cash and short-term investments on corporate balance sheets around the world have reached an all-time high amid fears of a lingering pandemic, hitting a total that is 45% higher than the average of the last five years. Consumer sentiment fell sharply in August due to concerns of the widely-spreading variant, plummeting 13.5%.

Canada will require a coronavirus vaccine for all commercial passengers by air, rail or large ship beginning this fall, but officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said there are no plans at this time to mandate vaccines for domestic flights.

More international visitors to the U.S. are doubling up on a coronavirus vaccine while in town, citing concerns that the vaccines immediately available in their home country were not effective enough or that they must bolster protection against the delta variant.

The number of farmers under 35 in the U.S. is growing, likely aided by the recent period of economic crisis. The recent uptick in interest from non-farm backgrounds could diversify the average age of the agricultural workforce, which has traditionally skewed much older.

Turbine Labs has tracked 7,465 media articles and blogs and 10,750 social media posts over the last 24 hours.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized booster shots for certain people with weakened immune systems, giving a boost to Moderna and Pfizer shares. An estimated 2.7% of adults in the U.S. are immunocompromised, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Amid broad public confusion about the protection offered by vaccines, the CDC estimates about 1.1 million have received additional shots, according to an internal report.

Should Anyone in the US Get COVID-19 Booster Shots? - TIME

The Delta Variant: Implications for Vaccines, Booster Shots and Economic Growth - Goldman Sachs

@AC360: How long might a booster shot give the recipients further immunity against a Covid-19 infection? "We are humble, we are modest about it," says Dr. Anthony Fauci. "We don't know the answer to that, and the only way you do that is you continue to do the clinical studies."

San Francisco became the first major U.S. city to require patrons and employees to provide proof of full vaccination to enter restaurants, gyms, bars and entertainment venues. The order, which takes effect Aug. 20, will require anyone older than 12 to submit proof of vaccination. Several Bay Area-based companies have ordered all or part of their staff to immunize against the coronavirus, including Google, Facebook and Gap. New Orleans also joined the select number of cities imposing steps designed to contain the delta variant.

Oregon to reinstate statewide indoor mask mandate - The Hill

Abbott Criticized for Ban on Covid Mandates as Cases Soar in Texas - The New York Times

Vax Up Or Stay Home: These Cities Are Mandating Covid Vaccination To Dine In At Restaurants And Other Indoor Fun - Forbes

Facebook announced it will delay its plan to return U.S. employees to their office until January 2022 due to ongoing concerns related to the COVID-19 delta variant. Facebook became the latest tech company to push back its return to office plans, joining Amazon and Lyft. The social media giant originally expected about 50% office capacity in the U.S. by September, with a full return by October.

How to Prepare for Your Return to the Office - Bloomberg

The Analytics Tool Some Employers Are Using to Set Your Return-to-Work Schedule - UVA Today

@LizClaman: Wireless giant @ATT says CEO John Stankey will require all management employees be vaccinated by Oct 11th, andwill begin discussions w/ $T unions about vax policy. And @facebook says it's delaying $FB employees' return to the office until January. #DeltaVariant #COVID19

The U.S. became more diverse and more urban over the past decade, according to demographic data released by the Census Bureau Thursday. The new figures offered the most detailed portrait yet of how the country has changed since 2010 and is serving as a catalyst for intense partisan battles over representation. Many state legislatures and commissions have already begun discussing the maps of new congressional and legislative districts but were waiting for the Census data – delayed by the pandemic – before drawing them.

Census: Rural America shrinks as people flock to big cities - The Hill

10 fastest-growing US cities revealed in 2020 Census - Fox Business

@PostGraphics: Rapid growth among certain racial and ethnic groups means the nation is becoming more diverse more quickly than expected. Census data from 2020 shows America is growing, but not equally.

Climate shocks in Brazil and shipping bottlenecks pushed the price of coffee beans higher, leaving grocery stores and cafes wondering if customers will tolerate higher prices. Extreme weather that damaged crops in Brazil, the world’s largest coffee exporter, pushed the cost of beans up nearly 44% in 2021. Coffee giants Starbucks and Nestlé said that their buying of supplies far in advance will allow them to avoid the price hike for a year or more, but smaller roasters have already had to raise prices.

Most US Consumers Have Felt Supply Chain Problems - Gallup

Working From Home...

U.S. jobless claims matched economists’ estimates, totaling 375,000 initial claims. The number marks the third week in a row that initial unemployment claims have dropped. Initial claims in Michigan and New York were among the biggest declines of last week.

Treasury yields rise ahead of jobless claims, producer-inflation report - MarketWatch

Stories From the Great American Labor Shortage - The New York Times

@KelseyDavisNews: Just in: WASHINGTON (AP) - US jobless claims drop to 375,000, near a pandemic low, another sign of strength for a rebounding economy and job market

McDonald’s told its corporate workforce Wednesday that it is pushing back the reopening of its offices by more than a month and requiring staff to be fully vaccinated. The fast-food giant joins other employers, like Coca-Cola and Amazon, in delaying their return to the office as the coronavirus delta variant surges, largely among the unvaccinated.

NBC pushes back return to office to October, at earliest - The Hill

New York Stock Exchange to Require Vaccine on Trading Floors - Bloomberg

AmEx postpones full return to office until Oct 11 - Reuters

Return to office is great for capitalism and business: Employment agency CEO - Fox Business

Google announced employees could see different changes in pay if they switch to working from home permanently. A pay calculator by Reuters found those with long commutes are hit hardest. An employee that lives an hour away from Google’s New York office would be paid 15% less working from home, but a colleague living in New York would not see a cut. Meanwhile, CVS said it will raise wages for employees and eliminate education requirements in an effort to draw more workers.

Silicon Valley To Cut Remote Worker Salaries, While Wall St. Boosts Bonuses - The Motley Fool

Why the 'Great Remote Work Experiment' may have been flawed - BBC

1 in 3 people say return-to-office negatively impacted mental health - CNBC

@ajplus: Google has an internal pay calculator that shows employees how much their pay would be cut if they work from home full-time, reports @Reuters . Pay cuts range from 5% up to 25% for those who leave San Francisco. Facebook and Twitter plan similar cuts.

California became the first state to issue a vaccine mandate for all educators in public and private schools or face regular COVID-19 testing. Similar mandates among public and private employers are gaining momentum while Republican lawmakers largely resist any coronavirus-related mandate.

Ted Cruz calls for ‘zero’ coronavirus mandates, while Rand Paul urges defiance amid delta variant surge - The Washington Post

“The rebellion is spreading”: After local Texas officials defy his ban on mask mandates, Gov. Greg Abbott begins to clamp down - The Texas Tribune

Hawaii will reimpose COVID-19 restrictions limiting social gatherings to avert straining the state’s healthcare system. The European Union hinted it may once again establish a policy to limit travel, including from the U.S., as it monitors coronavirus situations. Three major U.S. airlines – Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines – said they will not mandate shots for unvaccinated workers.

New COVID restrictions could slow air travel - Axios

Alaska Airlines is considering Covid vaccine mandates for staff - CNBC

Traveling during delta variant? Here's advice from 6 health experts. - The Washington Post

"Most Return-to-Office Plans Unchanged, for Now" - The New York Times / Source: Morning Consult

CONTENT FACTS

Turbine Labs has tracked 24,208 media articles and blogs and 21,108 social media posts over the last 24 hours.

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

Questions or feedback? Don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.