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2025-01-28 13:02:58| Fast Company

Workers at a Whole Foods Market in Pennsylvania voted to unionize on Monday, becoming the first group of employees to pull off a labor win at the Amazon-owned grocery store chain.Employees at the Philadelphia store cast 130 votes or about 57% of the ballots cast in favor of joining a local chapter of The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union for the purposes of collective bargaining. According to the National Labor Relations Board, which oversaw the election, 100 workers rejected the motion.“This fight is far from over, but today’s victory is an important step forward,” said Wendell Young IV, the president of UFCW Local 1776. “We are ready to bring Whole Foods to the bargaining table to negotiate a fair first contract that reflects the workers’ needs and priorities.”The results mark the first successful entry of organized labor into Amazon’s grocery business, which includes Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh and the Amazon Go convenience stores. Amazon, which purchased Whole Foods in 2017 for $13.7 billion, has tried to fend off organizing efforts in its stores as well as by delivery drivers and warehouse workers.Nearly three years ago, Amazon warehouse workers in the New York City borough of Staten Island voted to be represented in labor negotiations by a fledgling union that has since affiliated with the Teamsters. But Amazon has refused to come to the bargaining table.Employees at the Whole Foods store, located in the center of Philadelphia, started organizing early last year, Young said. They teamed up with UFCW Local 1776 in the late summer, and in November petitioned the National Labor Relations Board to hold an official election.The local union said the store workers hoped a successful vote would help them secure higher wages, more affordable health care coverage, child care support, greater work-life balance and better working conditions.In a statement after the votes were counted Monday night, Whole Foods said it “is proud to offer competitive compensation, great benefits, and career advancement opportunities to all Team Members.”“We are disappointed by the outcome of this election, but we are committed to maintaining a positive working environment in our Philly Center City store,” the company added.The company said it provides store employees with a competitive average hourly wage and other benefits, such as 401(k) plans and “on-demand” mental health support. It did not disclose its average hourly rate, but some online job postings show store employees can earn $16 per hour or higher.After the union filed the election petition, workers at the Philadelphia store were given free snacks, and the company repainted their break rooms, according to Young.Earlier this month, UFCW Local 1776 filed unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB against the company, accusing it of firing one worker in retaliation for union activities and alleging that supervisors told employees they would get paid more if they rejected the union bid. Whole Foods disputed the worker was fired in retaliation.The union has also accused Whole Foods of withholding region-wide wage increases from employees at the Philadelphia store because of the union activities.The company acknowledges it did not offer wage increases to workers at the store, even though it did so at a number of other stores as part of a quarterly review. Whole Foods maintains it would have been illegal to make wage adjustments in the lead-up to the union election, an argument Young disputed.The company said it was delaying the pay bumps until after the election to avoid the appearance of trying to influence the vote with raises.Seattle-based Amazon has resisted union organizing efforts by its workers. Amazon delivery drivers went on strike in a handful of U.S. cities before Christmas to exert pressure on the the company to recognize them as unionized employees or to meet demands for an inaugural labor contract.Workers at an Amazon warehouse in North Carolina are scheduled to vote next month on whether they want to be represented by an upstart union called Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment.The retail giant has challenged the structure of the National Labor Relations Board in court. Amazon accused the federal agency of tampering in the 2022 union election at the Staten Island warehouse, in part by bringing a lawsuit against the company to reinstate a fired organizer close to when voting began. Haleluya Hadero and Lisa Baumann, Associated Press


Category: E-Commerce

 

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2025-01-28 13:00:00| Fast Company

Humility is one of those traits everyone claims to love, but few actually want to practice. In other words, we love interacting with humble people, more than making the effort to come across as humble with others. The reasons for this are well-documented by science, and boil down to: Humans are generally prone to overestimating their skills and abilities, and thinking more highly of themselves than they should We are afraid  that exposing our limitations and self-doubt (assuming we are capable of self-awareness in the first place) may weaken our reputation with others There is a  temptation to brag or show off in order to persuade others that we are talented even when we are notpeople often mistake confidence with competence And yet, there is both a high cost to being perceived as arrogant (when your displays of confidence exceed or surpass your apparent competence), as well as substantial benefits to being perceived as humble (when your actual abilities seem to surpass your self-perceived or self-reported abilities). Research shows that humble people are seen as more trustworthy, better team players, and even more effective leaders. Thats reason enough to consider toning down the self-promotioneven if your inner ego is doing push-ups in the mirror. Importantly, what matters most is not what you think of yourself, but what others think of you: for instance, we all get hired, fired, promoted, and demoted based not on our self-views, but those of others. So, no matter how much you love yourself and your talents, you should consider the multiple upsides to coming across as humble, even if it means fake in it strategically. Here are some tips on how to do this: Master the Art of Self-Deprecation Humor is your best friend here. Casually drop self-deprecating remarks like, Oh, I had no idea what I was doing at first, when someone praises your work. Bonus points if you roll your eyes for comedic effect. But beware: Overdoing it makes people think youre fishing for compliments. Keep it subtle, like adding saltnot dumping the shaker. Why it works: Studies suggest that self-deprecating humor makes people appear more likable and approachable. Translation? Crack the right joke, especially with yourself as the target of your joke, and people will forget or ignore how much you love yourself. Play the ‘curious newbie’ card Even if youve been doing something for years, act like youre still learning. Say things like, Id love to hear how youd approach this, or, What would you do differently? This doesnt mean you actually have to take their advice, of course. Why it works: Humble people are seen as more open to learning, which is a highly attractive quality (source). Indeed, because being in learning mode is the opposite of being in performance mode, you will likely project a humble image when you display curiosity and a hungry mind. Downplay your success without humblebragging Theres a fine line between Oh, it was nothing and Ugh, I cant believe I have to accept another award! To avoid looking insufferable, acknowledge praise but pivot quickly: Thanks! The whole team made it happen. Why it works: Studies on modesty reveal that sharing credit makes you seem more collaborative. Plus, you get bonus points for being a team player, even if you secretly know you carried the whole thing. Consider that many managers and leaders, including those who succeed in corporate environments, specialize in playing the credit and blame game, so they take credit for other peoples work and blame them for their own mistakes. It is advisable to do exactly the opposite, and you will be admired for your humility. Praise others (even when youre dying to take credit) Want to look humble? Shower others with sincere compliments. You were amazing during that pitch! or Your input made all the difference. Even if you did the heavy lifting, let someone else bask in the spotlight for a change. Why it works: Complimenting others increases likability. And when you make others feel good, theyre less likely to notice your secret thirst for glory. Just focusing on others rather than on yourself will likely create a reputation for being humble, because there is a fundamental tension between putting yourself at the center of the universe, or ignoring others altogether. As the saying goes, humility is not thinking less of yourselfits thinking of yourself less.  Listen, listen, listen (it will help you to shut up) Despite the common misconception that those who speak often, tend to have interesting or important things to say, the inability to shut up signals mostly poor social skills, a disinterest in others, and indeed self-importance (which is the opposite of humility). Resist the urge to hijack the conversation with, oh, that reminds me of when I . . .; and the temptation to think that everyone is desperate to hear your unsolicited views and opinions.  Why it works: Active listening signals humility and respect. It also keeps you from blurting out that story about how you saved the day (again). Human beings have a pervasive interest in themselves, especially relative to others, which highlights the opportunity: instead of competing for attention with others, pay attention to themand if they are not interesting, at least pretend. Unsurprisingly, scientific studies show that listening is a sought-after skill, and an underrated dimension of career potential. Admit small flaws strategically We are generally too busy thinking about how we can impress others to showcase our vulnerabilities, but this is one of the best ways to cultivate a humble image. You can avoid this by dropping minor confessions like, I totally forgot about that deadline last weekthank goodness for my reminders! This humanizes you without amaging your credibility. Just dont overshare to the point where people start wondering why youre still employed, or whether you have severe imposter syndrome. Why it works: Research shows that owning up to mistakes makes you seem relatable and trustworthy. It will help you to connect with others by displaying your vulnerabilities, which creates a reputation for being real, genuine, and human, all of which is valued by others.In short, pretending to be humble doesnt make you a fraudit makes you smart, provided you have the emotional and social intelligence to pull it off. Actually, just trying to manage impressions by displaying a humble or modest version of your persona, and ensuring that your public self is as likable as possible, is indicative of a high EQ. By strategically toning down your ego, you can unlock multiple benefits, such as stronger relationships, greater influence, and less annoyed coworkers. To be sure, if you fake humility long enough, it will become not only a habit, but a distinct feature of your reputation and personality: It is much better to think of yourself as arrogant when everyone sees you as humble, than the other way around.


Category: E-Commerce

 

2025-01-28 13:00:00| Fast Company

Back in 2015, the Chicago Bears told Brandon Marshall no. The personable All-Pro receiver had been appearing as an analyst on Showtime’s Inside The NFL on his days off during the previous season, but new Bears management werent going to allow it.  Right then, I knew I wouldn’t be a Bear anymore, Marshall told CBS in 2016. Because I think that the business of the NFL is growing every single day, and players are being told to stay in a box and just play football, and we’re missing out on a lot of opportunities, not only to grow as men and businessmen but to experience different things. A lot can change in a decade. This week, the NFL is announcing a new initiative with YouTube called Access Pass for Legends. The new program builds on the success of the original Access Pass, launched in 2023, which garnered over 200 million views by partnering with YouTube Creators. Now the league is using it to empower NFL Legends, starting with Marshall, to help build their YouTube presence using official NFL footage. Other former NFL players like Cam Newton, J.T. OSullivan, and Kurt Benkert are also joining the initiative, in what the league sees as a transformative step in athlete-driven content creation.   Marshall says that its an important step to allow NFLers access to official footage and be able to tell their stories around it. Now, the same guys that helped build the game are now in position to have this access, go on YouTube and build a business, Marshall tells Fast Company. That is the biggest win, being able to tell stories from a different perspective. It’s going to be exciting to see how some of our legends take advantage of this program. Ian Trombetta, the NFLs senior vice president of social, influencer, and creator marketing, says Marshall was the obvious choice to kick off the YouTube Access Pass for Legends. His deep understanding of how to create engaging content along with his unique ability to connect with new audiences has helped set a standard of what athletes can achieve off the field, says Trombetta. Brandon is a pioneer in the space and his success celebrates the legacy of the game while also building a bridge to future generations.  Next Evolution When the NFL first launched its Access Pass program in 2023, it invited a select group of content creators and influencers to craft original content using the NFLs officially approved footage. Since then, the league has evolved its approach to the creator economy, which Goldman Sachs has speculated will hit about $480 billion by 2027. In its first year, the Access Pass program generated more than 153 million total impressions, and more than 46.5 million views for the NFL, according to Whalar.  At the same time, the growth of NFL playerscurrent and retiredstarting podcasts has gained significant momentum over the past few years. Taylor Lewan, cohost of the popular Bussin’ with the Boys podcast, started his while still playing with the Tennessee Titans back in 2019. Marshall started his I Am Athlete podcast soon after retiring that same year.  As podcasts become more video oriented, and the level of content created more complex, Marshall says former players deserve more access and opportunity to use footage and partner with the league. Were talking about guys who played the game, who worked their tail off to help build an organization, to add more value to a team or the league, he says. Why wouldn’t our teams and our leagues embrace us to tell those stories? Trombetta says this new program is a natural evolution of the leagues work with creators. NFL players and legends are no longer just seen as athletes but as creators and storytellers with valuable perspectives on the game that increasingly have a home on YouTube, says Tomrbetta. Access Pass for Legends reflects this evolution by giving NFL icons additional tools to build their own media businesses. Angela Courtin, YouTubes vice president of connected TV and creative studios, also sees this as a step in further elevating this new genre of sports media. She says this is about empowering these athletes to take control of their narratives, build powerful brands, and transition into successful media moguls in their post-playing careers. For us, it’s about equipping them with the tools and platform to connect with fans on a whole new level and forge their own paths in a new era of entertainment.  This is Marshalls ultimate goal. When it’s all said and done, people are going to say, Man, I know I love the company you built, not necessarily the legacy you left on the field. Just remember that these are former pro athletes, and the competitive fire doesnt go away, if just shifts to a different playing field. Cam Newton is my brother, and we have a great relationship, says Marshall. But I do not want to give Cam Newton all of my secrets, because I want to kick his butt on YouTube.


Category: E-Commerce

 

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