News

Starbucks New CEO Brian Niccol under fire for 1,000-mile commute

Published

3 months ago

2024-08-22

Salman Ahmad

Starbucks New CEO Brian Niccol under fire for 1,000-mile commute

Starbucks’ recently appointed CEO, Brian Niccol, has come under fire after it was disclosed that he will fly nearly 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres) from his family home in Newport Beach, California, to the company’s headquarters in Seattle on a corporate aircraft.

Critics have pointed out a mismatch between the company’s stated stance on environmental issues and the lifestyles of its top executives, as well as worries about whether Starbucks’ three-day office working limit will apply to him.

Mr Niccol is set to take over the world’s largest coffee shop chain on September 9.

Starbucks did not replied to the BBC’s requests for comment.

Mr. Niccol’s job offer said that he would not be obliged to relocate to the company’s headquarters. However, he agreed to commute from his apartment to the headquarters as needed to execute his duties and obligations.

According to the paper, he will be able to use the company’s aircraft for “business related travel” as well as “travel between [his] city of residence and the company’s headquarters”.

Starbucks has also stated that it will set up a modest remote office in Newport Beach for Mr Niccol to utilise while working from California.

Starbucks offers a mixed work arrangement that requires employees to be in the office at least three days per week.

The corporation has not verified whether the same criteria will apply to Mr Niccol, or whether his work from the new distant location in California will meet those requirements.

According to Dan Coatsworth, an investment analyst at AJ Bell, Mr Niccol “on paper” has the “same hybrid working terms as other office-based employees, as one might expect.”

“However, what leaves a sour taste is the idea he can use a private jet to nip 1,000 miles between California and Seattle,” according to him.

Mr Coatsworth stated that operating a private jet was not only terrible for the environment and would convey the wrong image to consumers and staff, but it was also “ultimately not a practical way to run a $105 billion business with an estimated 400,000 employees.”

“A leader needs to be at the heart of a business, not sitting on the beach enjoying the perks of the job,” he told reporters.

“Brian Niccol was draughted in to give Starbucks a fresh lease on life, implying he faces a significant challenge. This isn’t taking over a thriving firm; it’s a repair job that requires constant presence in the engine room.

The question of where people work has come up in recent years, with organisations in a variety of industries debating whether to continue the remote work practices that exploded during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Andrew Speke, a spokesperson for the High Pay Centre, a research tank that studies executive pay, it is critical for corporate leaders to ensure that “employees can see that it’s not one rule for them and one rule for their bosses”.

The circumstances of his job also drew criticism on social media.

“That’s nice… great convenience for high talent! But I hope we don’t see too many new’sustainability’ and ‘environment’ advertising from @starbucks. One X user commented, “*Wink*.”

“The new Starbucks CEO is ‘supercommuting’ 1,000 miles to Seattle on a private jet to work, so don’t be too harsh on that waitress who gave you a plastic straw when you didn’t want one,” according to another.

Some industries, such as banking, indicated early on that they expected employees to return to the office full-time, while others, particularly in the technology industry, have stated that they will accept remote work indefinitely. Many places have chosen a combination.

Others focused on how much Mr Niccol is expected to earn in his new job.

Former US Secretary of Labour Robert Reich questioned why CEO remuneration is rarely discussed in discussions about rising pricing.

According to the conditions of his offer, Mr Niccol’s yearly base salary will be $1.6 million (£1.2 million). In addition, he could receive a $7.2 million performance incentive and up to $23 million in Starbucks stock per year.

According to a 2021 UN assessment, the world’s wealthiest 1% emit twice as much carbon as the poorest 50% combined.

This month, Starbucks announced that Mr Niccol will take over as CEO, replacing Laxman Narasimhan.

The statement came as the coffee chain sought to bolster declining sales.

Mr Niccol had managed the Mexican fast food giant Chipotle since 2018, guiding the company through a crisis caused by food poisoning incidents.

During his tenure, the company’s sales doubled, and its stock rose from less than $7 per share to more than $50.

Chipotle also opened around 1,000 new locations and introduced new technologies to automate food production.

In recent months, it has been viewed as a bright spot in the restaurant industry, when many firms have claimed that customers are spending less.

Source: BBC

News

Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns

Published

1 day ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.

Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”

The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”

Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.

Lawless protestors run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest.

The Prime Minister dances.

This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.

Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved. pic.twitter.com/PVJvR6gtmf

— Don Stewart (@donstewartmp) November 23, 2024

“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”

“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.

On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”

Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.

Pro-Palestinian protests

Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.

Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.

Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.

On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.

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News

Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla

Published

1 day ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

The zookeeper's negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla

The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.

The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.

The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.

“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”

According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.

Calgary Zoo Questioned

It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.

An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.

Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.

“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.

The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.

“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.

“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.

While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”

Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.

The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.

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News

Canada’s Lotto Max Jackpot Climbs to $80M

Published

1 day ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.

Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.

The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.

According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.

While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.

Lotto Max History

Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.

The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.

Let’s have a look at the rules:

Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
Numbers cannot be repeated
Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
Each play buys 3 lines
Each play costs $5

Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)