• Lucy Lawless says it was ‘difficult’ joining ‘Battlestar Galactica’ because of the ‘culture of anxiety’ on the show

    Lucy Lawless as D'Anna Biers in "Battlestar Galactica."
    Lucy Lawless as D'Anna Biers in "Battlestar Galactica."

    • Lucy Lawless told Business Insider there was a "culture of anxiety" on the "Battlestar Galactica" set.
    • The actor joined the science fiction show in 2005 during season two.
    • Lawless said actors were also under a lot of pressure not to reveal spoilers. 

    Lucy Lawless told Business Insider that she found it difficult joining "Battlestar Galactica" because of a "culture of anxiety" among the show's actors who didn't know if they would get killed off.

    Lawless joined the show's second season in 2005 as news reporter D'Anna Biers, who was later revealed to be a robotic Cylon named Number Three.

    The character faced plenty of twists — including dying and being resurrected several times — and Lawless stayed on "Battlestar Galactica" until it ended in 2009.

    Similarly to more modern shows like "Game of Thrones" and "House of the Dragon," "Battlestar Galactica" had shocking cliffhangers, brutal murders, and unexpected deaths throughout its seasons, helping it to garner a cult following.

    The ruthless, unpredictable nature of the story made the set a difficult environment for anyone new joining the cast, Lawless said in an interview for BI's Role Play series

    "It was difficult coming in, because they felt if I was coming in, then one of them was on the way out," she said. "They were really nice people so I could tell it wasn't because they were awful, but there was a little bit of a culture of fear. And that was a shame."

    Lawless described the tense atmosphere among the actors on set, noting that there was intense pressure not to reveal spoilers.

    "In my opinion, the actors were kept in a state of insecurity, which I don't agree with as an executive producer. I don't agree with that at all.

    "Because they didn't want any spoilers getting out there at the time — people didn't know if they were going to be killed off, and they were extremely nervous. So there was a culture of anxiety on that show," she said.

    The show mainly takes place on the titular military spaceship as the last remnants of humanity try to survive attacks from the race of sentient robots, the Cylons. According to Lawless, the setting didn't help with morale among the actors.

    "You're filming all day in the dark. You get to work in the dark, you are in space all day, and then you come out, and it's dark again," she said. "That isn't conducive to a very joyful, lighthearted environment, because human beings need the green of trees and the blue of the sky and all that stuff to be truly mentally happy and nourished on some level."

    Representatives for "Battlestar Galactica" producer Ronald D. Moore did not immediately respond to BI's request for comment.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Costco has changed the packaging of its $4.99 rotisserie chicken — and some shoppers are voicing their annoyance

    Kirkland brand rotisserie chicken from Costco, shown in plastic food service bag following a major change in packaging, Lafayette, California, April 18, 2024.
    Costco has gradually been switching the packaging for its rotisserie chicken to plastic bags.

    • Costco has gradually been switching the packaging for its rotisserie chicken from trays with lids to plastic bags.
    • The bags, referred to as "bachelor's handbags" in Australia, are proving divisive among shoppers.
    • "There's just something unappealing about picking up a bagged chicken," a Reddit user wrote.

    Costco has been rolling out new the packaging for its coveted $4.99 rotisserie chicken, and some loyal customers aren't impressed with the change.

    The warehouse chain previously sold the Kirkland Signature chicken on black plastic trays with transparent plastic lids. It has been switching to plastic bags with carry handles instead.

    In the June edition of Costco Connection, the retailer's in-house members magazine, Costco estimated that the new packaging would save about 17 million pounds of plastic annually and enable it to use 1,000 fewer freight trucks a year because of the smaller size of the bags.

    Many Reddit users speculated that the bags were much cheaper for Costco to buy, too.

    The rotisserie chicken is a staple among many of the retailer's superfans. Costco said that it sold 137 million rotisserie chickens globally in the 2023 fiscal year.

    'I'd rather pay more than deal with this nonsense'

    "Got one yesterday from my local Costco," one Reddit user wrote. "Was not impressed. The other packaging was way better."

    "There's just something unappealing about picking up a bagged chicken," another person wrote.

    "Hate them," someone else wrote. "I'd rather pay more than deal with this nonsense."

    Some Reddit users said that the bags weren't sealed properly. They also expressed annoyance that, unlike when it was sold on trays, they couldn't carve slices of the chicken directly in the bag.

    Fully stocked Rotisserie Chicken display at Costco, Queens, New York.
    Some Reddit users said that the chicken was easier to carve when it was sold on trays.

    It was easier to find the biggest chickens when they were served on trays, too, some users said. "I've watched chicken man load the chickens and watch for the one so big he struggles to shut the lid," one Reddit user wrote. "That's the one I buy."

    The new packaging is proving a pain for staff, too, according to some Reddit users.

    One Reddit user who said they worked at Costco said that staff had to use tongs to put the chickens in the bags, which was leading to wrist pain.

    Bachelor's handbags

    But some people see the benefits of the bag. They said it's easier to carry to their car, means they don't burn their fingers on the container, and takes up less room in their fridge. Some said the bag was also great for storing leftovers in the freezer.

    Costco employee packaging Rotisserie chickens at Costco, Palm Beach, Florida.
    Costco's rotisserie chicken is a staple among many of the retailer's superfans.

    They're also in use at other grocery stores. Walmart, Whole Foods, Kroger, and Fred Meyer, for example, sell rotisserie chicken in plastic bags. In Australia, rotisserie chicken in a bag is sometimes referred to as a "bachelor's handbag."

    Reddit users have advised placing the rotisserie bag in another bag from the meat or produce departments to reduce the likelihood of it leaking in the car, though some pointed out that this partly defeats the point of introducing packaging with less plastic.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • I’ve visited 50 cities in Europe. London and Paris were great, but these 5 underrated locations are worth a visit.

    Dasha leans against a bridge over a river. Behind her are hills with houses on them.
    After traveling to 50 cities in Europe, I've discovered some beautiful hidden gems.

    • After traveling to 50 cities in Europe, I've discovered some beautiful hidden gems.
    • Bath, England, is a great place to visit for Roman ruins and beautiful architecture.
    • I also loved traveling to Bruges, Belgium, which is both historic and romantic.

    I've visited 50 cities in Europe, and while I love popular destinations like London and Paris, I always try to seek out beautiful hidden gems around the world.

    With over 13 million Americans predicted to travel to Europe this summer, there's never been a better time to check out the off-the-beaten-path destinations on your travel bucket list.

    These are 5 underrated destinations in Europe I recommend visiting.

    Bath, England is just a 90-minute train ride from London.
    Tourists walk around a two-floor open-air Roman bath. The bath in the middle of the building is green.
    Bath, England, is known for having some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the world.

    As you probably could have guessed from this city's name, Bath, England, is known for its Roman baths. These baths, dating back to 70 AD, are some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the world.

    Bath is known for its beautiful Georgian architecture, which can be admired in places like the Royal Crescent, which features a crescent-shaped row of 30 houses.

    I also loved visiting the Circus, which is made up of townhouses arranged in a circular pattern. These areas showcase Georgian architecture and are what makes walking around Bath feel unique.

    If you're a book lover, you can visit during the annual Jane Austen Festival in September, where people dress up, and the city is taken back in time.

    The train from London to Bath takes about 90 minutes, making this city the perfect day trip.

    Mostar is a beautiful city in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina.
    People sit on rocks next to a large tower bridge.
    The Ottoman Bridge is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

    Mostar is a city that really surprised me. It didn't look like anywhere else I'd ever been, with the towering Ottoman Bridge connecting both sides of the city. The 16th-century bridge is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

    The city also has a well-preserved Ottoman quarter with charming cobblestone streets. During my time in Mostar, I loved drinking Bosnian coffee, taking in the views of the city, and feasting on local dishes like ćevapi.

    Bruges, Belgium, is a beautiful and romantic city.
    People riding in a boat on a river surrounded by charming brick buildings.
    In Bruges, Belgium, I loved taking a boat ride on the canal.

    Bruges, Belgium, is a well-preserved medieval town. Its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and visiting feels like stepping back in time.

    The best thing I did was take a boat ride on the canal, admiring the architecture while cruising through Minnewaterpark, commonly referred to as the Lake of Love.

    Bruges is a laid-back destination that makes a convenient day trip from nearby Paris and Brussels. In my opinion, the city is perfect for couples looking to indulge in Belgian beer and chocolate.

    Heidelberg, Germany, embraces modern life without losing its historic charm.
    A bridge over a river, with buildings and a castle in the background.
    Heidelberg, Germany, is home to a centuries-old castle.

    Heidelberg, Germany, has striking views around every corner. The city is home to a centuries-old castle as well as the oldest university in Germany.

    I enjoyed walking along Philosophenweg (also called Philosopher's Way), where professors sought solitude and academic inspiration. The path was especially beautiful during my trip in the fall.

    We loved spending time in the city, which had lots of nice restaurants and cool bars. Heidelberg does an amazing job of embracing the new while holding on to its historic charm.

    Andorra La Vella is a hidden gem in the Pyrenees Mountains.
    A bridge over a river with the words "Andorra La Vella" on it. There are buildings on both sides of the river and tall mountains in the background.
    Andorra La Vella is the capital of Andorra.

    Andorra La Vella is the capital of Andorra, which is located in the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain.

    Every restaurant we dined at featured dishes influenced by the surrounding countries. If you want to try authentic Andorran food, head to a borda — a traditional house once used for agricultural purposes. Now, these buildings are used as charming restaurants.

    Andorra la Vella is a great day trip from Barcelona, but in my opinion, the city deserves more than a one-day visit.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Russian kids will go to ‘excellent’ summer camps in North Korea this year as the two countries move close

    Children walk through Songdowon International School Children's Camp on August 22, 2018.
    Children walk through Songdowon International School Children's Camp, where Russian children will be sent this summer.

    • Russian children will be sent to summer camp in North Korea at the end of July, per RIA Novosti.
    • The initiative follows a new strategic partnership agreement between Russia and North Korea.
    • The camp includes a statue of North Korea's founder, an aquarium, a beach, and an archery range.

    A group of Russian school children will go to a summer camp in North Korea at the end of July, Grigory Gurov, the chair of the Movement of the First, told Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti.

    According to a RIA Novosti Telegram post, Gurov said a large number of Russian children are expected to attend the camp, where he added the conditions will be "excellent."

    Gurov, who leads the youth movement started by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December 2022, also said the North Korean summer camp will be the equivalent of Artek.

    Artek is a youth center in Crimea that was previously a camp for the Young Pioneers — a Communist organization for children during the Soviet era.

    North Korean Young Pioneers rowing at Songdowon in 2011.
    North Korean Young Pioneers rowing at Songdowon in 2011.

    Gurov told state-run Russian news agency TASS that Russian children will be sent to Songdowon International Children's Camp, with the trip tentatively set for July 24 to August 2.

    According to Songdowon's website, the camp exists to "help North Korea develop relations with foreign countries."

    It said that international visitors from Russia, China, Thailand, Mongolia, and Mexico are welcomed each year, with their places subsidized by the state.

    Kim il Sung statue in Songdowon international children's camp
    Kim Il Sung statue at the Songdowon summer camp in 2008.

    The website says the campsite includes a statue of Kim Il Sung, the founder of North Korea, surrounded by children, a full-size water park, an archery range, an aquarium, and a beach.

    Songdowon did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

    Children take part in a cookery lesson at Songdowon International School Children's Camp on August 22, 2018.
    Children take part in a cookery lesson at Songdowon International School Children's Camp on August 22, 2018.

    Gurov also told TASS that Russia would invite North Korean children to attend Russian summer camps, including Artek and others, as part of an exchange program.

    He said there are also plans for children to go to other Russia-friendly countries, including Vietnam and China.

    Last month, the two countries signed a strategic partnership agreement, which North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un said upgraded their relationship to a "new high of alliance."

    The new agreement includes a clause requiring the countries to come to each other's aid should there be aggression against either of them.

    It also set guidelines for deepening ties on political, trade and investment, cultural, and humanitarian fields, as well as the security sphere, according to TASS.

    Russian tourists of all ages will also be able to vacation on North Korean beaches this summer, according to a RIA Novosti Telegram post from April.

    It said that tour programs have been developed lasting between eight and 12 days.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Ukraine’s first F-16s from the Netherlands will arrive ‘soon,’ defense minister says, with export licenses now issued

    Two F-16 perform fly-bys against a blue sky
    Two F-16 perform fly-bys.

    • The Netherlands said the first F-16s it's giving to Ukraine are due to arrive in the country "soon."
    • Denmark also said the F-16s it's giving to Ukraine are due to arrive this summer.
    • Military experts say the jets will aid Ukraine's fight against Russia but won't be a total game changer.

    The first F-16s that Ukraine is to receive from the Netherlands are due to arrive "soon," according to the Dutch defense minister, who said that export licenses for the fighter jets had now been issued.

    Kajsa Ollongren said on Monday that the delivery of the "first aircraft will proceed soon," Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported, according to a translation by the Kyiv Independent.

    She did not say exactly when they would arrive, or give any other details about their delivery, stating that there were "operational security" concerns.

    Denmark, another Ukrainian ally that is providing it with F-16s, has said that its first jets are due to arrive in Ukraine this summer.

    It's unclear which of the jets will arrive first.

    Ukraine has been promised an estimated 85 jets from Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium. This includes 24 from the Netherlands.

    Military experts say they expect the aircraft to be a boost for Ukraine, though not a total game changer in its fightback against Russia's invasion.

    Multiple experts previously told Business Insider that they expect the jets to boost Ukraine's air defenses by shooting down Russian drones and missiles, replenish the Ukrainian aircraft already lost to Russia, and deter Russian jets.

    They said the jets could also do some limited raids close to the front lines or even into Russian territory to hit high-value targets, but that they expect such events to be limited as it would put the F-16s in extreme danger.

    However, some said that not enough jets had been promised to Ukraine to make a major difference, particularly during this summer when only a proportion of the ones promised are likely to arrive.

    Some experts also said that Ukraine's allies should have pledged the jets earlier, as it would have meant that areas like training and integrating the aircraft into Ukraine's military would have been solved earlier.

    "If the West donated F-16s a year earlier, then most of these problems would be solved by now," Michael Clarke, a Russia and Ukraine expert and a British national security advisor, told BI.

    "But as usual, we left it until the last possible moment when it would make a difference and then expected the Ukrainians to work miracles with them, which is not going to happen," he added.

    Ukraine has been asking for F-16s since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, but the US only dropped its opposition to allies sending the US-made planes in May 2023.

    Experts previously told BI that Ukraine also had not been promised enough.

    Mark Cancian, a retired Marine Corps colonel and a defense-strategy expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told BI that it's unfair to expect Ukraine to make any breakthroughs with the jets unless it gets many more.

    He said the US has major dominance in the air because it employs "hundreds of aircraft with extensive support systems on the ground," and expecting Ukraine to be similarly dominant would not be fair.

    Even so, he said: "Whenever they arrive, that's a good time for Ukraine."

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Larry Fink is worth $1.7 billion. BlackRock’s latest deal will make Preqin’s founder even richer than he is.

    Larry Fink BlackRock
    Larry Fink is CEO of BlackRock.

    • BlackRock is poised to make a founder richer than its own CEO with its latest acquisition.
    • The asset manager has struck a $3.2 billion deal to buy Preqin, a private-markets data provider.
    • Founder Mark O'Hare should make about $2 billion, well exceeding Larry Fink's $1.7 billion net worth.

    BlackRock is poised to mint a bigger billionaire than Larry Fink with its latest deal.

    The world's largest asset manager has agreed to acquire Preqin, a private-markets data and analytics provider, for £2.55 billion ($3.2 billion).

    Preqin's founder, Mark O'Hare, is set to pocket a cool $2 billion after tax from the transaction — more than the BlackRock cofounder and CEO's estimated $1.7 billion fortune, Bloomberg reported.

    O'Hare owns almost 80% of Preqin through Valhalla Ventures, his family's holding company, per the report. As part of the deal, he will join BlackRock — which had over $10 trillion of client assets at the end of March — as a vice chair.

    Preqin competes with Bloomberg's terminal business, offering information on about 30,000 private market investors, 60,000 fund managers, and 190,000 funds. It's on track to make about $240 million of revenue this year, and has grown by about 20% for the past three years.

    BlackRock said in a press release that the tie-up would bolster its offering to clients, bring with it some 4,000 relationships, and give a boost to Aladdin, its portfolio-management software.

    "Bringing together Preqin's data and research tools with Aladdin's complementary workflow capabilities in a unified platform will create a preeminent private markets technology and data provider," BlackRock said.

    The takeover marks BlackRock's latest foray into the alternative investment world. In January, the index-fund giant agreed to buy Global Infrastructure Partners, an infrastructure investment fund, for $12.5 billion.

    O'Hare is no stranger to building and selling businesses. He founded and then sold another financial-data business, Citywatch, to Reuters in 1998 before going on to set up Preqin in 2002.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • The number of Gen Zers who aren’t in work or school is rising. Here’s how to tackle it, according to experts.

    Man waiting for a job interview.
    Young NEETs — those not in education, employment, or training — are on the rise (stock image.)

    • A fifth of 15-24-year-olds in 2023 were NEETs, per the International Labour Organization.
    • The acronym stands for not being engaged in education, employment, or training.
    • Poor mental health, lack of financial safety, and disconnection from society are partly to blame. 

    A growing number of young people globally are struggling to stay in work or school.

    According to the International Labour Organization, about a fifth of people between 15 and 24 worldwide in 2023 were considered NEETs, which stands for not being engaged in education, employment, or training.

    That's a level not seen in nearly two decades.

    Recent research from the St. Louis Federal Reserve's Institute for Economic Equity, previously reported by Business Insider, looked at the challenges young people aged 18 to 24 are experiencing in today's economy. It found that more than one in three have no income at all.

    Some are out of work due to disability, mental health issues, or a lack of skills, while others — known as "voluntary NEETs" — have chosen the lifestyle and are supported by the family or the state.

    "When kids become disconnected from school and work, there's just a downward spiral that is too often going to result," Sen. Tim Kaine, who's introduced legislation to help at-risk youths find jobs and receive job training, previously told BI. "Some people can figure their way out of that spiral, but many cannot."

    Mentorship and support

    Countries around the world are trying to find ways to reduce the number of NEETs. There isn't a simple solution, but there are areas that have been shown to help.

    There has been an increased focus on education and mentorship. For instance, the European Commission is working with various countries to commit to the Youth Guarantee — an initiative that aims to ensure people under age 30 all have access to employment, continued training, and apprenticeships.

    It seems to be working. Turkey's youth unemployment rate was 17.4% in 2023, its lowest in a decade. Nezih Allioglu, head of the Young Enterprise and Governance Association, cited encouragement and competitiveness as some of the reasons behind the boost.

    But companies can also make changes. Some career and leadership experts who spoke with BI believe workplaces should adapt to become more inclusive and supportive and provide mentorship to attract and retain young people.

    A focus on mental health

    Kraig Kleeman, the founder and CEO of The New Workforce, told BI companies "must adapt to the current times."

    "Generation Z, the newest group joining the workforce, places great importance on company values and culture," he said. "They are searching for places where they can be true to themselves, where mental health is not looked down upon but helped, and where working sometimes from home or a coffee shop is possible."

    According to research by the Prince's Trust in the UK, an increase in mental health conditions and low self-confidence are key factors preventing rising numbers of young people out of work from entering employment.

    It cited data from a Labour Force Survey, which found a quarter of young people who are NEETs experience some form of mental health problem, compared with 9% of those in employment.

    "We know it's a very challenging time for young people, and employability programs that offer additional support around mentoring, confidence, and mental health are needed now, more than ever, to help them succeed and thrive," said Michaela Wright, Head of Sustainability for HSBC UK.

    Tackling voluntary NEETs

    These tactics may not work for people who are NEETs by choice, who reject the idea that being a NEET is a bad thing, and who want to reclaim the label by creating a subculture of the voluntarily dormant.

    Rather than jump on the first opportunities that come along, voluntary NEETs are holding back for the right job.

    Friederike Fabritius, a neuroscientist with a specialty in leadership who has worked with Google and Deloitte, and is the author of the WSJ best-seller "The Brain-Friendly Workplace: Why Talented People Quit and How to Get Them to Stay," told BI companies changing with the times isn't providing a solution to the problem of voluntary NEETs.

    "A person who chooses to do nothing is somebody who lacks passion, motivation, and willingness to add value to society," she said. "Rather than being more understanding, I would recommend the opposite approach."

    Fabritius said she doesn't believe companies should be hiring people who are not motivated or willing to add value.

    How schools and parents can help

    Rather, experts say learning to be motivated should start earlier in life, at home with parents and at school.

    Fabritus blames "permissive parenting" and kids being allowed on electronic devices for too many hours in the day as root causes of disconnection. She said this can lead to a lack of interest and passion, which can cause major issues later in life.

    "The reason why there are so many NEETs is because they have someone financing their doing nothing — normally, it's the parents who reward them for doing nothing," she said. "They mean well but end up destroying their kids' abilities and motivation."

    Change also has to start at school, Fabritus added.

    "In school, you should encourage students to show up, to do something, to be active, and to add value," she said.

    Better guidance

    Other career experts agreed that development should start early so students understand the variety of different paths available to them.

    They said choosing a career without necessary guidance can lead to frustration and regret later on, which could have been avoided.

    "Career advice should not be something that happens only once a year and seems unrelated to real life," said Kleeman. "It needs to be a continuous discussion helping students see the link between their studies and how they will apply it later in actual situations."

    Schools can do "much more" to bring real-life situations to the classroom, he added, by arranging partnerships with local businesses for internships and projects.

    "This kind of practical approach may help create interest and show students many different paths they might take in the future," he said.

    Experts remain divided over how to address the rise in NEETs, in part because no solution would work for all.

    One thing is clear, however: the rise in NEETS is a global problem, and it's vital for the global economy and society to find ways to bring disconnected youth back into employment and education.

    The NEET problem is big, but it can be tackled, Kleeman said.

    "We must pay attention to our young people and make changes — not only because it helps business, but also because it's the correct action," he said. "Let's work hard together and assist future leaders in discovering their way. They have many things to give, and it is our job to help them show their best."

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • I was asked to leave my job at Salesforce after playing ping-pong at work. Now I have my own company, I don’t micromanage employees.

    Miles Schwartz.
    Schwartz is now the cofounder of his own company, Zūm Rails.

    • In 2014, a game of ping-pong at work cost Miles Schwartz his internship at Salesforce. 
    • Schwartz learned he prefers work environments where he can step away for a break if needed.
    • As the cofounder of his own company, he says employees should be given freedom in how to work.

    This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Miles Schwartz, 33, from Montreal. Schwartz was briefly employed at Salesforce as an intern and later cofounded his own company. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

    I was never the best student. Anything with a lot of structure always gave me anxiety, but I thought I would thrive in business when I finished school.

    After studying marketing at Concordia University, I started an internship at Salesforce. After six weeks, I was escorted out of the building after playing ping-pong outside my lunch hour.

    The structured environment of a 9-to-5 job didn't allow me to thrive. I've since cofounded my own company and don't watch over employee's shoulders. It's important to give people freedom in how they work.

    I didn't enjoy my time at Salesforce

    I started my internship at Salesforce in September 2014 in their Toronto office.

    I really didn't like the experience. I thought I'd be on business calls, schmoozing people, and going to conferences, but as a business development intern, I was mainly doing data entry and finding contacts.

    As a people person, I felt out of my element. I felt like the outcast for not enjoying it. Everyone else seemed to love it there. They didn't overwork people, they compensated people properly, and there were easy paths to promotion.

    I felt homesick. Going for a beer after work was part of the culture, but I'm really into health and fitness. I prefer to do my own thing after work, like running or the gym.

    My hours were meant to be 9-to-5. I remember once, after staying very late the previous day, I turned up at 9:15 a.m., and my manager came up to me and said, "You do realize work starts at 9?" It made me think optics really mattered there.

    I was let go after I played ping-pong in the middle of the day

    The internship was meant to last four months, leading to a permanent role at the company.

    One day, six weeks in, I was feeling foggy and tired. I had already taken my hourlong lunch break, but later in the day, a more senior colleague asked if I wanted to play ping-pong in the office with him.

    We played for at least 30 minutes, and I was back at my desk within an hour. I intended to stay late that evening to make up for the lost time.

    When I got back, my manager told me I couldn't disappear in the middle of the day, especially as an intern, and that this wasn't a good look if I wanted to get promoted at the company.

    I explained I often stayed late to finish my work, but she told me the job was 9-to-5. I felt Salesforce didn't want entry-level employees to work their own hours or do things their own way.

    I told her I didn't want to get promoted. I wanted to finish the internship and leave. However, my manager politely said I shouldn't stay at all, so security came, took my computer and badge, and escorted me out of the building.

    I had no hard feelings about it. Why would they spend their energy teaching me about the company if I had no desire to be there?

    I thrived in a less structured working environment

    I thrive in an environment where I can listen to my body and step away from work for a short while if needed. In a flow state, I can work a 13-hour day, and it's smooth sailing, but some days, you just don't have it. That day at Salesforce, I just didn't have it. I wanted to play ping-pong and clear my head.

    It reinforced that I didn't thrive in structure, but I started to worry I wouldn't find a workplace where I belonged.

    I tried another sales job, working for a friend's uncle, but I only lasted a few weeks because I didn't enjoy making 90 cold calls a day and getting hung up on.

    I took a break from corporate work and started modeling to make money. Eventually, I arranged meetings with startups, but none felt like a natural fit until I landed an interview with Flinks, a fintech startup, in April 2017. They offered me a role as the director of business development.

    I was nervous I was going to fail. The weekend before I started, I asked one of the founders a few questions, including where he wanted me to work from and what companies I should reach out to initially. He responded, "Why the hell are you asking me? You're in charge."

    The second he said that, I knew this was exactly the opportunity I was looking for. The freedom to do whatever I wanted motivated me. In a corporate job, I hated being made to do 90 cold calls a day, but I started doing 200 cold calls a day on my own.

    Over time, I started to build a network and speak at conferences for the company. After a year, I became the chief sales officer. During my time there, Flinks became one of the fastest-growing fintechs in Canada.

    I cofounded my own company and want people to have freedom in how they work

    I left Flinks in 2019 and cofounded my own company, Zūm Rails.

    I work extremely hard, probably close to 50 hours a week, but never overwork to the point of exhaustion.

    Nowadays, I can walk my dog in the mountains during the day if I want to and reply to emails in the evening when I'm back.

    My cofounder and I aren't watching over people's shoulders at Zūm Rails.

    Our hours are meant to be 9-to-5, but I think our culture is more mission-driven, and people aren't watching the clock. We hire talented specialists who all want to succeed.

    We do have to have some structure to operate in a remote world as a team of over 50 people. For example, sales development representatives ensure all call notes are updated in the CRM before handing over to an account manager.

    But I don't micromanage how people get their jobs done. I remember finding it weird when a senior employee asked me if they could go to a doctor's appointment in the afternoon.

    Our employees have the freedom to work from wherever they feel they will perform at their best, whether it's from a coworking space, an office, or their house, as long as the work gets done to the expected standard.

    Giving people the freedom to work the way they want to helps boost output.

    Salesforce did not respond to a comment request from Business Insider.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Video appears to show a passenger on a plane hit by severe turbulence laying in an overhead bin, with a fellow traveler saying he ‘got stuck in the roof’

    A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, operated by Air Europa, is taking off from Barcelona Airport in Barcelona, Spain, on February 23, 2024.
    An Air Europa Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

    • An Air Europa flight from Spain to Uruguay was diverted after encountering severe turbulence.
    • A video appears to show a man being helped down from the overhead luggage bins.
    • "He flew and got stuck in the roof, in the bin," a passenger sat close to him told Uruguayan TV.

    An Air Europa passenger appeared to get stuck in an overhead bin when their flight experienced severe turbulence.

    The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was flying from Madrid to Uruguay's capital, Montevideo, when it had to divert early Monday morning.

    In a statement shared with Business Insider, Air Europa said seven people were injured, while an "undetermined number" had minor bruises. The New York Times reported that 36 people were injured

    Images shared on social media appeared to show damage to the cabin's ceiling panels. In one clip, people are seen seemingly helping a fellow passenger down from an overhead luggage compartment.

    https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

    Romina Apai, a passenger on the flight, told Uruguayan TV network Teledoce that she was sitting next to the person who got stuck in the compartment.

    "He flew and got stuck in the roof, in the bin. We couldn't find him," she added.

    Another passenger, Evangelina Saravia, said the man appeared to be stuck in the damaged roof.

    "A person was suspended between the plastic roof and the metal roof that is behind it, and had to be lowered," she told Teledoce.

    "The same thing happened to a baby, I think he was one year old, who hit the roof."

    Medical services attended to the Boeing 787 after it landed in Natal, Brazil.

    In the statement, Air Europa said, "The aircraft will be checked to determine the extent of the damage." It added that it would send another plane to pick up the passengers.

    "The company thanks the local authorities for their rapid intervention and assistance."

    The incident is the latest of several instances involving severe turbulence in recent months. In May, a 73-year-old Singapore Airlines passenger died and dozens more were injured. Days later, 12 people were injured on a Qatar Airways flight.

    Severe injuries due to turbulence are extremely rare. Data from the Federal Aviation Administration shows an average of less than 12 people a year were seriously injured by turbulence between 2009 and 2022.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • The US cities where renters are struggling the most

    A small home sits next to a larger home in Naples, Florida, which has one of the highest rates of cost-burdened renters in the country.
    Naples, Florida, has one of the highest rates of cost-burdened renters in the country.

    • The US faces a severe housing affordability crisis as rents and home prices soar.
    • Rents have increased by 26% since early 2020, with three in five markets still rising.
    • Here are the metro areas with the highest proportion of cost-burdened tenants.

    The housing affordability crisis is nearly inescapable in the US. Housing costs have skyrocketed in communities nationwide — from small towns to coastal supercities.

    Rents across the country have risen by 26% since early 2020, according to a new report from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies on the state of US housing. While rent growth has slowed recently as a surge in new multifamily buildings came online, three in five housing markets are still seeing growing rent prices.

    Half of all tenant households were cost-burdened as of 2022, meaning they spent more than 30% of their income on rent, the Harvard report found. That was the highest share since the US Census first started collecting this data, the report noted. The number who are severely cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 50% of their income on rent — also hit a record high in 2022.

    "Rents have been rising faster than incomes for decades," Alexander Hermann, a senior research associate at Harvard's Joint Center for Housing, said in a statement. "However, the pandemic-era rent surge produced an unprecedented affordability crisis that continues."

    Lower-income and people of color are among the most vulnerable renters, according to the study. And certain communities across the country — from Naples, Florida, to Corvallis, Oregon — are facing some of the highest rates of cost-burdened tenants.

    In Florida, there are five metro areas where more than 60% of renters are cost-burdened. Naples-Marco Island and Port St. Lucie, Florida, lead the nation in cost-burdened renters, with about 64% of tenants in both places spending more than 30% of their income on housing.

    Two Pennsylvania metro areas were in the top 10 for the highest percentage of cost-burdened renters: State College and East Stroudsburg, at 63% and 61%, respectively.

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    Some metro areas in the US have housing markets where more than 40% of tenants are severely cost-burdened and spending over half their income on housing. According to the Harvard report, 45% of renters in Stillwater, Oklahoma, are severely cost-burdened, the highest percentage in the nation.

    Corvallis, Oregon; Port St. Lucie, Florida; and State College, Pennsylvania, are the three metro areas that are in the top 10 for both cost-burdened and severely cost-burdened renters.

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    Renters are also increasingly locked out of buying a home. Home prices and mortgage interest rates have surged in recent years, putting homeownership out of reach for even more renters. The US home price index is 47% higher than it was in early 2020, and the median home price is about five times the median household income, Harvard's report noted.

    And many homeowners are also struggling with the rising cost of insurance premiums, home repairs, and property taxes. The number of cost-burdened homeowners — those who spent more than 30% of their income on housing and utilities — rose by about three million people between 2019 and 2022, the report found.

    Are you struggling with the cost of rent? We want to hear from you. Please contact these reporters at jtowfighi@businessinsider.com and erelman@businessinsider.com

    Read the original article on Business Insider