Trump Administration Extends Ban on H-1B and Other Work Visas, Green Cards - The Wall Street Journal

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President Trump boarding Air Force One on Thursday in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Photo: Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

By

Michelle Hackman

Updated Dec. 31, 2020 10:28 pm ET

The White House extended a ban on immigrants coming to the U.S. on work-based visas and green cards through the end of March, setting up another immigration policy decision for the incoming Biden administration to grapple with.

President Trump issued bans in April and in June in the name of protecting American workers from foreign competition, just as shutdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic were battering the economy. The ban, which had been set to expire Thursday, applies to immigrants coming to the U.S. on H-1B and several other employment-based visas, along with people coming on green cards to work or reunite with family.

The ban on work-based visas, in particular, was roundly criticized by Silicon Valley and others that said they depend on the visas to bring employees into industries ranging from tech and consulting to landscaping and seasonal resorts.

In October, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which represents a broad cross-section of these industries, won a partial injunction on the visa ban in court, allowing its member companies to resume bringing over foreign employees. It isn’t known how the ban extension will affect the court’s order.

President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team has declined to answer questions about how he would handle the ban.

On the one hand, Mr. Biden has said he would lift some immigration bans, including one covering immigrants from several Muslim-majority and African nations. But he has also placed an emphasis on controlling the Covid-19 pandemic, and his team has expressed reluctance to wind down other Trump policies quickly out of fear that doing so might not be safe.

Biden advisers, for example, said last week that they would reopen the southern border slowly to asylum seekers stranded in Mexico to allow for social-distancing measures at ports of entry. In March, the government shut the southern border to nonessential travel and enacted a policy of expelling any migrant crossing the border illegally or asking for asylum.

Write to Michelle Hackman at Michelle.Hackman@wsj.com

Copyright ©2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

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January 01, 2021 at 10:28AM
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Trump Administration Extends Ban on H-1B and Other Work Visas, Green Cards - The Wall Street Journal

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Work

Local, Hospital Officials Work to Improve COVID-19 Vaccine Communication - NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

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On Wednesday the State of Texas officially opened the COVID-19 vaccine up to anyone over the age of 65 or with underlying conditions – but all the while a clear plan to communicate and organize the next tier of distribution has been missing.

“That coordination between the state and the hospitals does need to be a lot better,” said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins.

According to Jenkins, the move by the state came as a bit of a surprise. Many healthcare workers and first responders have yet to receive the vaccine and previous communication with the state, according to Jenkins, had targeted February as the likely time for an expansion of the vaccine's availability.

Now, across North Texas it remains somewhat unclear where the vaccine is available, a problem local officials are working with hospitals to solve.

“I think in the coming days you will see more and more local governments, including ours, coming up with more information about how if you are a 1-b how you may be able to access the vaccine,” said Jenkins.

In Dallas County, work is underway with the state to create a communication pipeline that would clearly list where the vaccine can be obtained. Additionally, hospital systems are tackling how to best communicate its availability to patients in their system that are eligible.

“I talked with the hospital systems after this had come out and many are looking at ways on their website that they can register people, do this in an orderly fashion – put signage up, etc,” said W. Stephen Love, President and CEO of the DFW Hospital Council.

Additionally, Judge Jenkins said they want to make sure that any notification of eligibility for the vaccine is done equitably and does not favor those with internet or socioeconomic advantages.

“It’s not just the most mobile or internet-connected persons that get the vaccine first, amongst the people who need it most,” said Jenkins.

In the near term, vaccine supply is far outpaced by demand that now includes the expanded 1-b category, which includes millions of Texans.

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*Map locations are approximate, central locations for the city and are not meant to indicate where actual infected people live.

**County totals below include all 32 North Texas counties, not just Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant.

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Download our free NBC DFW mobile app for Apple and Android to get the latest breaking news and weather coverage.

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January 01, 2021 at 12:33PM
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Local, Hospital Officials Work to Improve COVID-19 Vaccine Communication - NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

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Work

What Remote Work Trends Mean For Your Career - Forbes

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Wondering if you’ll be running your career remotely in 2021?

Although nearly 42% of companies are currently working remotely at least part of the time, recent research by Upwork suggests that many companies are planning on a return to the office. Managers believe only 26.7% of the workforce will be fully remote in one year. 

However, remote work seems to be here to stay for many people for the time being, with nearly 57% of Americans working remotely at present and the number of remote workers expected to double in the next five years, according to the latest findings from freelance platform Upwork’s Future Work Report. The report predicts that 36.2 million Americans will be remote five years from now, up from 16.8 million before the pandemic. 

“Remote work is not going to work for every office, every company, every person,” says Adam Ozimek, chief economist at Upwork. “But a lot of managers are finding it works for them. Most are finding it works better than they thought. Whether or not that crosses the threshold to working well enough, that’s going to vary. But when you look out a year from now, a lot of people still will be remote.”

Upwork Chief Economist Adam Ozimek says many companies have discovered the value of remote work ... [+] during the pandemic and are likely to continue working this way.

Upwork

It isn’t lost on business leaders how much they can save on real estate costs by having at least part of their teams work remotely, Ozimek notes. “Businesses in the highest-cost cities are finding that not only are individuals leaving their cities but asking, ‘Do I need this expensive office space?’” he explains. “Typically, if you want to hire people, each new person comes with square footage requirements. Being able to hire remotely lets you grow without incurring real estate costs.”

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That’s good news for both traditional workers and freelancers who like working at home—or need to do so to manage family responsibilities. It also means that workers who choose to live in lower-cost areas outside of major cities will have more career options.

One reason remote work seems to have staying power is that many of us have adjusted to it. Among managers, 68% said it’s going more smoothly now than at the start of the pandemic. “It’s better than they expected and getting better,” says Ozimek.

Remote work has also freed people from some of the aspects of work they don’t like. For instance, 70% of hiring managers pointed to the reduction of non-essential meetings. There have also been improvements in how people work, with 60% citing more flexible schedules and 54% noting the reduction in workers’ commutes. 

“Even beyond the pandemic, they’ve discovered there’s a value to working this way,” says Ozimek. 

However, there’s still some resistance. When managers report that remote work is not going well, it’s often because they don’t like remote work in general. Those who personally dislike remote work were more likely to describe it negatively in the survey.

The flip side of this is that managers who personally like remote work tend to be more open to working with freelancers, who tend to be remote workers. They are 10-16% more likely to work with freelancers, even when controlling for the firm and other factors, than those who don’t like it.

One trend that’s picked up steam during the pandemic and is likely to grow is the use of hybrid teams, the report found. These are made up of a combination of traditional employees and freelancers. Both traditional employees and free agents who know how to get things done when some people on a team are full-timers and others are running businesses with multiple clients will thrive in this new environment.

No doubt as COVID-19 vaccines become more widely available, companies will be revising their positions on remote work to reflect the latest developments. But even if most workers go back to the office, no one who is working today will ever look at remote work the same way after the pandemic. It’s here to stay, and knowing how to work successfully with other people who are working remotely—whether they are fellow employees or freelancers—is going to be an increasingly important career skill going forward.

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January 01, 2021 at 05:25AM
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What Remote Work Trends Mean For Your Career - Forbes

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5 anchors will no longer work at NY1 after suit settlement - ABC News

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Five female anchors will no longer work at a New York news channel after settling discrimination claims

By LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press

December 31, 2020, 9:41 PM

• 2 min read

NEW YORK -- Five female anchors will no longer work at a New York news channel as part of the settlement of an age and gender discrimination lawsuit alleging they were passed over in favor of younger talent, according to statements from the women, their lawyers and the channel.

The women who sued in Manhattan federal court in June 2019 include Roma Torre, a Montclair, New Jersey, resident in her early 60s who was NY1′s first on-air hire when it began its programs in 1992.

The settlement of the lawsuit was announced by the women, their lawyers and by NY1. Its terms were not disclosed.

It came a month after a judge allowed some age and gender discrimination claims to proceed but rejected some hostile work environment and retaliation claims.

In their lawsuit, the women, all over age 40, alleged that they were marginalized and cast aside to make room for younger women and men after Charter Communications, a Stamford, Connecticut-based company, took over the local news channel in 2016.

The lawsuit had sought unspecified damages and a return to the positions the women occupied before Charter took control.

According to the lawsuit, the women found their on-air time dramatically reduced, anchoring opportunities decreased, prime reporting opportunities taken away and promotional efforts mostly eliminated.

“We are pleased to announce we have reached a confidential resolution of the lawsuit filed by Roma Torre, Kristen Shaughnessy, Jeanine Ramirez, Vivian Lee and Amanda Farinacci and as a result, have mutually agreed to part ways," NY1 said in its statement.

"We want to thank them for their years of dedicated service in reporting the news for New Yorkers and we wish them well in their future endeavors,” it added.

In a statement, the women said they were pleased to reach the settlement “after engaging in a lengthy dialogue with NY1."

“We believe it is in everyone’s interest — ours, NY1’s and our viewers — that this litigation be resolved and we have mutually agreed to part ways,” the statement said. “We want to thank everyone who has supported us through these times – please know that the support from each and every person has made a real difference.”

Their attorneys, Douglas Wigdor and David Gottlieb, thanked their clients' viewers who “tuned in to watch them fairly and accurately report the news for so many years.”

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January 01, 2021 at 04:44AM
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5 anchors will no longer work at NY1 after suit settlement - ABC News

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Work

Ontario finance minister resigns amid outrage over Caribbean holiday - Reuters

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By Maiya Keidan

2 Min Read

FILE PHOTO: The CN Tower stands at dusk above office buildings and condominiums in the downtown core of Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 20, 2020. REUTERS/Chris Helgren

TORONTO (Reuters) - Ontario’s Finance Minister Rod Phillips resigned on Thursday after public outrage over a Caribbean vacation he took earlier this month in violation of his own government’s coronavirus travel warnings.

Phillips, a member of the ruling Progressive Conservative Party in the Canadian province, admitted this week that he travelled to the French island of St. Barts on Dec. 13, after the legislative session ended.

Federal and provincial leaders across Canada have urged the public to avoid non-essential travel because of the pandemic.

“Today, following my conversation with Rod Phillips, I have accepted his resignation as Ontario’s Minister of Finance,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a statement.

“At a time when the people of Ontario have sacrificed so much, today’s resignation is a demonstration that our government takes seriously our obligation to hold ourselves to a higher standard.”

Ford said he has asked Peter Bethlenfalvy to step into the finance minister’s role and deliver the government’s 2021 budget in addition to his current role as president of the province’s Treasury Board.

Phillips served as Ontario’s minister of the environment before becoming finance minister as part of a 2019 cabinet reshuffle.

He returned to Canada on Thursday and apologized for his actions.

Ontario, home to Canada’s industrial and manufacturing heartland, began a lockdown on Dec. 26 to curb the spread of the virus.

Reporting by Maiya Keidan; Editing by Paul Simao

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January 01, 2021 at 01:54AM
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Ontario finance minister resigns amid outrage over Caribbean holiday - Reuters

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Holiday

Blithewold Mansion brings holiday magic outdoors - The Boston Globe

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Advertisement

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The COVID-19 pandemic has forced everyone outside this season, like children with our faces pressed up against the windows, remembering celebrations in places where we can’t be together anymore.

The wintering landscape has always been here. But being forced to linger outside has opened people’s eyes to its beauty.

Lights adorn a Maidenhair tree, also known as Ginkgo Biloba, at Blithewold in Bristol, R.I.John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

With the mansion itself closed to the public, the Blithewold estate turned its attention outward this season, illuminating more of its quiet gardens, groves and pathways and offering opportunities to explore.

They created something magical. Tickets for “Night Lights” have sold out almost every night, and it’s so popular that the season has been extended at least until Jan. 10. The staff also added a scavenger hunt for adults and children, and offer hot drinks and cocktails for sale on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

“I’ve never seen people be more sincerely grateful,” said Tree Callanan, Blithewold’s director of communications. “People say, ‘Thank you so much for doing this’ — it’s from the heart. They are honestly thankful.”

The idea came out of necessity: Christmas at Blithewold brings in as much business for the nonprofit as its “Daffodil Days” and the entire summer season, said Callanan.

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Snowflakes made from bamboo trees dangle from a tree at Blithewold.John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

“It’s a place we all love and care about,” Callanan said. “The mission was to educate and inspire, but we knew right away that we could do something that was going to help people through this time, [offer] some place beautiful where they would come.”

The attention is fitting, considering how the original owners loved and worked to develop the grounds.

This was the summer home of Augustus and Bessie Van Wickle, who bought the property in 1894. Bessie worked with landscape architect John DeWolf to plan the estate, and then she dug into the earth herself, working with gardeners.

Their daughter Marjorie Van Wickle Lyon was also an avid gardener, working nearly up until her death at the estate in 1976 at the age of 93. She left the estate to the Heritage Foundation of Rhode Island, now known as the Heritage Trust of Rhode Island, with an endowment for its upkeep.

The first-floor rooms of the mansion are decorated, but you can only see them by peeking through the windows.

A Christmas tree seen through the front French doors at Blithewold mansion in Bristol, R.I.John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

The real show is outdoors, with the lights and ornaments handmade by the estate’s director of horticulture, using bamboo grown in the grove, leftover copper from when the mansion was re-roofed, and plexiglass that he shaped into decorations.

Fred Perry, who earned a degree in landscape architecture from the University of Rhode Island, said he’s lost count of all of the ornaments he’s made over his 20 years at the estate. He changes the designs each year, coming up with surprises for regular visitors.

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With help from workers at Bartlett Tree Experts of Seekonk, Massachusetts, Perry hung the lights and ornaments throughout the grounds, greatly expanding previous displays. The thick bamboo grove became a lighted cave, with some of the bamboos stretched down in the middle over a Christmas tree, resembling an angel bowing its wings.

Bamboo form a 30-foot-tall Christmas tree at Blithewold.John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

He hopes that visitors will also notice the bamboo flowers, small and delicate and carefully handmade, clustered in groups around the property.

Before the pandemic, Blithewold’s holiday season would end after New Year’s Day. But, with people looking for things to do outdoors, Callanan said they may continue to keep the estate open on weekends through the rest of the winter.

“It makes us all feel really good to provide that kind of opportunity for people,” she added.

“Night Lights” is open evenings through Jan. 10, from 4 to 8 p.m. Tickets for adults are $10, $5 for children, and members are free. Reservations required.

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Amanda Milkovits can be reached at amanda.milkovits@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmandaMilkovits.

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January 01, 2021 at 05:29AM
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Blithewold Mansion brings holiday magic outdoors - The Boston Globe

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Holiday

5 Post Holiday Detoxing Recipes - WOODTV.com

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) – 2020 was a year of re-thinking, re-tooling, re-evaluating and reflection.  We learned the value of slowing down, staying home and celebrating family.  It was a year of challenges but also a year of blessings. Together we learned the power of small random acts of kindness, the beauty of helping those in need and the joy of celebrating community. We couldn’t have done this without your and our wonderful community partners!

Thank you to these amazing partners for giving their time, resources, and love to our West Michigan community!  A huge thank you to each of them for filling grocery bags, providing prizes, giving out boxes of dairy, encouraging local heroes, and so much more. Thank you for spreading kindness, love, and joy Where You Live!

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January 01, 2021 at 12:10AM
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Holiday

Fatal crashes cause holiday heartache in Hudson Valley - The Journal News

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[unable to retrieve full-text content]Fatal crashes cause holiday heartache in Hudson Valley  The Journal News The Link Lonk


January 01, 2021 at 12:08AM
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Fatal crashes cause holiday heartache in Hudson Valley - The Journal News

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Holiday

Holiday parade livens Valencia Lakes streets - Observer News

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Published on: December 31, 2020

BILL HODGES PHOTOS
The Disney theme cart of Keith and Marge Cotter won the Valencia Lakes Holiday Golf Cart Parade for the second time in their three years competing.

By PHYLLIS HODGES

You could hear it before you could see it. On the evening of December 21 at Valencia Lakes, 25 gaily decorated golf carts threaded their way along their route spreading cheer. Golf Cart Club President Rodney Davis said that, because the route included every street, residents had only to step out their front door to enjoy the season’s holiday spirit. It was the 8th annual Christmas parade at the 55+ Wimauma complex.

There was one prize for the best decorated golf cart and that went to Keith and Marge Cotter for their elaborate Disney-theme, complete with colorful lights. It was a “traveling pillow,” bearing the signatures of previous winners. The Cotters have participated in all the Christmas parades since moving to the complex three years ago. They won their first year, too.

Davis said that this event, along with the Fourth of July and Halloween parades, gave residents a much-needed break from their COVID-19 stress. The July parade brought out 37 participants; the Halloween parade, 47.

Santa (a.k.a. John Columbia) filled a cart with goodies and brought along wife Maria. This was Columbia’s second year as the Valencia Lakes Santa, but his Santa experience spans three decades.

The lead cart’s sound system did a fine job spreading holiday cheer along the two-hour route. From left, Lifestyle Director Laurie Ferguson, Golf Cart Club President Rodney Davis and wife Allison.

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December 31, 2020 at 09:38PM
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Holiday parade livens Valencia Lakes streets - Observer News

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Unemployment Claims Remain High as Millions Still Struggle to Find Work - The New York Times

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To many people, the economy will not noticeably improve for several months at least. Ms. Swonk expects hiring to have been unchanged or decline in December from November.

Updated 

Dec. 31, 2020, 4:45 p.m. ET

“The overall labor market is losing momentum at a critical juncture as cases soar,” she said.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the number of new state claims was 787,000, a decrease from 806,000 in the previous week.

The Second Stimulus

Answers to Your Questions About the Stimulus Bill

Updated Dec 30, 2020

The economic relief package will issue payments of $600 and distribute a federal unemployment benefit of $300 for at least 10 weeks. Find more about the measure and what’s in it for you. For details on how to get assistance, check out our Hub for Help.

• • Will I receive another stimulus payment? Individual adults with adjusted gross income on their 2019 tax returns of up to $75,000 a year will receive a $600 payment, and a couple (or someone whose spouse died in 2020) earning up to $150,000 a year will get twice that amount. There is also a $600 payment for each child for families who meet those income requirements. People who file taxes using the head of household status and make up to $112,500 also get $600, plus the additional amount for children. People with incomes just above these levels will receive a partial payment that declines by $5 for every $100 in income.
  • When might my payment arrive? The Treasury Department said on Dec. 29 that it had started making direct deposit payments, and would begin to mail checks the next day. But it will be a while before all eligible people receive their money.
  • Does the agreement affect unemployment insurance? Lawmakers agreed to extend the amount of time that people can collect unemployment benefits and restart an extra federal benefit that is provided on top of the usual state benefit. But instead of $600 a week, it would be $300. That will last through March 14.
  • I am behind on my rent or expect to be soon. Will I receive any relief? The agreement will provide $25 billion to be distributed through state and local governments to help renters who have fallen behind. To receive assistance, households will have to meet several conditions: Household income (for 2020) cannot exceed more than 80 percent of the area median income; at least one household member must be at risk of homelessness or housing instability; and individuals must qualify for unemployment benefits or have experienced financial hardship — directly or indirectly — because of the pandemic. The agreement said assistance will be prioritized for families with lower incomes and that have been unemployed for three months or more.

Stricter state and local restrictions on restaurants and other businesses will weigh heavily on the job market in the weeks ahead, said Scott Anderson, chief economist at Bank of the West in San Francisco.

Mr. Anderson expects that the monthly jobs report will show that the unemployment rate rose to 6.9 percent in December, from 6.7 percent in November. The unemployment rate has fallen sharply since peaking at 14.7 percent in April, but hiring has slowed as the economy has faltered in recent months.

The economy may have gained only about 20,000 jobs in December, said Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics. That would amount to a “huge deceleration from last month,” she added, when payrolls jumped by 245,000.

What’s more, the pace of layoffs has been persistently high, as industries like dining, travel and entertainment struggle because the pandemic is keeping many people at home even in states and cities that have not placed many restrictions on businesses. By contrast, many white-collar workers who have been able to work remotely have emerged from the economic turbulence relatively unscathed.

The introduction of vaccines is a bright spot, as are positive economic signs, like surging stock prices and a booming housing market. But it will be months before enough Americans can be inoculated to allow people to go to restaurants, events and movie theaters without fear of being infected.

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December 31, 2020 at 07:00PM
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Unemployment Claims Remain High as Millions Still Struggle to Find Work - The New York Times

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Panthers' offensive line a work in progress, and will be again in 2021 - Panthers.com

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"He's an excellent player, he's an excellent professional, he's an even better person," the coach said. "You hear me talk about the brand and certain types of guys, and he's all that. He's an excellent, excellent player. He's a great pro. Never, never, never any question about anything, really about anything about him.

"He's just exactly what you want in your organization."

They clearly want him to continue to be.

Moton has played every snap this season, and played them well, and there's a reasonable argument that he's been the team's most consistent player. He'll turn 27 during training camp next year, meaning these are his prime years.

Also, other teams watch film too, which means he won't be cheap.

Moton could hit the market at a time when right tackles are starting to get paid like their counterparts on the left side. Trent Brown got a startling four-year, $66 million deal from the Raiders at the start of free agency in 2019, and the Eagles locked up Lane Johnson with a four-year, $72 million extension last year.

More recent deals for left tackles have been near or above the $20 million a year mark (Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari's $23 million average leads the list, followed by the Texans' Laremy Tunsil at $22 million, and Baltimore's Ronnie Stanley at $19.75 million). But Moton is established on the right and will likely be paid like one of the top few at his position.

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December 31, 2020 at 10:31PM
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Late for Work 12/31: Brian Baldinger: Ravens Are the Team to Beat If They Get in the Playoffs - BaltimoreRavens.com

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Brian Baldinger: Ravens Are the Team to Beat If They Get in the Playoffs

With the Ravens playing as well as any team in the league during their four-game winning streak, they've been hailed as the wild-card team no one wants to play in the postseason.

NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger took it a step further.

"I think the rest of the league should be on notice that the Ravens — I don't care what happened in the postseason last year — I think they're the team to beat right now if they get in," Baldinger said on the "Baldy's Breakdowns" podcast.

Currently the sixth seed, the Ravens (10-5) will get in if they beat the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday (they also could get in with a loss but would need help).

Baldinger marveled at the Ravens' ability to run the ball during their recent resurgence. He was especially impressed with how well they ran against a good New York Giants defense this past Sunday.

"They might legitimately be able to run, like really run, old-school run, to a title," Baldinger said. "What they did to the Giants just showed you because the Giants are an accomplished run defense. But when [the Ravens] run for 250 yards against them, and the Giants have no idea how to stop it, it just goes to show you what [Offensive Coordinator] Greg Roman and Lamar Jackson, and [Bradley] Bozeman and [Orlando Brown Jr.] and those guys up front, are doing.

"The Giants put all their big horses up front — Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence, the whole group — it didn't make any difference. Their misdirection, their power, and the way that they're doing it right now, if you're a linebacker or an outside linebacker, you don't know where the ball's going. And then they hit you right in the mouth."

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December 31, 2020 at 09:50PM
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Late for Work 12/31: Brian Baldinger: Ravens Are the Team to Beat If They Get in the Playoffs - BaltimoreRavens.com

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Top work-from-home trends of 2020 - Fox Business

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As more Americans work from home, cable bills may be going up. Fox News’ Brett Larson with more.

After millions of Americans moved to work from the office to working remotely, working from home has undergone the largest test trial to date. Even though many employers are set to reopen offices in 2021, it has been proven that telework is plausible, and many companies will allow for a hybrid model of home and office work moving forward. The future of the workplace could be changed permanently, molded by trends of the grand remote work experiment amid the pandemic.

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COMCAST ADDING DATA CAPS FOR HOME INTERNET

Here are some of the top work from home trends that have defined 2020:

More than half of employees say they want remote work to stay 

A recent Pew survey found that most employees who are working from home had rarely or never teleworked prior to the pandemic. In fact, only one-in-five worked from home all or most of the time. While 71% of those employees have reported doing their job from home now, over half say that they would want to keep doing their job from home even as office life resumes.

CONSUMER BRANDS BET WORKING FROM HOME IS HERE TO STAY

The transition from office attire, in-person meetings and lengthy commutes to pajamas and Zoom conferences has been relatively seamless for most employed adults. According to the Pew survey, of those working from home all or most of the time, nearly three-quarters have been equipped with the adequate technology and resources to do their jobs, meet project deadlines and feel motivated.

Despite the cited perks of having flexibility, a majority of respondents say that they feel uncomfortable returning to the office once employers start rolling out vaccination plans. Sixty-four percent of those working from home now report that they would feel uncomfortable returning to the office, with 31% of respondents saying they would feel very uncomfortable.

 Slack, Zoom and video conferencing services are top communication tools 

As most companies moved online, teleworkers have relied heavily on video conferencing and instant messaging to stay in touch with co-workers.

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A forever poster child for 2020, Zoom quickly turned into not only the most downloaded Apple app of the year but also a verb. In fact, 81% of employed adults working from home all or most of the time say that they use video calling or platforms like Zoom at least some of the time, while over half, or 59%, say that they use these often. Another 57% of respondents use messaging platforms like Slack or Google Chat.

The frequency of virtual meetings has even dubbed the new term “resting Zoom face.” However, more than half of those using video conferencing services, or 63%, often are not experiencing “Zoom fatigue.” Overall, the Pew Research data reveals that communication services like Zoom and Slack are a sufficient replacement for in-person contact.

Not everyone can work from home 

Not all employed adults have the option of working from home, according to the Pew Survey. Even during the pandemic, a majority of workers in industries like health care, retail and manufacturing cannot logistically be out of the office. While a person’s ability to work from home hinges on their vocation, a class divide also exists. Sixty-two percent of employees with a bachelor’s degree or higher say that their business cannot be done from home, compared with only 23% of those without a four-year degree. Meanwhile, most employees with a higher level of education and earning level are more likely to work from home.

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January 01, 2021 at 02:15AM
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Tokyo trading closed for holiday, other Asian indexes mixed - Minneapolis Star Tribune

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TOKYO — Major Asian bourses were closed for the New Year's holidays Thursday while the handful that remained open was mixed.

Australia's S&P/ASX fell 0.8% to 6,632.10, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.5% to 27,271.40. The Shanghai Composite gained 1.3% to 3,458.71. Trading was closed in Tokyo and South Korea.

The Tokyo exchange marked the end of trading for the year Wednesday, with the Nikkei falling 0.5%, and trading will not reopen until Monday next week. Global markets will be closed New Year's Day Friday.

Focus has been on the continuing vaccine development around the globe, with China's Sinopharm becoming the latest to release encouraging study results. Investors are optimistic about more vaccines gaining approval in coming weeks.

"Surely, I am not the only one who had massive doubts, but miraculously, we have about made it over the year-end finishing line in one piece," said Stephen Innes, chief global market strategist at Axi.

On Wall Street, stocks eked out modest gains overnight, keeping the major stock indexes on Wall Street at or near record highs.

Energy and materials companies led the gains. Industrial and financial stocks also had a strong showing. Small-company stocks again outpaced their larger rivals, a sign that investors are feeling more optimistic about the economy.

The S&P 500 index rose 5 points, or 0.1% to 3,732.04. The Dow gained 73.89 points, or 0.2%, to 30,409.56. The Nasdaq composite picked up 19.78 points, or 0.2%, to 12,870. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies climbed 20.63 points, or 1.1%, to 1,979.99.

Ahead of the final day of trading in 2020, the S&P 500 is up 15.5% this year, while the Nasdaq is up 43.4%.

The modest gains came as the effort to develop and distribute vaccines to fight the virus pandemic intensifies. Britain has authorized the use of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. The vaccine is considered easier to store and handle than others hitting the market. Earlier in December, both the U.K. and U.S. approved a vaccine made by Pfizer.

In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude slipped 12 cents to $48.38 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, gained 25 cents to $51.34 a barrel.

In currency trading, the U.S. dollar inched down to 103.09 Japanese yen from 103.33 yen. The euro cost $1.2308, up from $1.2260.

___

AP Business Writers Damian J. Troise and Alex Veiga contributed to this report.

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December 31, 2020 at 10:11AM
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Tokyo trading closed for holiday, other Asian indexes mixed - Minneapolis Star Tribune

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Holiday

San Francisco closes holiday displays and parking lots for New Year’s Eve - KRON4

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SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- An earthquake rumbled in the San Francisco Bay Area early December 31. It appeared to be along the San Andreas fault.

Location with respect to nearby cities:4.3 mi S of Muir Beach, California6.2 mi SSW of Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, California7.8 mi SSW of Mill Valley, California9.3 mi WNW of Noe Valley, California80.3 mi SW of Sacramento, California

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December 31, 2020 at 08:22PM
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San Francisco closes holiday displays and parking lots for New Year’s Eve - KRON4

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Holiday Happenings (Dec. 31) | Local | gazettetimes.com - Corvallis Gazette Times

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Albany Visitors Association 33rd Annual Nighttime Magic Holiday Light Contest. This year’s theme is “Cherished Traditions in a New Light.” Pictures of entries are posted on the AVA Facebook page, and addresses are included for people to drive by. A holiday light drive is posted on the Albany Explorer app via Google Maps. Lights will be on at least 5 to 10 p.m. daily through at least New Year's Day.

Giving opportunities

The Albany Public Schools Foundation provides opportunities for students to succeed through classroom grants, suicide prevention, assistance for low-income students, and scholarships for graduating seniors. When you donate to APSF, your support could supply classroom grants, elementary enrichment grants, suicide prevention through Sources of Strength Program, financial assistance for low-income students, scholarships for graduates, and more. Donations can be made via mail to Albany Public Schools Foundation, PO Box 1772, Albany, OR 97321, or online at www.albanypsf.org. Those wishing to donate stock can call 541-979-2773 for transfer information. Those who would like to create a scholarship or endowed fund can call the number above.

Donations made to the Benton County Historical Society by Thursday qualify as a match for gifts to the Oregon Cultural Trust. You can receive a tax credit on your Oregon state income taxes, up to $500 dollars for individuals and $1,000 for couples filing jointly. Learn more at culturaltrust.org. Your year-end gifts can help reduce your tax bill and benefit the Benton County Historical Society and Museums. If you’d like to give to the society’s Endowment Fund, aggregate gifts, up to $50,000 received by Thursday, will be matched by an anonymous donor. To date, endowment gifts total $23,000. Mail a check to Benton County Historical Society, PO Box 35, Philomath, OR 97370; or give online at https://benton-county-historical-society.networkforgood.com.

The Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis is operating full-day child care, with programming focused on distance learning and providing a safe place for youth during the workday. The club needs donations for its Scholarship Fund to help fill the financial gap created when keeping costs low, charging only a fraction of the cost to run the program. Visit www.bgccorvallis.org/give.

The Corvallis High School Band Booster Club, a nonprofit agency, is raising money for new instruments, including a French horn, a bassoon, an oboe and a bass clarinet. Tax-deductible contribution can be sent to the Friends of CHS Band, 2397 NW Kings Blvd., No. 128, Corvallis, OR 97330. Check with your employer for a company match. Information: scottoregon@outlook.com.

It's On Us — Albany is a nonprofit, crowd-funded organization dedicated to creating an opportunity for local donors to help local restaurants and local folks in need. The group is working to support those impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and Oregon’s wildfires. All donations — 100% — go directly to the restaurants. The restaurants, in turn, provide a free meal to people in need. It's On Us welcomes donations and volunteers. To donate, send checks to PO Box 1423, Albany 97321 or go to the group's GoFundMe page, https://www.gofundme.com/f/its-on-us-albany. Information: 541-971-1480 or itsonusalbany@gmail.com.

Linn County Animal Rescue is a nonprofit agency based in Waterloo that rescues horses that have been abused and abandoned, and also cares for hospice dogs that have been surrendered to the county. The agency has a continual need to help care for these animals and the facilities. Donated items that are always appreciated include wormers for horses; horse blankets and replacement straps; veterinary wraps; mineral ice; liniments; Mane 'n' Tail Hoofmaker; shampoo; detangler; horse treats; gift cards to Wilco, Coastal Farm & Ranch, and OK Corral in Sweet Home; gently used equipment; dry or canned dog food; pee pads; liquid laundry detergent; bleach; spray cleaner; dog shampoo; hand sanitizer; and fly traps. Financial contributions are also welcome. Information: www.lcarhorse.org.

Maxtivity, a Philomath-based nonprofit agency, has launched a fundraiser to raise $6,070 by Thursday to keep the organization afloat. Founded in November 2018, Maxtivity just celebrated two years of service to Benton County residents. Once designed as an in-person arts and crafts studio, current social restrictions prompted Maxtivity to expand its virtual classes, kits and online store. Goals include developing more online art lessons, creating accompanying art kits to purchase for lessons, and providing craft kits for checkout. Maxtivity is still available for small private groups, pods or families to come for open studio use time or private art lessons. But donations will help expand online services and increase art and craft kits, so people can be inspired from the safety of their own homes. Maxtivity will use funds to hire art instructors willing to record their lessons on Maxtivity’s YouTube channel, making them available to the community for free. Donations will also help the organization offer art lessons for low or no cost to the community, using funds to pay for instruction and supplies. Funds could also go towards sponsorship for in-person or family studio time. Maxtivity’s online donation portal lists proposed donation amounts, including specific examples of what those donations bring to the organization. To donate, visit https://givebutter.com/Maxtivity. To volunteer, email www.maxtivitycreativespace@gmail.com. To learn more, visit https://www.maxtivitycreative.space.

The Americans for the Arts estimates that pandemic-related financial losses to the nonprofit arts and cultural sector total over $14.6 billion, with 63% of artists and creative workers still unemployed. If you are able to make donations to arts organizations, "double your gifts" by also making a donation to the Oregon Cultural Trust for a tax credit. Visit http://oregonculturaltrust.org.

Each year, SafeHaven Humane Society works with businesses in the community to host Giving Trees that ultimately bring in much-needed items to the animals. The trees have ornaments with a photo of one of the shelter animals and items on the Wish List. SafeHaven Giving Trees are at the shelter, both SafeHaven Gift & Thrift stores, inside the Heritage Mall, Cascade Ridge Apartments in Lebanon, Corvallis Feed and Seed, Timberridge Place Apartments in Albany, Toyota/Subaru of Corvallis, Oregon Cannabis Co. in Albany, Pono Bowl Co. in Albany, and Cool’s Feed and Seed in Albany. You can select an ornament from the tree and simply return gifts and ornaments to the humane society, or place them under the Giving Tree. To view the Wish List all year around, visit www.safehavenhumane.org/support-us/donate.

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December 31, 2020 at 08:00PM
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Holiday Happenings (Dec. 31) | Local | gazettetimes.com - Corvallis Gazette Times

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Who covers company equipment stolen or damaged while employees work from home? - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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December 31, 2020 at 06:15PM
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Who covers company equipment stolen or damaged while employees work from home? - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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Furloughed Japanese airline staff to work as Shinto shrine attendants during New Year's holidays - CNN

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(CNN) — Around the world, many furloughed employees are toughing out the coronavirus pandemic by taking second or third jobs.

Instead of driving for Uber or delivering groceries, though, a group of staff members at Japan Airlines (JAL) has been dispatched to work in Shinto shrines.

Some JAL crew members in Fukuoka prefecture are working as miko, or shrine maidens, during the New Year's period, when shrines are typically quite busy with people coming to make wishes and ask for blessings in the new year. (The word 'miko' is both singular and plural in Japanese.)

JAL gave some of the staffers ​normally engaged with international flights -- who are furloughed or have had their work hours cut back significantly -- opportunities to apply for paid positions as miko, who as per custom must be unmarried women. The positions were optional, and interested employees applied via an in-house online portal.

Next, employees who were selected to be miko did a brief training course at the Munakata Taisha shrine in Fukuoka prefecture. They learned basic shrine vocabulary and etiquette and wore traditional dress -- with face masks, of course.

Many shrines throughout Japan are understaffed already, particularly during the New Year's period when attendance is higher than usual, so the idea of using furloughed employees to step into these temporary roles solved two problems at once.

"We think Japan Airlines' first-class customer service may inspire all our staff at shrines," a representative for the shrine told CNN Travel. "At the same time, we would like the JAL staff to experience the Japanese traditional culture and Japanese spirit and make the best use what they learned for future."

Shrine attendants do not have to be religious themselves and are not required to take any sort of spiritual vows. Instead, their duties consist of passing out omamori (amulets or good luck charms) and ofuda (talismans) to the shrine visitors.

And this year's miko will have additional responsibilities of carrying out Covid-19 protocols, including keeping worshipers safely distanced and controlling crowd flow.

They will fulfill these duties from January 1-11.

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December 31, 2020 at 10:45AM
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Furloughed Japanese airline staff to work as Shinto shrine attendants during New Year's holidays - CNN

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Despite pandemic, holiday sales grew at least 3 percent this year - Tampa Bay Times

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Holiday sales may have grown overall this year, but the clothing and department store sales came up short during a year shoppers largely stayed home and shopped online.

Holiday retail sales grew 3 percent compared to last year but apparel sales dropped by 19 percent, according to a study by Mastercard SpendingPulse. Online sales grew by a whopping 49 percent. While the big chains and department stores won’t reveal how holidays sales fared until upcoming quarterly reports with investors, some of Tampa Bay’s smaller businesses are taking stock as an unpredictable 2020 draws to a close.

“When people think shopping online, they think about the big guys like Amazon,” said said Sara Stonecipher, the owner of St. Petersburg clothing boutique Misred.

Between COVID-19 and already shifting shopper trends, big retailers started pushing sales in October weeks ahead of Black Friday. Mastercard’s study looked at retail purchase, exempting gas and car sales, from October 11 to Dec. 24.

“American consumers turned the holiday season on its head, redefining ‘home for the holidays’ in a uniquely 2020 way,” Steve Sadove, senior advisor for Mastercard, said in a statement. “They shopped from home for the home, leading to record e-commerce growth. And, consumers shopped earlier than ever before.”

But that sort of online success didn’t translate the same for Stonecipher’s local clothing store. Even with a strong presence on Instagram and a sleek website, Stonecipher said only about 5 percent of her sales happen online. In-person shopping picked up the closer it got to Christmas.

Related: It’s not just Black Friday that will be different because of COVID-19

“We were way down in November,” Stonecipher said. “We honestly didn’t see traffic start to appear until a week into December, then everybody came out at the same time.”

The holidays still brought a much needed boost for Stonecipher’s shop, which, like other retailers that don’t sell food, had to close during the onset of the pandemic. She said those who came through for holiday shopping made a point to shop local to support community businesses through the pandemic.

For large-scale traditional retailers, like mall department stores, sales slumped about 10 percent overall, according to the Mastercard study. Their online sales, however, grew 3.3 percent.

Home furnishings and decor, which have been performing well since the pandemic began, continued to lead during holiday shopping, up about 16 percent compared to last year. Shoppers continue to want to improve their homes, while they spend more time than ever in them avoiding crowds to lessen the spread of the virus.

For new local business Leafy Luv Affair, shoppers’ new attention on their homes has helped the store start off strong. Whitney and Matt Jackson just opened their plant store in Hyde Park Village Thanksgiving weekend.

Related: Not all of Tampa Bay’s Black Friday shoppers are stopping for the pandemic

“Tampa has become such an urban hub with condos and high raises,” said Whitney Jackson. “People don’t have access to their own landscaping but appreciate an urban jungle.”

The new plant seller said the plant market has performed well during the pandemic because houseplants are not only a hobby, but a way to improve your environment.

The National Retail Federation, a retail trade group, projected a 3.6 percent to 5.2 percent spike in holiday sales totaling more than $755 billion compared to last year.

“Many Florida retailers went above and beyond, offering a multitude of options to ensure they were safe and comfortable while shopping this holiday season,” said Scott Shalley, the president and CEO of the federation’s Florida chapter. “We are grateful for the support from consumers during this important shopping season and difficult year, but there are still many challenges ahead.”

Stonecipher said while she is thankful for the holiday boost, shoppers need to keep returning to local businesses before next Christmas if they want them to stay open through 2021.

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December 31, 2020 at 05:39AM
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Despite pandemic, holiday sales grew at least 3 percent this year - Tampa Bay Times

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Holiday

Kenneth C. Coombs Students Make Holiday Cards For Laurentide Residents - CapeNews.net

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Gingerbread men, holiday wreaths, trees and heartfelt holiday greetings adorned green, red and white paper cards created by Kenneth C. Coombs School students during the week leading up to Christmas.

On December 23, Kenneth C. Coombs prekindergarten teacher Sharon Fulone delivered 104 holiday-themed cards made by students to the residents of Laurentide At Mashpee Commons, the assisted living care facility on Great Neck Road North.

Ms. Fulone said she was inspired to have the students make the cards based on her own experiences with family and friends in nursing homes.

“Several people I know have family members in nursing homes,” she said. “I have a brother in a nursing home. I’ve witnessed how hard it is for family members—my parents included—to not be able to visit or spend special time with them.”

Particularly right now because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be difficult or impossible to visit family members in nursing care facilities due to the possibility of exposing high-risk elders.

According to state COVID-19 guidelines, families are allowed to visit their loved ones in nursing homes and assisted living care facilities but with strict regulations that can change on a case-by-case basis.

“We delivered a total of 104 cards that children in preschool through 2nd grade made,” Ms. Fulone said. “The Coombs School children really enjoyed making the holiday cards.”

The homemade cards were then distributed to Laurentide residents on Christmas Eve by activities director Danny Herlihy.

“They loved the cards,” Mr. Herlihy said. “They were smiling, they loved them—it really brightened up their day.”

Mr. Herlihy said he handed out the cards for the residents to read, and he also read some of the cards out loud.

“I loved the idea,” he said.

Mr. Herlihy said he was presented the idea by Ms. Fulone and Quashnet Elementary School 4th grade teacher Stephanie Manning.

“I thought it was really nice, especially this time of year,” he said. “The residents enjoy receiving stuff like that from little kids in general.”

Mr. Herlihy has been the activities director at Laurentide for 2½ years.

“Danny Herlihy was my former neighbor, and he has done such a great job providing activities for the patients, and pre-COVID, the Coombs students had chances to connect with Laurentide,” Ms. Fulone said.

Before the pandemic, Mr. Herlihy created a partnership with the Coombs School to get students interacting with the Laurentide residents.

“Prior to COVID I did a partnership with the Coombs School where I would have different activities each month with teachers and classrooms,” he said. “For example, one year in December we’d play bingo and then we made gingerbread houses.”

Chaperoned by their teacher, students would take a field trip to Laurentide.

Mr. Herlihy said he would absolutely try to start the program back up again once it is safe for everyone involved.

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December 31, 2020 at 12:00PM
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Kenneth C. Coombs Students Make Holiday Cards For Laurentide Residents - CapeNews.net

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Holiday trains at Morris Arboretum is a holiday tradition in Philadelphia - WPVI-TV

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The annual Morris Arboretum Holiday Garden Railway is a seasonal tradition for many around Philadelphia.

The railway is built into the landscape of the 92-acre Arboretum nestled in a half-acre space.

The changing topography provides opportunities for trestles, bridges, tunnels and water features. Iconic Philadelphia architecture is represented with miniature replicas made out of natural materials.
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December 31, 2020 at 05:19AM
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Holiday trains at Morris Arboretum is a holiday tradition in Philadelphia - WPVI-TV

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Tokyo trading closed for holiday, other Asian indexes mixed - Tulsa World

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People walk by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. Asian shares were mixed Wednesday after a lackluster day on Wall Street, as the boost from President Donald Trump’s signing of the coronavirus relief package faded.

A man walks by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. Asian shares were mixed Wednesday after a lackluster day on Wall Street, as the boost from President Donald Trump’s signing of the coronavirus relief package faded.

A man walks by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. Asian shares were mixed Wednesday after a lackluster day on Wall Street, as the boost from President Donald Trump’s signing of the coronavirus relief package faded.

People walk by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. Asian shares were mixed Wednesday after a lackluster day on Wall Street, as the boost from President Donald Trump’s signing of the coronavirus relief package faded.

FILE - In this Nov. 5, 2020 file photo, a sign for Wall Street is carved in the side of a building. Stocks rose on Wall Street, Wednesday, Dec. 30, putting the market back on a positive footing following a modest pullback the day before.

FILE - In this Dec. 30, 2020, file photo, an employee tolls the closing bell during a ceremony of the last trading day at the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo. Major Asian bourses were closed for the New Year's holidays Thursday, Dec. 31, while the handful that remained open was mixed.

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer

TOKYO (AP) — Major Asian bourses were closed for the New Year's holidays Thursday while the handful that remained open was mixed.

Australia's S&P/ASX fell 0.8% to 6,632.10, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.5% to 27,271.40. The Shanghai Composite gained 1.3% to 3,458.71. Trading was closed in Tokyo and South Korea.

The Tokyo exchange marked the end of trading for the year Wednesday, with the Nikkei falling 0.5%, and trading will not reopen until Monday next week. Global markets will be closed New Year’s Day Friday.

Focus has been on the continuing vaccine development around the globe, with China’s Sinopharm becoming the latest to release encouraging study results. Investors are optimistic about more vaccines gaining approval in coming weeks.

“Surely, I am not the only one who had massive doubts, but miraculously, we have about made it over the year-end finishing line in one piece,” said Stephen Innes, chief global market strategist at Axi.

On Wall Street, stocks eked out modest gains overnight, keeping the major stock indexes on Wall Street at or near record highs.

Energy and materials companies led the gains. Industrial and financial stocks also had a strong showing. Small-company stocks again outpaced their larger rivals, a sign that investors are feeling more optimistic about the economy.

The S&P 500 index rose 5 points, or 0.1% to 3,732.04. The Dow gained 73.89 points, or 0.2%, to 30,409.56. The Nasdaq composite picked up 19.78 points, or 0.2%, to 12,870. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies climbed 20.63 points, or 1.1%, to 1,979.99.

Ahead of the final day of trading in 2020, the S&P 500 is up 15.5% this year, while the Nasdaq is up 43.4%.

The modest gains came as the effort to develop and distribute vaccines to fight the virus pandemic intensifies. Britain has authorized the use of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. The vaccine is considered easier to store and handle than others hitting the market. Earlier in December, both the U.K. and U.S. approved a vaccine made by Pfizer.

In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude slipped 12 cents to $48.38 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, gained 25 cents to $51.34 a barrel.

In currency trading, the U.S. dollar inched down to 103.09 Japanese yen from 103.33 yen. The euro cost $1.2308, up from $1.2260.

AP Business Writers Damian J. Troise and Alex Veiga contributed to this report.

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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December 31, 2020 at 10:11AM
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Tokyo trading closed for holiday, other Asian indexes mixed - Tulsa World

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Holiday