Is Elon's Empire Crumbling?

Jeff Brown - the legend who called Tesla and Nvidia early - says Elon is about to launch a $25T AI revolution. This isn't another chatbot. It's real-world AI that could 14X the impact of ChatGPT. But after July 23rd, it may be too late.

Are digital tools a way for companies to retain hourly workers?

ANNE D'INNOCENZIO
September 30, 2024

NEW YORK (AP) -- The COVID-19 pandemic and the resetting of the economy that followed it made hourly workers more aware of their value. Some experts think employers should expect to field demands for flexible hours and other workplace incentives even as the labor market weakens.

WorkJam, an online platform that was founded in 2014, has tried to be at the forefront of this shift. It provides clients such as Target, Ulta Beauty and Hilton with digital tools their non-salaried employees can use to swap shifts, complete trainings and get early access to wages.

CEO & co-founder Steve Kramer recently spoke with The Associated Press about how companies can better retain hourly workers. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q. What was the environment like for hourly workers when you started the company?

A. When we started the company in 2014, we set out to solve two issues to help with the socioeconomic issues that existed at the time. And they were large socioeconomic issues. In fact, President Obama, in his State of the Union speech in 2014, had hourly workers on stage with him because there was a lot of scheduling practices that were happening at the time that were creating unpredictability. So Obama actually put in a lot of new compliance rules to protect the hourly worker and to create more predictability in their schedules and their paychecks.

The pandemic was a black swan event for WorkJam because it did empower the employees. There were a lot of social issues that were happening as well. The idea around inclusion.

Q. What savings can your firm deliver for clients?

A. The ability to retain employees, which was very important over the last five or six years with the labor shortage, has a big impact on the bottom line. It costs anywhere between $4,000 to $8,000 to recruit and train a new front-line employee. So if you're able to retain your employees and reduce attrition, and let's say it's a company of 40,000 to 50,000 employees, it turns into millions of dollars of savings.

Q. What are some hiring trends?

A. It's not so difficult to hire hourly workers anymore. Many sectors have pulled back and have slowed down their hiring. Restaurant and hospitality have had modest growth. But certainly in retail, manufacturing, distribution, we are seeing a pullback.

Q. What are companies' approach to staffing?

A. Organizations are thinking about how to do more with less simply to lower their cost of operations. There's also more of a focus on ever-boarding, the notion of constantly training your employees on new processes or being able to do different roles within the business.

Q. Why is that?

A. Much of it has to do with flexible scheduling. A lot of companies are wanting to be able to move their staff around either through different locations, departments or different roles within the organization.

Q. What's the impact?

A. It has a profound impact because you're able to hire less. You're able to start hiring by district or by region and be able to share those resources across those locations. A lot of these companies were using third-party labor companies like gig workers and staff augmentation firms to fill their gaps. And the result of it is happier employees because they have more opportunity and a much more streamlined process.

Q. What other ways are companies trying to hold on to workers?

A. Early wage access. That's a real benefit to the employee, to be able to get access to your wages after you do a shift and have it deposited into your bank account.

The digitization of communication creates an easier environment for employees to work, particularly the younger generation. There's going to be a lot of people looking for jobs this holiday season for the first time. And so if you think about the younger generation, they want to have a digital relationship with their employer because everything else in their life is digital. And so if you put these systems in place, it has a really big impact on retention.

Q. Given the souring job market, will companies change their approach to hourly workers?

A. Regardless if the economy turns and hiring slows down, how you treat your employees and the expectations of them is here to stay. I don't think it's going to regress. I think in other segments, like desk workers, there will be more changes. I think that there'll be a return to the office. But for front-line employees, there are so many lessons that have been learned over the last two years around how to create a better workforce and the impact that it can have on your bottom line that I think all of these notions and these strategies are here to stay, and they're going to continue to evolve.

Continue Reading...

Popular

Warren Buffett Skips Big Banks Like JPMorgan and Wells Fargo, Bets $459 Million On This One Asset

Warren Buffett has shifted his investment strategy, investing $459 million in Sirius XM after selling his stakes in Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo.

A judge resisted Trump’s order on gender identity. The EEOC just fired her

The federal agency charged with protecting workers’ civil rights has terminated a New York administrative judge who , including President Donald Trump’s executive order decreeing male and female as .

The Unlikely Duo Rethinking Wearable Technology - Ad

Why did a surgeon and Snap exec team up? They saw the missing ingredient in the $84T wearables market: behavior. So they built Emteq and invented smart glasses sensors to track real-time expressions, unlocking insights into why we do things. With a $15M term sheet already secured, Emteq is what Big Tech's missing.

Bernie Sanders Shares First Thing He Would Do As President — And It Could Be A Jab At Elon Musk

Bernie Sanders lost the 2016 and 2020 presidential races. In a recent interview, Sanders shared what he would do first if he were president.

Fox: China Is Hiding a '401K Nuke Switch' Under Trump's Nose - Ad

China holds $784B in U.S. debt-and may trigger a dollar collapse. Gold is already soaring, with forecasts up to $6,000-$30,000. Protect your savings now. Claim the free 2025 Gold Guide and discover a Trump-era IRS loophole to buy gold tax- and penalty-free.

Trump vents online about service provider after conference call marred by glitch

WASHINGTON (AP) — On Monday afternoon, the president of the United States was just another person complaining online about his service provider.

Goldman Just Launched Two New Bond ETFs; Here's Why Investors Should Pay Attention

Goldman Sachs Asset Management debuts two new actively managed fixed income ETFs in response to rising demand for active strategies in a volatile rate landscape.

A Historic Gold Announcement Is About to Rock Wall Street - Ad

The greatest investor of all time is about to validate what Garrett Goggin has been saying for months: Gold is entering a once-in-a-generation mania. Front-running Buffett has never been more urgent - and four tiny miners could be your ticket to 100X gains.

Quantum Stocks Surge And Stumble: Here's What Happened This Week

Quantum Computing announced a $200 million private placement, Microsoft's CEO said quantum computing could take scientific advancements to the next level and more from the week.

Nike soars on a production shift away from China, but it warns of a $1 billion tariff hit

Nike's shares jumped at the opening bell Friday after the company said it's shifting some production away from China. But it also warned that tariffs imposed by the Trump administration will cost it about $1 billion before it makes internal changes, which include “surgical” price increases in the U.S. starting this fall.

Wall Street Says BUY GOLD, But... - Ad

While markets wobble, gold keeps smashing records-and banks say it's just beginning. Goldman urges "buy gold" to hedge trade wars; JPMorgan plans $6,000 an ounce and just took delivery of $4 billion in bullion. Yet past bull runs saw 13x-1,000x bigger gains without buying more gold.

These are the celebs who are attending Jeff Bezos’ Venice wedding

VENICE, Italy (AP) — arrived in Venice on Thursday, leading a star-studded guest list of celebrities descending on the lagoon city for the weekend wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez.

T-Mobile Stock (TMUS) Plunges After SoftBank's $4.8B Share Sale: Report

T-Mobile stock is down over 4% after SoftBank reportedly sold $4.8 billion in shares at a discount. This major share sale by a key investor is contributing significantly to the stock's decline Tuesday.

How to Hack a $1.3T Market - Ad

Forget concrete. The new foundation for real estate success is digital, and Pacaso leads the way. Their tech unlocks a $1.3T real estate market. They've already earned $110M+ in gross profits in their operating history and reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

Greenland has a message for the rest of the world: Come visit

NUUK, Greenland (AP) — has a message for the rest of the world: We’re waiting for you.

Back This Medical AI Tech - Ad

You don't often find healthcare tech company valued at $4M. HeartSciences is an exception. With $75M invested, including R&D, clinical trials, and product development, their patented AI software is approaching FDA submission, a potential major inflection point.

Japan launches a climate change monitoring satellite on mainstay H2A rocket's last flight

TOKYO (AP) — Japan on Sunday launched a satellite to monitor greenhouse gas emissions using its mainstay rocket, which made its final flight before it is replaced by a new flagship designed to be more cost competitive in the global space market.

FDA Submission Expected This Summer - Invest Before It Happens - Ad

This company is making heart disease easier to detect with AI. Their tech has officially been designated a "Breakthrough" by the FDA. You now have an opportunity to get in at a potential inflection point.

China lifts a nearly 2-year ban on seafood from Japan over Fukushima wastewater

BEIJING (AP) — China has to seafood from Japan after a nearly two-year ban over the discharge of slightly radioactive wastewater from the tsunami-destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant.

A hard-right lawmaker is sworn in as Greece's migration minister

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A hard-right lawmaker was sworn in Monday as Greece’s migration minister, replacing a fellow right-wing political heavyweight who resigned following

The Tesla Shock Nobody Sees Coming - Ad

While headlines scream "Tesla is doomed"...Jeff Brown has uncovered a revolutionary AI breakthrough buried inside Tesla's labs. One that is helping AI escape from our computer screens and manifest itself here in the real world all while creating a 25,000% growth market explosion starting as early as July 23rd.

Hong Kong's security net extends beyond arrests as small businesses pressured

HONG KONG (AP) — It’s been years since all but silenced pro-democracy activism in Hong Kong. But a crackdown on dissent in the semiautonomous Chinese city is still expanding, hitting restaurants, bookstores and other small businesses.

Scott Bessent On Replacing Powell As Fed Chair: 'I Will Do What The President Wants' — Plays Down Shadow Chair Speculations

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declined to rule out the possibility of replacing Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Chair and has instead deferred to President Donald Trump's decision on the matter.

The Missing Ingredient for Big Tech's $3T Recipe? - Ad

Big Tech doesn't build everything; they buy what's next. And only Emteq's tech offers real behavior insights for smart glasses, key to unlocking the $3T XR market. Their patented sensors track live facial muscle movements. With health-focused smart glasses in demand, only Emteq has this tech.

US judge says China's Huawei Technologies must face criminal case for racketeering and other charges

BANGKOK (AP) — A U.S. judge has ruled that China’s Huawei Technologies, a leading telecoms equipment company, must face criminal charges in a wide reaching case alleging it stole technology and engaged in racketeering, wire and bank fraud and other crimes.

Iran’s president orders country to suspend cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog IAEA

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s president on Wednesday ordered the country to suspend its cooperation with after American and Israeli airstrikes hit its most-important nuclear facilities, likely further limiting inspectors' ability to track Tehran's program that had been enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels.

Is Elon's Empire Crumbling? - Ad

Jeff Brown - the legend who called Tesla and Nvidia early - says Elon is about to launch a $25T AI revolution. This isn't another chatbot. It's real-world AI that could 14X the impact of ChatGPT. But after July 23rd, it may be too late.

Nike Beats The Street And Says The Worst Is Over

Nike Inc (NKE) stock rallies after upbeat fiscal Q4 results. Analysts maintain Buy ratings, raise price targets, citing potential for growth.

The Unlikely Duo Rethinking Wearable Technology - Ad

Why did a surgeon and Snap exec team up? They saw the missing ingredient in the $84T wearables market: behavior. So they built Emteq and invented smart glasses sensors to track real-time expressions, unlocking insights into why we do things. With a $15M term sheet already secured, Emteq is what Big Tech's missing.

House Republicans race toward a final vote on Trump's tax bill, daring critics to oppose

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican leaders in the House are sprinting toward a Wednesday vote on President Donald Trump's , determined to seize momentum from a in the Senate while essentially daring members to defy their party's leader and vote against it.

Senate GOP removes tax on solar and wind energy but dismantles climate law passed by Democrats

WASHINGTON (AP) — The approved by the Senate Tuesday removes a proposed tax on solar and wind energy projects but quickly phases out tax credits for wind, solar and other renewable energy.

Fox: China Is Hiding a '401K Nuke Switch' Under Trump's Nose - Ad

China holds $784B in U.S. debt-and may trigger a dollar collapse. Gold is already soaring, with forecasts up to $6,000-$30,000. Protect your savings now. Claim the free 2025 Gold Guide and discover a Trump-era IRS loophole to buy gold tax- and penalty-free.

Trump says he’s terminating trade talks with Canada over tax on technology firms

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he’s immediately suspending over its plans to continue with its tax on technology firms, which he called “a direct and blatant attack on our country.”

Dalai Lama To Deliver Major Address On 90th Birthday As China Tracks Succession Moves

The 14th Dalai Lama will address a major three-day gathering of Buddhist religious figures this week ahead of his 90th birthday.

A Historic Gold Announcement Is About to Rock Wall Street - Ad

The greatest investor of all time is about to validate what Garrett Goggin has been saying for months: Gold is entering a once-in-a-generation mania. Front-running Buffett has never been more urgent - and four tiny miners could be your ticket to 100X gains.

KKR Bets On Sustainable Protein Demand With ProTen Investment In Australia

KKR is acquiring Australian poultry giant ProTen to strengthen its agri-infrastructure portfolio and tap growing demand for sustainable protein.

Trending Now

Information, charts or examples are for illustration and educational purposes only and not for individualized investment management This message contains commercial elements, such as advertising. We only send these offers to those who have opted in to our newsletter. Past performance is not indicative of future results. For these reasons we strongly suggest trading in a DEMO/Simulated account. The information provided by us is for educational and informational purposes only. We make no representations or warranties concerning the products, practices or procedures of any company or entity mentioned or recommended and have not determined if the statements and opinions of the advertiser are accurate, correct or truthful. If you use, act upon or make decisions in reliance on information contained or any external source linked within it, you do so at your own peril and agree to hold us, our officers, directors, shareholders, affiliates and agents without fault.

Copyright activatrade.ca
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service