Hi there. Today we're covering tech companies' Covid-19 response and Uber Eats' first delivery to space.
Let's dive in.
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1. Tech companies are grappling with Omicron concerns. As Covid-19 cases surge and concerns over the Omicron variant grow, some of the country's biggest tech companies are implementing stricter rules — from masks to store closures to vaccine mandates.
- Apple is once again closing some of its stores. The company has temporarily closed three of its retail stores — in Miami, Maryland, and Ottawa, Canada — after a rise in Covid-19 cases and exposures among employees. It comes just a day after Apple reinstated its mask mandate at all stores across the country.
- Some companies are pushing back return-to-office plans. Google delayed its return past Jan. 10, Lyft announced it will let employees work remotely for all of 2022, and Meta told staff they can defer their return to office by three to five months. Why it may be time for companies to admit defeat.
- Meanwhile, Nike is sticking to its plan to return on Jan. 10 — but 54% of employees said it doesn't give them enough flexibility.
- Employees who don't adhere to Google's vaccine mandate will lose their jobs. The company imposed a mandate that all employees must be vaccinated or show medical or religious exemption by Dec. 3 — and those who don't will eventually lose their jobs. Get the full rundown here.
In other news:
2. Amazon Web Services experienced more issues yesterday. After experiencing a massive outage last week, the company reported more issues that impacted Netflix, Twitch, Slack, and other sites, but quickly resolved them. What we know about the connectivity issues.
3. Amazon quietly rolled out over 30 warehouses in rural and "super rural" areas this year. The e-commerce giant is looking to take more delivery share from UPS and the US Postal Service. Here's more on Amazon's growing footprint.
4. David Chang's fried-chicken restaurant Fuku cut ties with ghost-kitchen Reef. After reports of food-safety issues inside trailers run by Reef, Fuku has announced it will instead be working with the startup's competitor, Kitchen United. What we know so far.
5. Leaked documents reveal what Facebook and Instagram think of their rivals. The platforms see TikTok as their biggest concern, but less obvious platforms like Discord — and even texting — pose a threat to Facebook and Instagram's young audience. From YouTube to LinkedIn, here's what they think of their rivals.
6. Amazon created 599 million pounds of plastic packaging waste in 2020. A watchdog report found that an estimated 23.5 million pounds of that plastic ended up in the world's oceans — but Amazon disputed the report, saying it's off by "more than 300%." More on that here.
7. We outlined 55 tech startups to bet your career on in 2022. As more people rethink their careers amid the Great Resignation, we've created a list of startups to join that have all the markings of long-term success. From Maude, a sexual-wellness company, to NowRx, which offers same-day prescription delivery, these are our top picks.
8. Elon Musk says no other CEO cares as much about safety as he does. Musk told The Financial Times he hasn't misled or risked Tesla owners' safety with the company's self-driving assistance software, and that no CEO in the world pays as much attention to safety as he does. Here's what else he told the outlet.
9. Gen Zers and millennials would take a pay cut to move to a cheaper part of the US. More than half of Americans ages 18 to 34 said they'd accept a lower salary for a cheaper cost of living. Emerging tech hubs were of particular interest, with men eager to move to Miami, and women opting for Austin. More on young generations' itch for affordable living.
10. Uber Eats made its first-ever delivery to space. Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa delivered canned beef and boiled mackerel to astronauts aboard the International Space Station as part of his 12-day trip to space. Uber's CEO gave Maezawa a "thumbs up" for his delivery — even though it took more than 30 minutes to arrive.
What we're watching today:
- Adobe and Rivian are expected to announce earnings today. Keep up with earnings here.
- Forbes Magazine is slated to publish its annual list of America's Best Mid Cap Companies.
- A group of workers and advocates to call on New York Gov. Hochul to "hold Amazon accountable."
Curated by Jordan Parker Erb in New York. (Feedback or tips? Email [email protected] or tweet @jordanparkererb.) Edited by Michael Cogley in London.