🐤 Working it out

🏦 Markets: All three major indexes finished lower again on Wednesday, extending concerns about the state of the stock market after a banner 2023.

Much of the selloff came in response to indications from the Federal Reserve that interest rate cuts might not be coming as fast or furiously as investors had been hoping.

Spirit Airlines and JetBlue were big losers following news that their planned merger wouldn't be happening after all.

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We’ve been bombarded with a slew of buzzwords — from “quiet quitting” to “grumpy staying” — in recent years that have been largely influenced by the younger generation’s outlook on work-life balance.

In part due to the disruption caused by the pandemic, Gen Z has helped usher in a comprehensive view that workers don’t have to go above and beyond the terms of their employment … particularly for bosses who don’t seem to care. And now that philosophy is starting to coalesce under a new catchphrase.

What is “the great negotiation”?

It all started with the insight of Bradley Schurman, who founded an analytics company called Human Change. He shared a post on LinkedIn that reflected what he saw occurring within workplaces. The “great negotiation,” he concluded, refers specifically to the rise of younger workers who aren’t afraid to stand up for their own interests, whether related to salary, scheduling, or something else.

“Companies will need to rethink their concept of employee loyalty now that a 9-to-5 job on its own no longer offers the kind of economic promise it once did,” he wrote.

Even if you’re not directly engaged in such a negotiation with your boss, there’s a good chance that you could still benefit from the “great negotiation.”

The movement is spreading

Upper management and HR staffers alike have begun to sense a fundamental shift in the balance of power, Schurman explained.

Even though employers are no longer as desperate to fill open positions as they were in the immediate aftermath of COVID-19 lockdowns, they still know that workers hold more leverage than they used to.

He explained: “There’s a reason why we aren’t back to full-time 9-to-5 office work in this country. It’s because workers are saying we don’t want to do that, we’re not getting compensated enough.”

❄️ Chilly chargers: Electric vehicles have surged in popularity over the past several years as automakers like Tesla have managed to create practical vehicles for (relatively) affordable prices. But the ongoing cold snap across much of the U.S. has highlighted a nagging problem for many Tesla owners. Across Chicago and elsewhere, motorists have found it difficult, if not impossible, to charge their vehicles. Even fully charged batteries are reportedly losing their juice much faster than normal in the frigid temperatures.

👸 Royal pains: Kate, the Princess of Wales, was reportedly in the hospital on Wednesday where she underwent a planned abdominal surgery. According to a statement from Buckingham Palace, she’s expected to remain in a London-area private hospital for as long as two weeks and will curtail all of her royal duties until after Easter. Meanwhile, King Charles is planning a trip to the hospital next week for a “corrective procedure” to address a benign issue involving an enlarged prostate.

😬 Total recall: Weeks after Quaker Oats issued a recall of various products including granola bars and cereal due to a potential risk of salmonella, the company announced another round earlier this month in response to about two dozen reports of adverse reactions. Although there were no confirmed illnesses related to the products, Quaker has expanded its recall to include a number of additional products being sold in the United States and Canada.

🐙 No bones about it: Researchers exploring an area off the coast of Costa Rica say they have discovered at least four new octopus species. According to a team working with the Schmidt Ocean Institute, the project began in June after scientists discovered two underwater octopus nurseries. Not only did they determine six months later that “they appear to be active year-round,” but the institute confirmed that the team “also observed several other new octopus species away from the hydrothermal springs.”

The admissions process can be kind of brutal for high school graduates, their parents, and pretty much anyone involved in the waiting game. After all the preparation that goes into filling out the application, it often results in being forced to bide your time while an admissions board decides whether to accept it or not.

For those still patiently waiting, and even those who have gotten a rejection or deferral letter, insiders say it’s not the end of the world. Things can, and often do, work out in the end.

Understand the factors

Even some of the most qualified candidates will not make the cut and a rejection doesn’t necessarily mean that the student didn’t have an impressive application. There are several reasons that a school might immediately accept an otherwise qualified applicant, including:

• Prioritizing needs: If a school’s orchestra is losing several cellists, it might look for students who are skilled at playing the cello.
• Prioritizing yield: Colleges take into account the typical percentage of accepted students who ultimately enroll.
• Prioritizing options: Schools aren’t motivated to send out early acceptance letters if they still have a steady flow of applications coming in.

Exercising your power

Instead of receiving an acceptance letter, you might get a deferral, but that’s not the end of the road. This might give you a chance to submit additional information that could boost your chances, but each case is unique and it’s up to you to follow the instructions provided.

Do some research to find out more about what the school’s priorities are and figure out how to put your best foot forward.

Worst case scenario is that you receive a rejection, but in many cases this is an opportunity to re-evaluate and find another option you might not have even considered before.

What’s the least spoken language in the world?

Sign language

Back when the Yankees were in the pennant chase practically every season, a common complaint among critics was that a massive budget allowed the team to essentially “buy” World Series wins. But after a drought of more than a decade and a budget that is still the envy of MLB teams nationwide, it’s clear that money isn’t the only factor in big-league success.

It’s not just baseball

The Bronx Bombers might be one of the most prominent examples, but teams across all the major sports have proven in recent years that, despite having a huge sum of cash to offer talented players, sometimes the wins simply don’t materialize.

• The Cowboys were knocked out of contention in a devastating loss to the Packers over the weekend.
• Despite having LeBron’s name on the roster, the Lakers have struggled to keep their record above .500.
• It’s been a decade since Manchester United has brought home an English Premier League victory.

So what’s the deal?

While it might have been true in previous generations that a massive war chest would generally equate to strong stats, that’s no longer the case in most modern … but the reason can vary from one sport to the next.

For starters, franchises no longer carry the panache that they once did. All other things being equal, many modern players would rather join a plucky team than boast about wearing a Yankees uniform.

Then there’s the impact that number-crunchers have made in optimizing team rosters, which can make an otherwise ordinary squad an impressive number of games.

The MLB has imposed an added “tax” on teams that spend the most cash and the NFL has approved a salary cap, both of which are aimed at leveling the playing field — whether fans and owners like it or not.