Glossier founder Emily Weiss and Stripe executive Will Gaybrick are engaged. Here are 14 other power couples who rule the tech world.

NOW WATCH: Taylor Swift is the world's highest-paid celebrity. Here's how she makes and spends her $360 million.

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I work at a Trader Joe's in New York City. Here's what it's like to work in the beloved grocery store during a pandemic.

March 19, 2020, 11:15 am

≫ Next: SWIMMING WITH SHARKS: Founders who made it on 'Shark Tank' reveal winning pitches, tips to negotiate money-making deals, and how they've used the spotlight to their advantage

≪ Previous: Recruiters who've worked with companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and PayPal reveal how job seekers can prepare for the worst as the pandemic changes how companies hire

trader joes snow 2015

Jessica Bern is a writer who has worked at a Trader Joe's supermarket in New York City for about five months.
There's a sense of urgency among shoppers because of the coronavirus crisis, but many have come up to thank Bern and her coworkers for being there.
"Deciding between paying your bills or gambling with your life is not something I thought I would ever have to do, and yet here we are," she writes.
She's most worried about senior shoppers, who seem frightened and intimidated.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

When Washington was having its first reported case of COVID-19, I stood at the cash register as a woman who looked to be in her late 20s to early 30s approached me, carrying a bag of chips, guacamole, and a salad. "Is this your apocalypse shopping?" I asked her teasingly. "I know, right?" she replied. We then continued on to talk about the world's obsession with Trader Joe's cauliflower gnocchi and other more pressing topics.

After her, another customer came up to me with a cart full of stuff — same age as the last woman, with me using the same approach. This time, she said, "Yes!" while laughing, with a bit of embarrassment. "Some of my friends have been telling me I need to do this, so I am." I then proceeded to joke with her about what items she considered necessities and the fact that nowhere in the cart was a package of toilet paper, a bottle of water, and or anything from the frozen section.

I have worked at Trader Joe's for almost five months.

I work anywhere from 30 to 38 hours a week. I've been in contact with people of every age, demographic, ethnicity, and culture, from Australia, Europe, Asia and everywhere in between. Trader Joe's isn't just a grocery store, it's a destination. We've had people tell us they looked up our products and put us on their Places to Visit list prior to leaving their home country. As is our custom, a crew member always rings the bell loudly when we find out it's a person's first visit to our store. It's our "welcome to the family" salute.

IMG_6107 Trader Joes

And that is how it went, until it didn't.

As of this writing, there have been at least 1,374 diagnosed cases of the coronavirus in New York and 644 in New York City alone. Twelve people with COVID-19 have died in the state, which has the largest number of confirmed cases in the country. (Editor's note: New York state has since reported 3,086 cases and 20 deaths; the latest numbers are being updated in real-time.)

There are now times I wonder if I should go to work at all.

Deciding between paying your bills or gambling with your life is not something I thought I would ever have to do, and yet here we are. The Trader Joe's lines — which can be very long on an average day — have now, at times, gotten even longer. Still we work very hard to get customers in and out, while telling them about our Buffalo Chicken Dip and what cracker goes best with our Blueberry Goat Cheese Roll.

Trader Joe's lines

While my family is thrilled I'm working, they worry — but they have not suggested I quit.

I come from a long line of fatalists who truly believe when it's your time, it's your time, with a large dose of neurosis tossed into the mix (which makes for a very unique mindset and is an ongoing topic of conversation with my therapist).

My coworkers seem to have the same sense of fate as my family, and we have often used humor to disperse any sense of worry. On a busy day, people will load up their cart and then decide they've had enough, they can't wait in the checkout line, and they'll just abandon everything in it and leave. This takes time out of our day to put the food back on the shelf and remove the perishables. As many have said, moments like this bring out the Titanic character within us all. Are we going to dress up like a woman so we can get on a lifeboat? Are we going to kick someone off just to secure a place for ourselves? Will we allow someone else the chance to survive and risk our own lives in the process?

It's impossible not to worry.

Jessica Bern

I've been staying away from my elderly parents for weeks, and out of caution don't socialize with any friends right now. When I walk in my home, I remove all my clothing and have begun putting it in a plastic trash bag separate from my other laundry. I live 38 blocks away from my job and now leave even earlier and walk to work, for fear of public transportation and exposing myself even further. (This was confirmed for me when a man standing three feet away on his cell phone sneezed and laughed it off when I immediately stood up and walked to the front of the bus.)

The most difficult part is seeing the worried looks on the faces of our seniors.

It's been said over and over that the elderly are the most susceptible to the disease and thus more likely to die as a result. One woman in her 80s told my coworker that she was scared.

In the last couple of weeks, there are mornings where we have had long lines form outside, before we even open our doors. In busier times, we allow only a few people in at a time to maintain a semblance of social distancing. If we see someone who is elderly or disabled we bring them to the front and escort them inside in order to get them in and out as quickly as we can. We know they are frightened and intimidated. When this pandemic began, it's like they weren't even being seen.

Lately, I am often so moved by the customers who take the time to come up to me and thank us for being there. They seem genuinely concerned and I am touched by their inquiries into my well-being and those of my co-workers.

There has been a sense of urgency and tension permeating the store.

As an employee, it's been hard not to carry that burden on my shoulders. Having always been an empath on steroids, the anxiety can be overwhelming. The other night, I was so exhausted from the stress of it all, I left work early. I can't help but care that people need to be fed, but I've reminded myself — and have been reminded by the management — that we're all doing the best we can and that has to be good enough.

We have no masks but we're now allowed to wear gloves, and we wash and wash and wash our hands. I'm grateful to Trader Joe's that they have taken great measures to reduce the risk to our health and safety. But like everyone else, I'm isolating when I'm not working and hoping and praying we finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Jessica Bern has written for The Girlfriend, The Woolfer, Honeysuckle Magazine, Slackjaw, and SheKnows. One of her essays also appears in an anthology entitled, "We Got This, Solo Mom Stories of Grit, Heart, and Humor," which includes pieces by such well-known authors as Anne Lamott and Amy Poehler.

Trusting your gut:When the founders of dating app Coffee Meets Bagel turned down Mark Cuban's $30 million offer on 'Shark Tank' 3 years ago, they got dozens of emails calling them 'crazy,' 'greedy,' and 'stupid' — but they still aren't sorry

↧

SWIMMING WITH SHARKS: Founders who made it on 'Shark Tank' reveal winning pitches, tips to negotiate money-making deals, and how they've used the spotlight to their advantage

March 19, 2020, 12:08 pm

≫ Next: Tony Hawk and 10 other entrepreneurs share the books that changed their lives

≪ Previous: I work at a Trader Joe's in New York City. Here's what it's like to work in the beloved grocery store during a pandemic.

Shark Tank Season 11 judges

If social distancing and self quarantine have you looking for something to watch, you may want to join the nearly 5 million viewers who tune in to the hit TV show "Shark Tank."

Season 11 of the popular series is nearing its home stretch, so we've rounded up stories covering past participants that show key lessons and advice from the successful businesses that have appeared on the ABC show.

Check out these stories to hear how they prepared their pitches, negotiated their deals, and used the experience in the spotlight to their advantage.

Subscribe to BI Prime to read them all.

Meet one of the guest judges:Katrina Lake explains how a Harvard MBA fit into her decision to become an entrepreneur — and how she founded a personal-styling company worth $1.9 billion

Landing one of Kevin "Mr. Wonderful" O'Leary's top five deals of all time:Married founders reveal the strategy that got them on 'Shark Tank' — and how their winning deal helped their startup expand nationwide

Raising funds after getting a "Yes":This 9-slide pitch deck helped a cookie startup that competed on 'Shark Tank' close a seed round while bringing in $1.4 million last year

See the deck used by a nutritious coffee drink startup:3 brothers used this deck to pitch their healthy energy drink on 'Shark Tank.' 8 months later, the company was worth $50 million.

Getting your head — and heart — ready for the spotlight:The founders of a cookie startup used a rehearsal trick from Beyoncé to conquer their nerves before going on 'Shark Tank' — and won $300,000 from Alex Rodriguez

Building a win out of a "No":Entrepreneurs who launched their $50 million company in a dorm room say the biggest benefits of going on 'Shark Tank' had nothing to do with money

Holding out for a bigger shark:A startup founder who built a mock set in his backyard to practice his 'Shark Tank' pitch ultimately turned down a Shark's offer — and Amazon later acquired his company for $1 billion

Turning adversity to your advantage:An entrepreneur who landed a $250,000 offer on 'Shark Tank' was thrilled when a Shark said her company 'sucks' and questioned its valuation

Entering the Tank for more than just money:People think startup founders go on 'Shark Tank' for big-name investors and a pile of cash, but entrepreneurs who have done it say that's not really the point

Knowing what is the right deal for your business:A startup founder who turned down $100,000 for his 3-month-old startup on 'Shark Tank' says he doesn't regret it one bit

From drawing a mental blank to landing a deal:A 'Shark Tank' entrepreneur who panicked and forgot her own name during rehearsals stayed up all night practicing her pitch for 12 hours, and ultimately landed a $250,000 offer

Using the "memory palace" method to nail your pitch:An entrepreneur who went on 'Shark Tank' to pitch his 3-month-old startup in front of a national audience relied on an unusual memory technique to avoid panicking and forgetting his script

Anticipating every curve ball:'Shark Tank' founders who were called 'sock cockroaches' on national TV prepared answers to about 300 questions before they even appeared on the show — and they landed a $200,000 deal

How to become impervious to distractions:Startup founders who landed a $55,000 deal on 'Shark Tank' rehearsed their pitch while running, dodging a hair dryer, and even punching each other in the face

When you almost miss the boat:'What the hell were we thinking?': Startup founders who landed a $55,000 deal on 'Shark Tank' nearly missed their big break

Making the case for why you are the right person:Startup founders who convinced 'Shark Tank' sharks like Mark Cuban to invest say too many entrepreneurs overlook a crucial element of a winning pitch

Remember that it's still a reality TV show:The 'Shark Tank' founders who were called 'sock cockroaches' on national TV before landing a $200,000 deal have become one of the show's biggest success stories

Know that your investors are your equals:The founders of a 'Shark Tank' success relied on a key piece of business-school advice to stay calm during the pitch that won them $100,000

When things start to feel a little too real:'Shark Tank' entrepreneurs who won $100,000 decided to audition the night before casting, waited 7 hours in line, and typed out their answers to every question ever asked on the show

NOW WATCH: Taylor Swift is the world's highest-paid celebrity. Here's how she makes and spends her $360 million.

↧

Tony Hawk and 10 other entrepreneurs share the books that changed their lives

March 20, 2020, 6:15 am

≫ Next: Stores, restaurants, and companies across the US are putting staff on furlough as they shut down during the coronavirus outbreak — here's what it means for employees

≪ Previous: SWIMMING WITH SHARKS: Founders who made it on 'Shark Tank' reveal winning pitches, tips to negotiate money-making deals, and how they've used the spotlight to their advantage

Tony Hawk

The Oracles is a networking group of the world's most prominent entrepreneurs and CEOs.
The most successful people in the world make time to read every day, whether to stay up to date on local and global news or to educate themselves by reading books written by experts in their industry.
Here are the book recommendations from 11 successful entrepreneurs and CEOs, which include everything from self help and fiction to business advice.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The world's most successful people read an outsized number of books. You don't have time to read a ton of books right now. So we asked these elite CEOs and Advisors in The Oracles to share the one book that profoundly changed their life and why. Here are the life-changing books you should be reading (or rereading) next.

DON'T MISS: Successful CEOs share the one business book they think everyone should read

1. 'High Fidelity' and 'Slam' by Nick Hornby

Had I read "High Fidelity" when I was younger, I might have realized that I could pursue my dreams and become successful later in life and at a different pace. You don't have to do what you love with such abandon when you have other responsibilities. Now I'm working on a Broadway production of another Hornby book, "Slam," about a kid who aspires to be a pro skater but has to realize his path to responsibility when he gets his girlfriend pregnant.

— Tony Hawk, founder and CEO of Birdhouse Skateboards and president of the Tony Hawk Foundation, and the most influential and commercially successful skateboarder of all time, with a $100+ million net worth

2. 'The Richest Man in Babylon' by George Samuel Clason

"The Richest Man in Babylon" was a game changer for me and changed the way I look at money. It teaches five simple rules: 1) Store money for future use, 2) Control your expenses, 3) Make money multiply, 4) Guard your treasures against loss, and 5) Improve your ability to earn. After reading it, I stopped saving money simply to save it and started storing money that I could later invest to work for me. The investment vehicle that met these criteria was income-producing real estate. This book teaches you to establish reliable income streams and that you should never confuse financial needs with wants. It should be required reading in every school.

— Grant Cardone, founder of Cardone Capital, a $2 billion real estate empire. Follow Grant on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

3. 'Designing the Obvious: A Common Sense Approach to Web & Mobile Application Design' by Robert Hoekman, Jr.

This book explains how to create apps and online experiences that are easy, intuitive, and enjoyable. Software should be simple and obvious to use. This simplicity is central to the vision of Canva and all good software companies. I reread this book often and recommend it to everyone.

— Melanie Perkins, cofounder and CEO of Canva, valued at over $3 billion, and one of the youngest female CEOs leading a billion-dollar company

4. 'Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap ... and Others Don't' by Jim Collins

This book is such a must-read for leaders that I bought a copy for every manager in our company. The premise is simple: Good is the enemy of great. Most companies never achieve greatness because they're satisfied with good enough. Greatness requires humble leaders who are driven by what's best for the company and don't let obstacles stop them.

Collins explains the importance of the book with this concept: When your passions, what you can be best in the world at, and what drives your economic engine come together, your work and life move toward greatness. It's impossible to have a great life unless it's meaningful, and it's difficult to have a meaningful life without meaningful work.

— Dottie Herman, CEO of Douglas Elliman, a real estate brokerage empire with more than $27 billion in annual sales. Connect with Dottie on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

5. 'The Birth Order Book: Why You Are the Way You Are' by Dr. Kevin Leman

As an avid reader, I continuously consume stories and knowledge. I read this book while pregnant with my second child because I was curious about how my daughter's relationship would work with her soon-to-be baby brother. It changed my approach to professional and personal relationships.

This book opened my mind to how people interact and why they are who they are. It spawned my interest in learning more about how to communicate effectively and meaningfully. It gave me an incredible gift: the tools to get past the awkward beginning of any relationship easily, be a considerate listener, and engage in fruitful relationships.

— Jessica Mead, founder and CEO of BrandLync, cofounder of Mead Holdings Group, The Epek Companies, and Grayson Pierce Capital. Follow Jessica on Instagram.

6. 'The Bhagavad Gita' by Vyasa

This book is about aligning your work and life toward your calling and staying the course. When the warrior Arjuna loses his courage to lead a big battle against his evil cousins, Krishna shows him that he must do it because it's his calling and duty. Anything less leads to regret and negatively impacts your life.

As I relate in my own book, "Staring Down the Wolf," I went through a similar experience in my twenties. If I had read this then, I would've been more confident about ditching my corporate suit to become a Navy SEAL officer. I would have avoided a lot of confusion and emotional suffering around the decision, knowing that following my purpose was not a "nice to do," but an absolute imperative.

— Mark Divine, retired US Navy SEAL commander, NYT & WSJ bestselling author, and founder ofUnbeatable Mind and SEALFIT. Follow Unbeatable Mind on Facebook and YouTube.

7. 'Before You Know It: The Unconscious Reasons We Do What We Do' by John Bargh

In college, I was profoundly affected by the concepts Professor Bargh taught in my Modern Unconscious class, which he later distilled into this book. In short, while your conscious thoughts matter, you are also heavily influenced by unconscious or automatic behavior.

I was struck by the huge potential of designing technology products and human organizations based on an understanding of how the human brain actually works, to help people lead happier, more fulfilled lives. After college, I turned down traditional job offers and decided to build a startup instead to put those ideas into action. Now, a decade later, we're still motivated by the same long-term goal of increasing human agency. We use these concepts not to make you sad so you buy more or trap you in your Instagram feed, but to enable people to accomplish their goals and lead happier, more fulfilled lives.

— Judd Rosenblatt, founder and CEO ofAE Studio, an Agile web development and data science consulting firm with a mission to increase human agency with technology.Vote for the charity they donate to next month.

8. 'The Ultimate Sales Machine' by Chet Holmes

Holmes teaches timeless time management principles and the Dream 100, or the art of identifying and tirelessly pursuing key partners and customers. I'll never forget flipping through the pages for the first time on the island of Koh Phangan, Thailand, and recognizing that everything in my life had to change. I was doing too much, trying to be too many things to too many people. This book taught me to focus on networking. I've read it multiple times since and always uncover new insights. I shudder to think how much money, time, and frustration I could have saved myself if I had come across this book sooner.

— Jonathan Goodman, founder of thePersonal Trainer Development Center and the first-ever certification for online fitness training, theOnline Trainer Academy. Connect with Jonathan onFacebook andInstagram.

9. 'Next Generation Leader: 5 Essentials for Those Who Will Shape the Future' by Andy Stanley

This book downloads nugget after nugget of life-changing wisdom. In particular, Stanley outlines five Cs that leaders need to be successful and leave a legacy. The first is competence. Leaders must channel their energy where they are most likely to excel. Second is courage, which is required to set things in motion and move ahead. Third is clarity. Leaders must learn to be clear, even when they aren't certain. Fourth is coaching, because without a coach you'll never be as good as you could be. Finally, character. You can lead without it, but you won't be a leader worth following.

— Shaun Rawls, founder and CEO of Rawls Consulting who built The Rawls Group of Keller Williams to over $4 billion in annual sales, and author of the upcoming book "'F'-It-Less." Connect with Shaun on Facebook and LinkedIn.

10. 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' by Robert T. Kiyosaki

Growing up, I looked at money negatively and thought it was only possible to have money by saving it. This book changed my entire perspective on what money can accomplish for good and how to earn it. It was eye-opening to see the difference between two paths: playing it safe, going to school, and getting a job — or using your skills to build a business that creates new opportunities.

— Ashley Alderson, founder and CEO of The Boutique Hub and Boutique.Style, cancer survivor, motivational speaker, and host of "Boutique Chat." Connect with Ashley on Instagram and LinkedIn.

11. 'Barbarians at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco' by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar

This novel is about the leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco for $25 billion in the 1980s. It showed me that with funding from financial institutions and investors, you can buy established, profitable companies without using any of your own money. This book inspired me to purchase multimillion-dollar businesses and help dozens of others do the same, which is what I do today. It teaches invaluable principles through storytelling, for example, that it's all about building rapport with the seller. At the end of the day, business is about relationships.

— Moran Pober, founder and CEO of Acquisitions.com, which buys and sells seven-figure businesses and helps others do the same, and former partner at WeKix and ABD Assets. Connect with Moran on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Want to share your insights in a future article? Join The Oracles, a mastermind group of the world's leading entrepreneurs who share their success strategies to help others grow their businesses and build better lives. Apply here, and follow The Oracles on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

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Stores, restaurants, and companies across the US are putting staff on furlough as they shut down during the coronavirus outbreak — here's what it means for employees

March 20, 2020, 6:59 am

≫ Next: 6 bad habits holding you back from being as mentally strong as you can be

≪ Previous: Tony Hawk and 10 other entrepreneurs share the books that changed their lives

Empty Restaurant - New Rochelle, NY

COVID-19 is having substantial effects on the US workforce — many people are working at home, businesses are having to shut down, and employers are resorting to layoffs and furloughs.
An employee furlough is when staff members are required to take an unpaid leave of absence.
Employee furloughs help businesses cut costs and retain talent, but employees receive less or no income and may be tempted to find a new job.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

COVID-19 (commonly referred to as the coronavirus) is wreaking havoc on the world.

The most pressing concern, of course, is the impact on people's health — over 246,000 people have been infected and over 10,000 have died. And physicians in Hong Kong have discovered that those who recover from COVID-19 may have long-lasting lung damage.

But there are secondary effects, too.

More people than ever are working from home, including Ford's global workforce of more than 50,000 people, NASA's 17,000 employees, and Google's North American team, which is tens of thousands of people (though their 135,000 contractors are still going to the office because they lack remote access).

Several US states and cities — such as Hoboken, NJ, and Washington state — have imposed curfews, and six counties in the San Francisco Bay Area are sheltering in place for three weeks, meaning people should do whatever they can to stay inside.

Though these decisions make sense, as they can (hopefully) help slow the spread and flatten the curve, they're having an incredibly detrimental impact on many businesses.

Because with these curfews comes the closing of bars and nightclubs. And in some states, like Maine, restaurants are no longer allowed to serve people (but they can do curbside takeout), and Governor Janet Mills has strongly encouraged other "non-essential public-facing businesses," like gyms, theaters, and hair salons, to temporarily close.

Even if all of these places were open, business would likely be slow, if not non-existent, as so many people are barely venturing outside, if at all. And the current state of the stock markets surely doesn't help either.

Compass Coffee, a coffee shop chain in Washington, DC, said they've seen their business plummet 90% in the past two weeks. As a result, they shut down all of their locations for the next few weeks and laid off 90% of their 200 employees.

They won't be alone in making tough decisions. Hundreds of thousands of businesses will have to make substantial adjustments in an effort to come out on the other side of all of this, an especially tough undertaking given we have no idea where the tunnel ends or what it'll look like once we emerge.

Layoffs like the one at Compass are steadily increasing across many different industries, but some companies are choosing to furlough their employees instead, such as Marriot.

Which begs the question, what exactly is a furlough, and how does it work?

What is an employee furlough?

To put it simply, an employee furlough is when employers require their staff to take unpaid leaves of absence. In other words, they won't work, they won't get paid, but they'll still technically be employed.

Adam Calli, founder and principal consultant at Arc Human Capital

"The employer does this to drastically cut costs in times of economic difficulty, [whether for] the economy overall, or specific to a particular industry, company, or location," explained Adam Calli, founder and principal consultant at Arc Human Capital, a human resources consulting firm. "For many organizations, labor costs (payroll tax and employee benefits) can be 70% of their operating cost! That's why this is where they look first to save money the fastest."

It's important to note that these are different from layoffs. Furloughs are meant to be temporary — employees are expected to return to work full time when the organization is ready — whereas layoffs are permanent.

Many people might associate furloughs with government shutdowns, like the 35-day one that started in late 2018 and extended through early 2019, but private companies can furlough employees, too. Like manufacturing giant Honeywell, which furloughed employees in response to the 2008 recession.

And some businesses, like landscaping and construction companies, practice regular furloughs during seasons when business is typically lower (it's hard to break ground in freezing temperatures). These, of course, are easier for employees to prepare for because they know they're coming up every year.

How do employee furloughs work?

When facing tough financial times, leadership will identify which jobs they can temporarily eliminate and when the mandated unpaid time off should begin.

"Sometimes, it's for a set period and the staff will know when they're expected to return to [their normal work schedule]," Calli shared. "Sometimes, it's open-ended." In a case such as COVID-19, where there's still so much unknown, the latter is more likely.

J.R. Skrabanek, a partner at Thompson & Skrabanek, PLLC

The main purpose of furloughs is for businesses to be able to save money by reducing staff and labor costs. This means they could put employees off work "until further notice," or they could just cut back in certain ways. For example, they could require employees to take unpaid leave one day per week or one full week per month.

But, of course, it's not that simple, as employees are classified in different ways. One of the main ways is exempt vs. non-exempt. Exempt employees are salaried — they receive the same pay on a recurring schedule regardless of how many hours they worked. Non-exempt employees are paid hourly.

When it comes to furloughing, "non-exempt employees can simply have their hours reduced and continue to be paid for those reduced hours," explained J.R. Skrabanek, a partner at Thompson & Skrabanek, PLLC, which provides legal services for small businesses, startups, and freelancers.

Mikaela Kiner, founder and CEO of Reverb

For exempt employees, it's different. "The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employees to be paid their full salaries for any week in which any work is performed," Skrabanek explained. If a full week goes by and the furloughed worker hasn't done any work, then the employer doesn't have to pay them their salary for that week. But, even if they just do one or two hours of work, they must receive their full weekly paycheck.

According to Mikaela Kiner, founder and CEO of Reverb, a people operations consulting firm, each company also needs to take into account the following legal considerations:

Employees should be selected for furlough based on job responsibilities, without regard for race, gender, age, pregnancy, or other protected classes.
Employees with a written contract or unionized employees may have terms that prevent furloughs. "The employer and union must reach an agreement on the conditions of the furlough, and employers must be careful to ensure they meet all terms of the agreement," explained Steven Katz, attorney at Katz, Pryor, and DiCuccio, LLP.

Joey Price, CEO of Jumpstart:HR

Companies with a high volume of furloughs or layoffs may be subject to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. "The WARN Act is a rule that applies to employers of 100+ and provides guidelines on how to inform and roll off employees in coordination with resources from the government," said Joey Price, CEO of Jumpstart:HR, an HR outsourcing and consulting company for small businesses. This Act can be tricky, though, Katz added, as there are many exceptions. For example, it may not apply in a case such as coronavirus, since it was a circumstance that wasn't "reasonably anticipated 60 days before termination."

The pros and cons of furloughs

There are "many advantages for the employer because the workforce can adjust to the needs of the business," said Kay Van Wey, a medical malpractice attorney at Van Wey, Presby, and Williams Trial Law Firm.

Kay Van Wey, a medical malpractice attorney at Van Wey, Presby, and Williams Trial Law Firm.

These pros for the business are quite obvious. They can save a ton of money by cutting down on labor costs and, hopefully, these measures will lead to them surviving the difficult economic times. And, when conditions improve, they can bring back the same staff without having to recruit, hire, and onboard an entirely new set of employees.

But, one major downside for employers is "business interruption," Van Wey said. "If an employee in an office setting, for example, was furloughed, they left everything right where it was and it will take time for them to catch up and get back on track." Plus, other employees who weren't furloughed will probably have to take on their work, which can be overwhelming and slow things down.

While being temporarily terminated from a job is daunting, the main pro for employees is that, should the business survive, they'll have a job to return to.

And, "a general rule is that [this] does not affect employee benefits," Katz said. "All eligible employees are still entitled to benefits while on furlough." So, that's a big positive when you compare it to a layoff.

Steven Katz, attorney at Katz, Pryor, and DiCuccio, LLP

But, of course, there's a lot of uncertainty here. And, no matter which way you spin it, employees are missing out on pay, though it's possible they can seek alternative sources of income while they're furloughed.

"The terms of the furlough are specific to each employer," Skrabanek explained. "Unless the employee signs a furlough contract that explicitly forbids them from seeking additional work elsewhere, they are free to do so."

Price explained that employees should be upfront with their secondary employer about their furlough status and when their primary organization plans to resume operations (if they know). And, he and Skrabanek both emphasized that all employees should closely review any noncompete policies their employer has.

They also might be able to file for unemployment benefits, though this varies by state. It's also important to note that some states allow people to work part time and receive unemployment benefits simultaneously while others do not, so that's something to pay attention to as well.

Regardless, this uncertainty and the need for income may cause them to completely leave their current full-time job, which is an added downside for the employer.

NOW WATCH: Taylor Swift is the world's highest-paid celebrity. Here's how she makes and spends her $360 million.

↧

6 bad habits holding you back from being as mentally strong as you can be

March 20, 2020, 7:00 am

≫ Next: 'Front line' employees at JPMorgan Chase who make less than $60,000 will get a $1,000 payment during the coronavirus pandemic (JPM)

≪ Previous: Stores, restaurants, and companies across the US are putting staff on furlough as they shut down during the coronavirus outbreak — here's what it means for employees

woman work interview happy boss

Amy Morin is a psychotherapist, licensed clinical social worker, mental strength coach, and international bestselling author.
Many people mistake mental strength for being above mental challenges, or easily handling any upsets that come their way.
Instead, Morin explains, mental strength is found by creating "a lifestyle that assists you in reaching your goals"— setting yourself up for success is the best way to prepare for inevitable battles.
Here are six things you may be doing that are holding you back from developing mental strength.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Everyone possesses mental strength to a certain degree. But as a therapist, I have found that most people aren't as mentally strong as they can be. This is usually because they fail to set themselves up for success.

If you want to build the mental strength it takes to reach your greatest potential, you need to create a lifestyle that assists in reaching your goals. And you must also eliminate the obstacles that are draining your mental strength and sabotaging your efforts. Here are six reasons you aren't as mentally strong as you should be.

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1. You aren't setting limits on energy vampires

It'd be great if you could surround yourself with positive people only. But this is not realistic. Whether you've got a family member who criticizes you too often, or you've got a coworker who perpetually insists the sky is falling, energy vampires can drain your mental strength fast.

When you don't want to cut them out of your life completely (perhaps you love your aunt or can't change departments at work), you can still set limits. This may mean excusing yourself from an unproductive conversation, saying no to someone who asks to borrow something, or declining an invitation to an event you don't want to attend.

Creating healthy boundaries ensures that your time and energy are going toward the things and people you value most. And it'll help you stay mentally stronger as you work toward your goals.

2. You believe your brain more than you should

Your brain loves it when you stay in your comfort zone. It'll try to convince you that you can't succeed or that you're not good enough to do anything different. But remember that your brain can lie to you. You're stronger than you think.

If you want to grow stronger, you have to accept that you are more capable and competent than your brain sometimes gives you credit for. This means stepping outside of your comfort zone when there's no guarantee of success. Just keep in mind that you're better able to handle failure than you might realize. While failing feels bad, you're resilient enough to handle the discomfort.

3. You avoid things that scare you

You might think the absence of fear is a sign of strength. But this is far from true. If you never feel scared, it's likely that you aren't pushing yourself to do challenging things.

Doing things that scare you a little — whether it's anything from giving a volunteer presentation to launching a business — helps you grow stronger.

Just like you need to create tension on your biceps to grow bigger arms, you also need some tension in your life to develop bigger mental muscles. Challenge yourself to do more regardless of whether you succeed. You'll learn valuable life lessons in the process.

4. You don't pay attention to your emotions

Your emotions affect every decision you make. Research shows that people play it safe when feeling anxious. You're more likely to take impulsive risks when angry or embarrassed. And during a negotiation, you're likely to settle for less when you're feeling sad, because you won't want to risk being rejected.

Yet there's a good chance you spend very little time thinking about your feelings. Consequently, you may not notice how your emotions are clouding your judgment.

Invest a few minutes into thinking about how you're feeling. Just naming your emotions can help you gain insight into how your feelings affect the way you think and the action you're likely to take. Labeling your feelings can also help take a bit of the sting out.

5. You're too busy

A busy schedule can make you feel important. But a full calendar also leaves little room for reflection, personal development, and mental strength training.

Building mental muscle often requires more "being" and less "doing." Practicing mindfulness, for example, requires a conscious effort. You won't see immediate results. And you might even feel guilty for not being "productive."

But everyone has room in their busy lives to grow bigger mental muscles — if mental fitness is a priority. Once it is, you'll become more effective in every aspect of life.

6. You aren't intentional about your media consumption

Everything from the news you watch, to the people you follow on social media, affects your mental fitness. But most of us are passive about what we consume on a daily basis. Endless scrolling and mindless channel flipping can drain you of mental strength for a few reasons.

Research consistently shows that news stories increase our anxiety. Allowing yourself to be bombarded by the news all day long can cause you to focus on catastrophic events.

Studies also show that our mood tends to plummet after spending just a few minutes on social media. We tend to compare ourselves to other people and assume they live better lives than we do.

Being more intentional about your media consumption can help you stay strong. In fact, you can even use media to help you build mental muscle. Follow inspirational people on social media, use apps that help you stick to healthier habits, and take online courses that help you develop a healthier mindset.

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'Front line' employees at JPMorgan Chase who make less than $60,000 will get a $1,000 payment during the coronavirus pandemic (JPM)

March 20, 2020, 7:24 am

≫ Next: Gen Z workers will likely bear the brunt of the coronavirus layoffs

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JPMorgan Chase

JPMorgan Chase will give a $1,000 payment to "front line" employees in branches, operations, and call centers to help them during the coronavirus epidemic, the bank told employees in a memo shared with Business Insider.
Part-time and full-time employees who are required to work on site, and make less than $60,000 annually or are branch-based, will be eligible for the payment.
The payment will be issued in two $500 installments in April and May.
Chase said this week that it would close around 1,000 of its branches, but that employees who are asked to stay home would be paid for their regularly scheduled hours.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

JPMorgan Chase will give "front line" employees in its branches, operations, and call centers a $1,000 payment to help them during the coronavirus epidemic.

The bank told employees in an internal memo, shared with Business Insider, that full- or part-time employees who are required to work on site, and make less than $60,000 annually or are based in the bank's branches, will be eligible for the payment.

"Many of our front line employees in our branches, operations and call centers, and other key sites who continue to go into their office or branch each day face particular challenges related to issues like childcare and transportation," the memo said. "To help them meet these challenges," Chase will issue a "one-time COVID-19 special payment equal to a maximum of US $1,000."

The payment will be issued in two $500 installments in April and May.

JPMorgan's payment to employees comes as the White House and Congress plan to issue a similar payment to Americans to help with the economic fallout from the coronavirus.

Chase said all employees are also being given up to five extra days of paid leave, and unused 2019 vacation days will be rolled over through June 2020. The additional days are "meant to help employees manage childcare/dependent care and temporary disruption of service issues during this difficult period."

The bank said earlier this week that it would close around 1,000 of its branches, but that employees who are asked to stay home would be paid for their regularly scheduled hours.

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Gen Z workers will likely bear the brunt of the coronavirus layoffs

March 20, 2020, 8:30 am

≫ Next: Here are all the things you should be looking at before signing a freelance contract, according to lawyers and seasoned freelancers

≪ Previous: 'Front line' employees at JPMorgan Chase who make less than $60,000 will get a $1,000 payment during the coronavirus pandemic (JPM)

barista coronavirus layoffs

Gen Z workers are getting laid off at rates nearly three times that of their older counterparts as the coronavirus outbreak shakes the United States' economy, Harris Poll found.
Young service workers are losing more work hours than any other demographic as restaurants, coffee shops, gyms, fitness studios, and cultural institutions shutter nationwide.
More than 2 million Americans will file unemployment claims by next week as a part of "an unprecedented surge in layoffs," Goldman Sachs forecasts state, according to Axios.
The novel coronavirus has infected more than 246,000 people and killed over 10,000 worldwide, including 212 Americans.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Coronavirus-related layoffs will disproportionately hurt workers in Gen Z, a new study found.

Members of Gen Z, which Pew Research Center defines as those between the ages of 7 and 22, are three times more likely to report losing their jobs or being put on temporary leave as the novel coronavirus outbreak threatens to send the United States into a recession, Harris Poll found in a survey published Thursday. Young service workers are losing more work hours than any other demographic, Harris Poll found.

Almost a third of the Gen Z workers interviewed had been put on leave by their employers or completely laid off, compared with only 13% of workers between the ages of 35 and 54, according to Harris Poll.

Less than two weeks after the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, restaurants, coffee shops, gyms, fitness studios, and cultural institutions have already begun to lay off employees. Some cities forced the closures while others closed voluntarily as customers embrace social distancing in an attempt to slow the virus' spread. Air travel has also ground to a halt, leaving airline and hotel employees vulnerable to layoffs as well. More than 2 million Americans will file unemployment claims by next week as part of "an unprecedented surge in layoffs," Goldman Sachs forecasts state, according to Axios.

States are already reporting massive numbers of unemployment claims, Business Insider's Joseph Zeballos-Roig reported. In Pennsylvania alone, 50,000 unemployment claims were filed on Monday, compared with 14,000 during the first week of March.

Harris Poll surveyed 2,050 adults across the country online between March 14 and 15 and March 17 and 18. The market research firm also weighed participant's responses based on their age, sex, race, education, region, and household income to make their sample more representative of the United States as a whole.

After being first identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, the novel coronavirus has infected over 246,000 people worldwide and over 10,000 people have died. The US has reported at least 14,250 cases and confirmed 205 coronavirus deaths. Experts say the virus could be even more widespread than the data indicates as the United States has fallen behind every other developed nation on the number of tests performed per capita.

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Here are all the things you should be looking at before signing a freelance contract, according to lawyers and seasoned freelancers

March 20, 2020, 9:50 am

≫ Next: An ER nurse told us she was exposed to the coronavirus and has symptoms but still can't get tested, and it highlights both America's crippling inequality and its broken healthcare system

≪ Previous: Gen Z workers will likely bear the brunt of the coronavirus layoffs

couple reviewing paperwork

Although intimidating, it's important for freelancers to go through the contracts that they're signing.
Lawyers and successful freelancers recommended having contracts, even if they're not necessary, to ensure you know what the expectations of your projects are.
Pay close attention to payment sections, especially regarding overtime and extra meetings, in order to make clear when and how you're getting paid.
Also include an indemnification clause in case something in the project goes wrong and legal action is taken.
Click here for more more BI Prime stories.

One of the most important, and yet most overlooked, aspects of running a freelance business is knowing how to read over a contract. The amount of legalese found in these documents can be overwhelming to the average person — but just as large companies protect themselves by way of contract, it's also important for freelancers to have some basic understanding of what it is they're signing and thus legally agreeing to.

So what kinds of things should you be looking for regarding your contracts? Business Insider spoke with a number of contract experts, including lawyers and experienced freelancers, for their insights.

Are contracts always necessary?

"Contracts are not always necessary, but are often the wisest course of action," said Vanessa Matsis-McCready, assistant general counsel and senior human resources consultant for Engage PEO, a professional employer organization that provides HR services to small- and mid-sized business owners nationwide. Matsis-McCready sited that in some places, like New York City, there are parameters stating where contracts should be provided under the Freelance Isn't Free Act (Local Law 140). You can also reach out to the Freelancer's Union for guidance on how to figure out your state's laws.

"Although an email can be sufficient from a legal perspective (if it includes the right terms), the freelancer is missing a huge opportunity by not having their own contract. Investing in a contract that you can use with all your clients not only protects your interests, but it makes you appear more credible, reliable, and professional," said Heather Hubbard, an attorney and founder of All Rise, a personal and professional development coaching service, who previously worked for an AmLaw 200 Firm — one of the 200 highest-grossing law firms in the country.

Heather Hubbard

Both Matsis-McCready and Hubbard added that if a contract is not provided by an employer, it's highly recommended to create a template contract yourself in order to protect your interests. The Freelancers Union provides a contract creation tool which can be customized to fit your needs.

Seattle-based freelance writer, author, and writing coach Paulette Perhach learned the importance of having a contract the hard way.

"So many times a project started without a contract in place and it's just a recipe for a nightmare. I once did $600 worth of work that the client had verbally agreed upon but acted like he had no idea … He stiffed me," said Perhach.

Give the payment clauses a good looking through

Once you have a contract, experts agreed that the most important thing to look at is the payment clause. This means not only ensuring you have the agreed upon amount per deliverables, but also additional fees, payment schedule, late fees, and early-pay discounts (if applicable).

"Put a surcharge for weekend or rush work. That way, when the client asks, you can say yes if you want to and get a little extra for having to rearrange your schedule," advised Perhach.

Consider adding small fees for additional time spent on work, such as meetings.

"Include language to get paid for … meetings that are not cancelled far enough in advance to avoid … loss of time," added NYC-based Howard Freedman, a lawyer who has specialized in, among other things, independent contractor agreements, general commercial contracts, content licensing, and other intellectual property issues for over 30 years.

Mechi Annaís Estévez Cruz, a freelance writer and owner of a small communications agency, also suggested negotiating away from net-30s (being paid within 30 days of invoice) and onto immediate payment.

"My employees don't get paid on a net-30 … We have bills due, too. If you are professional and courteous, great clients will understand," she added.

What happens when timely payment isn't happening?

Freelancers frequently hear horror stories of never receiving payment and are often unsure how to prevent it, or what steps to take next.

"Nothing can completely ensure timely payment without payment in advance of providing any deliverables or work product," said Freedman.

He recommended all freelance contracts include language stating that the client can only use the deliverables after paying the freelancer in full. In the event of non-payment, you'd at least retain all rights to the work. Freedman also suggested getting paid per milestone if it's a lengthy freelance project, and withholding work until most if not all money has been paid.

Freedman and Hubbard also recommended asking for partial payment upfront, adding a recommendation for obtaining credit card information and including language in your contract that allows you to charge for the balance.

"If very concerned about the financial ability of the buyer to pay, consider requiring the buyer to get a guarantor (written guarantee) of the payment," added Freedman.

When a client fails to pay, freelancers often end up with little recourse. Some take their fight to social media, which sometimes puts a fire under a large publication to do the right thing.

"Although you may have the right to sue to collect payment, it's often not worth the time or energy to hire an attorney or file a lawsuit," said Hubbard.

Freedman recommended hiring a debt collector, going to an attorney to send a demand letter for payment, or going to small claims court — all of which can be done without hiring an attorney.

"If a large sum is owed, consider engaging an attorney to file suit against the company," he added.

Reflect on the scope of work — and adjust payment clauses as needed

Another pain point for freelancers is the issue of scope creep — when a client asks for additional work outside of what was agreed upon initially, without added pay. Hubbard said that setting expectations along with ongoing communication is key to avoiding this issue.

"Kick off the project by confirming roles, deliverables, and deadlines," she said. "As soon as a client starts to suggest you go beyond the scope, it's your responsibility … to raise the issue that very moment." She added that freelancers should see if a client is open to expanding the contract to reflect the new scope and rates.

While these conversations are important, they aren't always easy for freelancers to bring up — especially those who are new to freelancing.

Estévez Cruz cited the precariousness of freelance business (due to a lack of job security, benefits, and regular, guaranteed pay) as reasons why freelancers often struggle to point out when their contracts aren't being respected.

"When a client asks you to do more than what you are paid for, ask yourself if the situations were reversed if your client would be amenable to being asked to do more work without more pay. Most of the time, the answer to that is no. As freelancers, we also have the right to set down professional boundaries and have them respected," she advised.

Furthermore, it's important to always be clear in your contract in the event of changes in scope. Juliette Fairley, a Manhattan-based freelance journalist, cited one such instance in which she was initially asked to conduct expert interviews for an assignment writing home buyer guides, and was later told by an editor to forego this and cite information from state websites. After completion of the assignment, she was informed via email that she would not be getting paid, claiming breach of contract.

She was eventually paid for part of the work, but had to take the matter to small claims court in order to receive the remainder. She won her case, but it took several months to clear the matter — which can be difficult for many freelancers.

Take into account intellectual property rights and derivative works

"(Intellectual property rights) should spell out who actually owns the work, and exactly how the freelancer and the publication can use the work, including any time limits, geographical limits, or other restrictions," said Autumn Witt Boyd, a Chattanooga-based intellectual property lawyer and owner of the AWB Firm.

Autumn Witt Boyd

Intellectual property rights can take on many forms depending on your industry, including but not limited to copyrights, trademarks, patents, and more.

"Be sure you fully understand the permissions on your work," said Perhach. She recommended freelance writers specifically read Jane Friedman's "The Business of Being a Writer," which includes thorough explanations of the different types of rights.

"When beginning their business or as they start to grow, it is helpful to have an attorney review the intellectual property rights language of their freelancer contracts," advised Matsis-McCready.

In freelance writing, Witt Boyd said that when a publication buys all the rights, a freelancer can't reuse their story, even if the piece never gets published.

"Other publications may obtain a license, or limited permission, to publish the story, which may have a time limit, after which the freelancer will have the rights to use it again … Even if the contract says the publication owns all the rights, if they never ran the story, it can't hurt for the freelancer to ask if they can get their rights back so they can use it elsewhere," said Witt Boyd.

"Try to grant narrow rights as are feasible," adds Freedman. That is to say, if you can grant rights for only a limited amount of time (such as a year), you're better off than granting rights indefinitely.

Related to all this is your derivative works clause, which is basically anything new that came from the existing work.

"Examples of derivative works are a translation into another language, a movie or TV adaptation of a book or play, a new arrangement of an existing song, or a 'new edition' of a book with commentary or new material," said Witt Boyd.

When you sign a "Work for Hire" contract, Witt Boyd said you essentially give up your rights to such derivative works.

"Freelancers who do not want derivative works created from their original work should be careful to include terms in their contracts that reserve or explicitly define this right," she added.

Consider indemnification

According to Matsis-McCready, indemnification is one of the most important clauses, especially for freelancers who might not have insurance or vast amounts of money to defend themselves.

"This clause outlines whether the freelancer will be responsible for damages, penalties, and costs for themselves and the entity … publishing their work, if the outlet is sued," she said.

As such, many of the lawyers Business Insider spoke with strongly recommended consulting with an attorney in order to be clear on the parameters of this clause.

"A freelancer can always ask to remove indemnification languages also. Sometimes if negotiations fail for agreeable indemnification terms, passing on a project that would impose too much risk … is the best course of action," said Matsis-McCready.

Additionally, many experts suggested obtaining some form of liability insurance. The Freelancers Union is one such place where one can purchase this.

"If you are wrongfully sued for defamation, plagiarism, etc., the publication will likely not pick up your attorney fees," added Fairley.

Look for additional clauses like noncompetes and termination of the contract

Overall, while contracts can feel intimidating, it's important to have them and read through them in their entirety.

"It's important to read the fine print. Sometimes publications restrict you from writing for other outlets within the same vertical/industry. If you're an expert in one particular area, then make sure you're not signing a contract that limits you from writing for other outlets," advised Leila Najafi, a full-time digital marketing consultant and travel writer.

Perhach suggested putting your times and hours in your email response to a contract. "The client does not own you, and they should understand your boundaries," she said.

And, added Witt Boyd, "Freelancers should pay attention to how either side can fire the other (termination) — and who owns the rights to the work if this happens."

Finally, don't forget the most important lesson of all: "Everything is negotiable," said Najafi.

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↧

An ER nurse told us she was exposed to the coronavirus and has symptoms but still can't get tested, and it highlights both America's crippling inequality and its broken healthcare system

March 20, 2020, 10:53 am

≫ Next: CFA exams in June are getting postponed until December at the earliest due to the coronavirus, and refunds won't be issued

≪ Previous: Here are all the things you should be looking at before signing a freelance contract, according to lawyers and seasoned freelancers

coronavirus test

Since the coronavirus outbreak reached the US, over a dozen nurses nationwide told Business Insider their hospitals still don't have a clear process to protect them or their patients.
Nurses who have treated coronavirus patients and developed symptoms cannot get tests.
One hospital in California told a symptomatic nurse she did not qualify for a coronavirus test, despite coming into direct contact with a positive patient.
Testing across the US has been messy and inconsistent due to delays from the federal government in approving and delivering materials.
If you're a nurse with an observation regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, email aakhtar@businessinsider.com.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

On Monday, March 16, an emergency room nurse in the Los Angeles area developed symptoms of what she thought to be a sinus infection. She went to her shift the next day and learned from other nurses that a patient of hers had contracted the novel coronavirus.

The coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, first spread from China beginning in late December and has infected over 250,000 people in at least 163 countries as of March 20. In the US, at least 213 people have died from the coronavirus.

The nurse immediately called the hospital's employee coronavirus hotline asking for a test — but her hospital denied her one, claiming she did not fit the requirement of employees eligible to get testing.

In conversations with more than a dozen nurses across the country, Business Insider has learned that hospitals haven't provided the nurses who are treating actual coronavirus patients with enough tests — even if they feel symptomatic or came into contact with COVID-19 patients.

These nurses shared the frustration they have felt over the lack of direction and preparation on the part of both hospitals and the government regarding how to handle the novel coronavirus outbreak. As hospitals deal with a shortage of protective equipment like masks and gowns, the nurses who spend more time on patient bedsides than other healthcare workers worry they are more susceptible to the disease, and won't even be able to get the proper testing.

Nurses are describing a situation where they cannot get a clear response on how to get tested for coronavirus — even if they feel sick.

Immediately upon finding out she came into contact with coronavirus, the LA-area nurse, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of losing her job, was asked two questions to determine if she needed a test: had she come into direct contact with the positively tested patient, and was she wearing proper protective masks and gowns?

The nurse said she couldn't give the hospital an answer as to whether she had worn the right equipment, because the rules on what masks to wear — either airborne particle-resistant N95 mask, surgical masks, or surgical masks with goggles — had changed every day. Amid the nationwide shortage of equipment, nurses have told Business Insider that they are being asked to break regular protocol and wear just one mask a day.

nurses coronavirus

The hospital decided that the nurse did not qualify for a test, and told her either to go into 14-day quarantine or to find a test at another hospital. The LA nurse, currently in quarantine, said she does not know if she's getting paid during this time off.

Similarly, one nurse practitioner in the Southeast told Business Insider that she feared she had coronavirus after coming into contact with a presumptive-positive patient and developing mild symptoms.

The NP decided to self-isolate to protect her patients and her three-month-old granddaughter. But her employer accused her of overreacting and being "hysterical," and reprimanded her for taking time off.

The nurse practitioner also revealed she had to pay $260 to take her own COVID-19 test. She said maybe her insurance will eventually reimburse her for the cost.

"[My boss] didn't threaten my job, but I think he was more worried about how to handle the situation moving forward because we've been asking for a protocol for weeks and [we're] not being given anything in preparation," the NP told Business Insider.

Nurses across the country said their hospitals have lacked a clear plan on how to care for COVID-19 patients, and how to protect healthcare workers from the disease.

Without properly protecting nurses from the coronavirus outbreak, hospitals risk short-staffing the nursing workforce. One nurse in Seattle said she has been working extra shifts and overtime to care for the 10 to 15 coronavirus-positive patients in ICU. The nurse said her hospital did not prepare for the influx of patients, and she was worried that soon one nurse will have to care for two patients at once.

"Our hospital has been far behind the curve both in preparing and telling staff how to be prepared," she told Business Insider, and that the "staff is feeling very frustrated at the lack of adequate communication."

Unlike other countries dealing with the coronavirus, testing in the US has been messy and inconsistent — and seems to favor the wealthy.

Part of the reason why American nurses and other civilians have struggled to get tested for coronavirus comes from a nationwide shortage in testing materials.

nurses coronavirus

On the federal level, the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention delayed giving states working tests, resulting in nationwide shortages of the chemicals that are critical for running the tests.

As a result, the US fell behind every other developed nation in the rate of tests performed per capita.

But wealthy people — such as Kris Jenner, NBA players, and Idris Elba — bypassed the CDC backlog by using private labs to facilitate the coronavirus tests. Business Insider's Taylor Rogers reported that wealthy people have hired concierge doctors to collect nasal swabs and blood samples in their homes to send out to private labs for testing.

Without getting tested, nurses and other healthcare providers face the greatest risk in contracting the coronavirus. In China, the virus infected 3,300 healthcare workers. In Italy, The Daily Beast reported that healthcare workers represent about 8% of all cases of coronavirus.

"I've heard all over the US we're not testing, we're not doing as much as we should," the LA nurse said. "I'm pretty realistic," she continued, adding that she probably won't get access to a test, "just like everyone else, except for celebrities."

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↧

CFA exams in June are getting postponed until December at the earliest due to the coronavirus, and refunds won't be issued

March 20, 2020, 11:30 am

≫ Next: Restaurant owners and employees across the country are raising tens of thousands of dollars online for laid-off workers amid the coronavirus shutdowns

≪ Previous: An ER nurse told us she was exposed to the coronavirus and has symptoms but still can't get tested, and it highlights both America's crippling inequality and its broken healthcare system

financial planner adviser meeting 2

The chartered financial analyst (CFA) exams in June will be postponed because of the coronavirus, said the CFA Institute, which administers the exams.
The earliest date for exams would be December 2020, it said.
The institute won't be issuing refunds because it is rescheduling all participants, it said on its website.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Exams to become a chartered financial analyst (CFA) will be postponed from June to a later date because of the coronavirus, said the CFA Institute, which administers the exams.

The earliest date possible for the exams is December 2020, the institute said. The CFA Institute will not be issuing refunds, as it is rescheduling all participants for the June exams to a later date.

People registered to take the exams in June will be notified by May 8 about rescheduled dates.

"December 2020 will be the first available administration date for all three levels of the CFA Exam," the institute said on its website. "Postponed candidates will have the option of at least one additional date to defer to in 2021."

Around 245,000 people were set to take the exam in June, the institute said in a statement.

"We have hundreds of thousands of candidates around the world, and we know how much time they have invested in preparation for the June exams," said Margaret Franklin, CFA, President and CEO of CFA Institute. "We thank our candidates for their patience as we all navigate this unprecedented public health crisis."

The delay was first reported by the Institutional Investor.

A spokesman for the CFA Institute declined to comment specifically regarding case-by-case refunds for people who do not want to wait nine months to take the test, or for people who paid a higher charge because they registered later for the March date, and instead referred to the website, which says refunds will not be issued because exams will be rescheduled.

↧

Restaurant owners and employees across the country are raising tens of thousands of dollars online for laid-off workers amid the coronavirus shutdowns

March 20, 2020, 12:02 pm

≫ Next: 19 photos of real home offices to help you revamp your remote workspace

≪ Previous: CFA exams in June are getting postponed until December at the earliest due to the coronavirus, and refunds won't be issued

california restaurant coronavirus

Restaurant owners and employees are creating GoFundMe pages and other crowdsourced funds to help support workers laid-off during the coronavirus shutdown.
New York City and other cities and states across the nation limited restaurants, bars, and cafes to delivery and takeout only to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Some GoFundMe pages started by employers have raised more than $68,000 to help laid-off workers.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Restaurant workers and owners in New York City and other places around the country are trying to raise money for employees laid off during the coronavirus shutdowns.

New York City reduced all restaurant, bar, and cafe operations to take-out and delivery services only on Tuesday in an effort to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. The curtailment on restaurants and other eateries has been enforced in other cities and states including Florida, California, and Washington.

As foot traffic grinds to a halt in some of the country's most populous areas, restaurant owners and food-service employers are feeling the financial repercussions. In order to keep their businesses afloat, restaurant owners have laid-off thousands of restaurant workers in New York City alone.

That's why employees and employers alike have taken to the internet to start crowdsourced funding for workers laid-off during the coronavirus shutdowns. Dozens of local GoFundMe pages in cities like Austin, Texas, Seattle, Washington, and Atlanta, Georgia — as well as other online sourcing for donations — were launched for laid-off workers to support their families, pay rent, and buy groceries, according to a report by Eater.

Some of the pages such as New York City's Matter House and Grovehouse GoFundMe pages have raised more than $65,000 and $68,000, respectively.

"My heart is broken that we had to close our doors at Estela, Altro Paradiso, and Flora Bar," Matter House wrote on its GoFundMe page. "While we hope and pray this is temporary, these times are incredibly overwhelming, uncertain and stressful for us all, especially our staff."

Smaller funds such as Heisler Hospitality's Employee Fund in Chicago raised more than $10,000. But they're not the only ones. Dozens of other pages trying to raise money for employees plaster the GoFundMe website.

Most of the restaurant's GoFundMe pages end with a message similar to Matter House's, "As we continue to be safe and take care of each other, please consider making a donation to help support our family. Every single dollar counts."

If you want to donate to a local organization raising money near you during the coronavirus outbreak check out GoFundMe.

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↧

19 photos of real home offices to help you revamp your remote workspace

March 20, 2020, 12:33 pm

≫ Next: The pandemic is causing a recession so bad one in 5 American workers could get laid off

≪ Previous: Restaurant owners and employees across the country are raising tens of thousands of dollars online for laid-off workers amid the coronavirus shutdowns

Rachael Young home office

The number of professionals choosing or being told to work from home is rising because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Setting up a functional, appealing workspace can help you maintain your sanity and stay focused on your to-do list during this trying time.
We asked experienced work-from-homers for a peek into their unique office spaces.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

As the panic surrounding the coronavirus outbreak spreads, the number of professionals choosing — or being told — to work from home as a preventive measure is rising. Even before the pandemic struck, remote work had been accelerating in the US, with about 24% of all working Americans doing their jobs remotely at least part of the time, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Whether you've always had a remote job or find yourself suddenly telecommuting in the midst of a pandemic, setting up a functional, appealing workspace can help you maintain your sanity and stay focused on your to-do list. Business Insider connected with seasoned remote workers across many industries who have set up unique and comfortable home office spaces. Here's a look into their set-ups to give you inspiration for creating your own.

1. Amy Bieber in Murrieta, California — Writer

"I love that my space has inspiration everywhere. I have some of my favorite stories framed in my line of sight while I'm working at the computer. I also love that it has so much storage space. I designed it that way to minimize clutter, and yet I still find a way to make it cluttered. Go figure."

2. Amy Bieber's writing nook

"This is my other home office space. The farm doors that open up to my writing area are a unique feature. The whole style matches nicely and I'm quite content working from home in here."

3. Dr. H. Tad Troutman, PhD in Blue Point, NY — Psychologist

"Aside from the flexibility and convenience of working at home, I like the way my office is set up, especially the desk. It's a two-sided desk with two networked computers so it's very easy to have someone working with me."

4. Rachael Young in Ohio — Blogger and interior designer

"I planned on being a stay-at-home mom after leaving my job at Apple in California, but found myself missing design and needing a creative outlet. My home became just that. I recently started a new blog, where I'm using my skills as a designer to upgrade our builder-grade home. My husband helps equally in all of our projects. This cozy area is in our master bedroom, and it's one of the most used areas in our home. This is my office to write in."

5. Jennifer Hamady in Washington, DC — Voice coach/therapist and writer

"I set my space up like this because movement and flow are both so important in my writing and working with clients. As such, everything in the space moves. My chair swivels, so that I can play the piano or guitar, speak with clients, or gain a new perspective when desired. The desk, keyboard and instruments are always shifting as well. That said, my focus is often toward the windows, as keeping my focus outside helps to reinforce that outward shift within myself as well."

6. Joanna Chodorowska in North Wales, PA — Nutrition therapy coach

"My office is a safe place for my clients to share their innermost 'secrets' so they can free themselves of the issue they're struggling with. I created my workspace to be comfortable, rather than a therapy space where I'm behind a desk. Yes, I have a desk, yet I rarely work with clients from there."

7. Natasha Nyanin in New York City — Writer

"I live in a minuscule-sized studio apartment. I love that I was able to carve out a small space dedicated to my craft. There was a lot of intention put into designing this space. I wanted it to be a sort of a fantasy area that serves a practical purpose. And I wanted the area to make me look forward to working, to draw me into the ritual of not only writing, but sitting to think and ideate. I relied heavily on my Etsy addiction for sourcing the main feature, the desk, but also for smaller pieces like the original lithographs from the 70s and my English brass inkwell from the 1890s. For me, I find it to be a classic writing nook with quirky details and thus an homage to my own eclectic nature."

8. Randee Dawn in Brooklyn, NY — Journalist and author

"I find my work space to be special because it's actually the master bedroom, which I commandeered when I saw how giant my desk was. It wouldn't fit in any other room of our house. It's painted in my favorite shades of blue, and I'm surrounded by books and artwork that keep me inspired. I was able to salvage an old mirror and place it atop my dresser, which really opens up the space and lends it a touch of class. The desk itself is motorized. I can adjust it up and down for when I want to use my treadmill — while writing!"

9. Susann Cokal in Virginia — Freelance writer and author

"In my new house, I have a different way of working — sort of spreading my ideas in three dimensions around the space. I can't teach anymore because of health, and my home more and more is like the inside of my brain. (Sounds crazy? I do have a husband, so I'm not totally bonkers, I think.) But, I love my writing office."

10. Emily Mack in Miami Beach, FL — Creative writer and wellness coach

"What I like most about my space is that I can be surrounded by views of nature. When I choose to sit at my table and bar stools, I can put all my relevant materials out and they stimulate my creativity."

11. Brandi Larsen in Lakewood, Ohio — Business owner, writer, speaker, and inclusive creative coach

"One of the best parts is that it's separated enough from the house that I can work in peace, and close enough that I can investigate if I hear something out-of-the-ordinary. I love the home office space we created in our attic. I work here from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. (I'm in it now) and it's cozy and warm and exactly what I need to get lots of work done in a short amount of time. There are some cool elements to the space — old school science tables for desks; the interior of a faux-fireplace; natural light that overlooks a neighbor's bird feeder and flowers."

12. Carol Heffernan Oshkosh in Wisconsin — Writer for a marketing firm

"I've never designed a space exclusively for myself (always have had my husband's and kids' preferences and needs in mind as well), so I love that this office is all me."

13. Dr Barbara Carey-Shaw PhD in Brookhaven, NY — Psychologist

"I like the quiet personal energy my home office offers to each of my patients and it allows me to add my therapeutic touch to the process by sharing my energy. I love how comfortable my patients and their families are in the waiting room and how at times they use it to talk, do homework or just hang on their iPads. I also love how cozy, soothing and safe people say my treatment room is."

14. Megan Lane in Wading River, NY — Freelance writer

"I find it to be more comfortable to sprawl out on my couch and write, as opposed to sitting upright in a chair at a desk — you know, a traditional office space. My 9-year-old daughter's school is currently shut down as a result of the coronavirus. She and I can pull the couch out and rest our feet. We love to snuggle together while I work from home. She cozies up beside me and either watches TV or draws me pictures."

15. Ambika Devi in Treasure Coast, FL — Indie publisher, astrologer, coach, meditation jedi master, and international speaker

"I am a passionate multi-preneur, working from my phone, pad, and computers. When I'm home, my mission control is two giant BenQ monitors with thousands of colors, a Logitech Pro Camera, and if I am recording a Blue Nessie Mic. I love my big desk and oversized chair as I often sit cross-legged. The unique and somewhat eccentric vibes motivate me. My room has a slider so when the light is coming in I use a virtual background for Zoom Meetings."

16. Jonathan Maberry in California — Suspense writer, anthology editor, executive producer and creator of Netflix's Series 'V-Wars'

The pumpkin, macabre toys and bloody hand would provide inspiration for any suspense author. Jonathan has won awards and is proud to be a New York Times' best-selling author.

17. Elizabeth Hinnant in Atlanta, Georgia — Freelance writer

"I am only able to leave the house once every two weeks or so due to chronic illness, so I wanted to set up a place that felt comfortable, creative, and designed just for me. Working from a daybed with a giant pile of pillows lets me write without exhausting myself. My friend and I splattered paint on my wall last year. I'm really fond of how it turned out."

18. Svea Vikander in Guovdageaidnu, Norway — Writer, journalist, craftsman, and MA student

"What I find most special about this home office is the light. The big windows and the snow outside make it feel both cozy and bright, and isn't that what we all want? There's a lot of wildlife up here, and I can see interesting things from my windows when my mind wanders."

19. Alexandra Lucas in Washington state — Freelance writer

"I set my office up in such a way that there is a feminist and pagan vibe to it, with small statues of Hecate and Inanna and feminist posters."

↧

The pandemic is causing a recession so bad one in 5 American workers could get laid off

March 20, 2020, 1:23 pm

≫ Next: 44 books everyone should read in their lifetime

≪ Previous: 19 photos of real home offices to help you revamp your remote workspace

The US unemployment rate could rise as high as 20% in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, according to The Atlantic's Annie Lowrey.
Within the last week, state jobless claims skyrocketed. Connecticut residents, for instance, filed 30,000 jobless claims in mid-March, compared to the weekly average of 3,000.
Goldman Sachs predicted that jobless claims could spike to 2.25 million this week — tripling the record set in 1982.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic could be catastrophic for American workers.

It's conceivable that the unemployment rate, which hit record lows in December 2019, might jump to 20% during the impending economic recession, according to The Atlantic's Annie Lowrey. And Lowrey's forecast isn't an outlier. Goldman Sachs has predicted that jobless claims could spike to 2.25 million this week — tripling the record set in 1982.

US jobless claims were already up for the past week ended March 14, by 70,000 to a total of 281,000. The stock market plunged, recording its biggest drop since 1987 on March 16. Cash-strapped businesses have begun laying off and furloughing workers by the thousands.

As state and local governments across the country order restaurants to halt dine-in service and request citizens to "shelter-in-place," between 5 million to 7 million US restaurant workers could lose their jobs.

The Atlantic cited state jobless filing growth as signals for how bad the impending national unemployment rate might be: Pennsylvania unemployment claims increased by 36,000 from the first week of March to the second week; Connecticut saw a spike of 30,000 jobless claims in mid-March, compared to an average 3,000; and Texas saw a 40% jump in claims from the first week of March to its second.

President Donald Trump, sensing the impending disaster, has reportedly asked states to delay releasing their unemployment numbers.

NOW WATCH: Taylor Swift is the world's highest-paid celebrity. Here's how she makes and spends her $360 million.

↧

44 books everyone should read in their lifetime

March 20, 2020, 1:28 pm

≫ Next: 'The only thing more contagious than a virus is hope': Former top Navy SEAL who oversaw the bin Laden raid says Americans will 'prevail' against coronavirus

≪ Previous: The pandemic is causing a recession so bad one in 5 American workers could get laid off

woman reading summer book

An easy way to become a well-rounded person is to read lots of books across subjects and genres.
Some books may be out of your comfort zone, but you can learn a lot if you stretch yourself.
Must-read books include "To Kill A Mockingbird,""A Brief History of Time,""Americanah," and "How To Win Friends And Influence People."
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Do you aspire to be one of those people who knows at least a little bit about everything? There's an easy way to do it: read everything.

You can stick to the mystery novels, anthologies, or biographies you've grown partial to. But if you really want to become a more well-rounded person, you'll need to force yourself out of your comfort zone at the bookstore or library.

Quarantine is an especially good time to read new books and learn new things.

Here are 40 timeless books on all different topics — politics, science, history, culture, and more — to read in your lifetime that can help you become the well-rounded person you strive to be.

Jacquelyn Smith, Natalie Walters, and Catherine Rice contributed to a previous version of this article.

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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

First published in 1960 and winner of the 1961 Pulitzer Prize, "To Kill a Mockingbird" was an overnight success. In its first week, it sold 1.1 million copies, and in its lifetime it's sold more than 40 million copies and has been translated into more than 40 languages.

In this American classic, lawyer Atticus Finch agrees to defend a black man who was accused of raping a white woman. The fictional story takes place in the town of Maycomb, Alabama, and is told through the perspective of Finch's tomboy daughter, Scout.

This classic novel hits on a few important topics, such as parenting and racism in America.

"1984" by George Orwell

George Orwell wrote this anticommunist novel in 1948 to predict what 1984 would look like in London. His prediction? A totalitarian state where "Big Brother," the government, was always watching you and telling you what to think and believe.

Some of his predictions came true, like cameras being everywhere and our bodies being scanned for weapons.

This book is a must-read because it's a cautionary tale of what happens when the government is given too much control over the people and their lives.

"Walden" by Henry David Thoreau

In "Walden," first published as "Walden; or, Life in the Woods" in 1854, transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau details his experiences of living in a cabin he built near Walden Pond, close to Concord, Massachusetts, for about two years.

By retreating into the woods, Thoreau tried to reach a state of complete self-sufficiency and simple living. His experiment was not only a commentary about civilization and society, but also an experiment in enlightenment through personal introspection.

The classic remains a relevant read for anyone interested in discovery through minimalism.

"One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez's landmark novel was published in 1967. Written in a magical realist style, it's considered one of the greatest Spanish-language literary works.

"One Hundred Years of Solitude" follows the story of seven generations of the Buendía family in a fictional, utopic town in Colombia.

The work's overarching theme is the ever-repeating nature of history and human nature; the characters are regularly visited and controlled by ghosts. It also focuses on the idea of predestined doom and misfortune.

"Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe

Author Chinua Achebe deftly portrays pre-colonial Nigeria in "Things Fall Apart." His protagonist Okonkwo struggles with the legacy of his father as he works to achieve prosperity, and later deals with the loss of his fortune as British colonists enter his home country.

Barack Obama called it "a true classic of world literature" and "a masterpiece that has inspired generations of writers in Nigeria, across Africa, and around the world."

"A Visit from the Goon Squad" by Jennifer Egan

The 2011 work by American author Jennifer Egan follows 13 stories in different places and periods of time. But they all connect to Bennie Salazar, a record company executive, and his assistant, Sasha. Some critics have called it a short story collection because of its innovative story-telling structure.

Themes of self-destructive tendencies and the relentless force of time dominate "A Visit from the Goon Squad."

"1Q84" by Haruki Murakami

Haruki Murakami's 1300-page tome is a sweeping fantasy of 1984 in Tokyo, where two childhood lovers try to converge in a world that appears like their own, but has striking differences. "1Q84," released in 2011, is just one of Murakami's many popular fiction works.

As The New York Times wrote about the famed Japanese author in 2005, "While anyone can tell a story that resembles a dream, it's the rare artist, like this one, who can make us feel that we are dreaming it ourselves."

"The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien

"The Fellowship of the Ring"— the first book in J.R.R. Tolkien 's "Lord of the Rings" series — is another must-read.

This epic adventure novel takes place in Tolkien's made-up world of Middle-earth and follows Frodo Baggins as he sets out to destroy the One Ring before the Dark Lord Sauron gets it and uses it for evil.

"Beloved" by Toni Morrison

Winner of the Nobel Prize in literature, Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and the American Book Award, Toni Morrison is one of the most acclaimed American authors alive today. "Beloved" follows Sethe, a former slave who escaped to Ohio but remains haunted by her past.

"A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn

American historian and political scientist Howard Zinn wrote this book to present his theory that American history can be summed up as the oppression of the majority by the minority.

It was a runner-up for the National Book Award when it was released in 1980, and has since made appearances in various films and TV shows, such as "The Sopranos,""The Simpsons," and "Good Will Hunting."

This book may open your mind to new interpretations of our past while also filling in the gaps in your knowledge of American history.

"Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

This diary of a 13-year-old Jewish girl who went into hiding with her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in the 1940s is important for so many reasons, one being that her story humanizes World War II.

"Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates

"A searing meditation on what it means to be black in America today," Ta-Nehisi Coates' "Between the World and Me" is crucial reading for anyone who wants to understand how racist beliefs have served as the foundation for America's global dominance.

The highly-influential book, which published in 2015, is a well-woven narrative of personal stories, detailed reporting, and historical analysis.

"Guns, Germs and Steel" by Jared Diamond

In "Guns, Germs and Steel," Pulitzer Prize winner Jared Diamond argues that a combination of geographic and environmental factors — rather than intellectual, moral, or genetic superiority of a race— shaped modern civilization.

Diamond, a professor of geography and physiology at the University of California, Los Angeles, argues that societies in which people had access to resources were able to start in food production faster than other societies, allowing them to advance beyond the hunter-gatherer stage. Religion, weapons of war, and conquering other cultures soon followed.

"Game Change" by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin

If you've always wanted to be a fly on the wall during a US presidential campaign, you may want to consider reading this book.

Written by two political reporters about the 2008 elections, "Game Change" wasn't released until 2010.

Clive Crook of The Financial Times called it "one of the best books on politics of any kind I've read."

"Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln" by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Even if you don't agree with all of Abraham Lincoln's views, this book is worth reading.

Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin wrote it to trace Lincoln's rise from a lawyer out on the prairie to beat two more experienced politicians and become one of the most well-known presidents in US history.

According to the book's summary, it focuses on "Lincoln's mastery of men and how it shaped the most significant presidency in the nation's history."

"A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking

Written by the famous theoretical physicist and cosmologist, this book was published in 1988.

In it, Hawking offers a clear explanation of the scientific theories of today — from time travel to general relativity to the creation of the universe.

"A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Bryson uses an upbeat and entertaining style of writing to take you from when there was nothing to where we are now.

Interestingly, the author isn't a scientist. He just decided that he wanted to really understand science — so he did his research and wrote this book to help others like himself.

"The Elements of Style" by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White

Strunk and White's classic writing book, "The Elements of Style," will help anyone transform their communication style.

You probably recognize this book from school, but if you didn't pay attention to it back then, it's worth your time now.

From commonly misspelled words to grammar and punctuation to philosophies on writing style, this book addresses most every question you've had about writing.

"Existentialism from Dostoevsky to to Sartre" edited by Walter Kaufmann

This primer on existentialism excerpts on the topic from renowned existentialist writers including Dostoevsky, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Rilke, Kafka, and Sartre.

The next time you question the meaning of life, you'll want to have this book on hand.

"Man’s Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl

Viktor Frankl spent 1942 to 1945 laboring in Nazi death camps, where his parents, brother, and wife perished.

Following that horrifying, harrowing experience, Frankl's philosophical work questions how to find meaning in suffering. He concludes that we are driven not by pleasure, but by discovering that which is meaningful.

"A Little History of Philosophy" by Nigel Warburton

For those who neglected to take a philosophy course in college (or spent most of it sleeping), Warburton's book provides a valuable refresher.

"A Little History of Philosophy" is a sweeping look at the philosophers whose studies and values shape modern thinking. After reading it, you can plunge further into the thinkers who fascinate you the most.

"Romeo & Juliet" by William Shakespeare

The masterfully written play by Shakespeare revolves around two young lovers whose families are in a violent and passionate feud. It is the ultimate story of forbidden love and is often referenced in popular culture.

"Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

"Americanah" was one of Barack Obama's summer reading picks, and PBS's "The Great American Read" named it one of America's best-loved novels. The book follows two Nigerian lovers as they depart for the West and eventually find their way home and to each other.

Adichie is also the author of "We Should All Be Feminists" which was sampled in Beyonce's song "***Flawless."

"Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

This gripping biography is based on years of in-depth, personal interviews with Steve Jobs — and over a hundred family members, friends, and colleagues.

The book, written by Isaacson at the request of Jobs, explains why the Apple cofounder was so intimidating and alluring, and how he helped build Apple and Pixar into the enormous brands that they are today.

"Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution" by Steven Levy

If you want to understand how we went from using the post office and library to email and Wikipedia, read this book.

"You Are Not So Smart" by David McRaney

The title may sound harsh, but McRaney is making a point: Every "rational" decision you make in your life is based on an underlying bias.

This book shows how the tenets of psychology affect you every day, even though you don't consciously realize it. And no matter what you do, you can't resist.

"The Art of War" by Sun Tzu

"The Art of War" may come from the fifth century BC, but it remains relevant today.

The book was originally written by military strategist Sun Tzu to help explain how to win in warfare. But over the years, people have found that the tactics described in the book, such as "know yourself" and "know your enemy" can help people succeed in the day-to-day struggles of life.

The book contains 13 chapters — one for each aspect of war — and has been used by sports coaches, legal teams, and businesses for its valuable advice.

"Hyperbole and a Half" by Allie Brosh

Allie Brosh started out by posting illustrated, humorous stories about everyday events in her past and present life on a blog.

It became so popular that she wrote and illustrated this book, with 18 episodes on everything from depression to how she stole cake as a child.

Billionaire Bill Gates called it "funny and smart as hell," and many people say that her depiction of depression is the most accurate one they've ever read.

"How to Win Friends & Influence People" by Dale Carnegie

There are a number of lessons you can learn from Carnegie's classic, "How to Win Friends and Influence People," and they will help you in your personal and professional lives.

From it, you'll learn how to make people like you, win people over to your side, and lead them.

"Good to Great" by Jim Collins

This classic business book uses research from 28 US companies over five years to explain why some make the leap from good to great, while others fail.

If you want to know what you can do to have the greatest impact on your company's success, this is the book for you.

"The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy" by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko

"The Millionaire Next Door" is based on a 20-year study on how people worth $1 million to $10 million reached financial security — and how they maintain it.

The book focuses on seven common traits among these individuals, such as living below their means and having parents that didn't help them out.

Getting an inside look on their views and beliefs, as well as their daily spending habits, may be able to help you get your finances on track.

"The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman is one of many Wall Street power players who cite "The Intelligent Investor" as essential reading for investors at all level.

It was first published by Warren Buffett's mentor, Graham, in 1949 as a thorough introduction to investing for amateurs.

His "value investing" philosophy teaches people to make wise decisions with their money that can give them substantial returns in the long run.

"Mastering the Art of French Cooking" by Julia Child

Perhaps the most famous cookbook of all time, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" includes 524 recipes, along with instructions and techniques.

This 684-page classic, which was first published 45 years ago, is for both seasoned chefs and beginners.

"Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

The food writer Michael Pollan has brought a revived awareness of the importance of eating healthy and implementing environmentally and morally sound agriculture and farming policies in the US.

In "Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals," Pollan outlines the heritage and history of different cuisines, discusses the prevalence of corn in many processed foods, and in doing so stresses the importance of sustainable, locally sourced food.

If nothing else, this book will open your eyes to the reality of industrialized food production in the US and why awareness and knowledge of where food comes from is an important part of our interaction with it.

"Gender Trouble" by Judith Butler

"Gender Trouble" is among the top influential books in the field of gender studies, arguably one of the most popular, read both in colleges and universities as well as recreationally.

In"Gender Trouble," Butler explains her theory on the performative nature of gender, her criticism of traditional French feminist theory, and how culture and society affect sex and sexuality.

Its interdisciplinary nature makes it essential reading for many areas of study, including media studies, gender studies, and women's studies.

"A Village Life" by Louise Glück

"A Village Life" is Louise Glück's eleventh collection of poems. In it, she describes a village of no specific place or time. Glück is known as a "lyrical and dramatic poet," and her prose has been compared to that found in novels rather than poetry by other authors.

She touches on themes including mother-daughter relationships, gossip, the innocence of children, and adultery.

"Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City" by Matthew Desmond

This book, the winner of the Pulitzer Prize in non-fiction for 2017, is a work of investigative journalism into the poorest neighborhoods of Milwaukee, where Desmond tells the stories of eight families living on the edge.

Even though evictions used to be rare, they are becoming more frequent as the price of housing increases. Many renters are spending more than half of their income on housing — forcing them into squalid living conditions or neighborhoods beset by crime or poor educational opportunities.

Jacquelyn Smith, Natalie Walters, and Catherine Rice contributed to a previous version of this article.

"Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly" by Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain began his path to international fame after publishing an essay in a 1999 issue of The New Yorker about his life as a chef in New York City. The essay evolved into the critically acclaimed and bestselling book "Kitchen Confidential" the next year.

After his death in 2018, people around the world shared stories about how he influenced their love of food and travel.

"Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead" by Brené Brown

Brené Brown is a researcher and world-reknowned expert in emotions such as vulnerability, shame, and empathy. In "Daring Greatly," she writes about how the courage to be vulnerable can be transformative.

"I define vulnerability as uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure," Brown writes. "With that definition in mind, let's think about love. Waking up every day and loving someone who may or may not love us back, whose safety we can't ensure, who may stay in our lives or may leave without a moment's notice, who may be loyal to the day they die or betray us tomorrow — that's vulnerability."

"Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury

" Fahrenheit 451" is set in a dystopian future where literature (and all original thought) is on the brink of extinction. Guy Montag is a fireman whose job is to burn printed books — as well as the houses where they're hidden.

But when his wife commits suicide and a young neighbor who introduced him to reading disappears, Guy begins hoarding books in his own home.

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams

In the first book of the series, Arthur Dent is warned by his friend Ford Prefect — a secret researcher for the interstellar travel guide "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"— that Earth is about to be demolished.

The pair escapes on an alien spaceship and the book follows their bizarre adventures around the universe along with quotes from "The Hitchhiker's Guide" like: "A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have."

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen boasts one of the most famous first lines in literature: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." The beloved book is a classic tale of wit, romance, judgment, heartbreak, and eventually, love.

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling

If you haven't read "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," or the following six books in the series, you should run to the bookstore immediately.

This beloved tale follows a young boy who finds out that he's a wizard on his 11th birthday and is whisked off to a wizarding school called Hogwarts to begin his training.

These books were so universally loved and praised that they spawned a multibillion-dollar film franchise, a theme park in Orlando, Florida, and a spin-off series based on a Rowling book, "Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them," which will be released later this year.

"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert M. Pirsig

This book, which makes philosophy relatable and easy to understand, follows a father and his young son as they take an adventure-filled motorcycle trip across northwestern America.

It's filled with timeless advice on how to live a better and more fulfilling life.

↧

'The only thing more contagious than a virus is hope': Former top Navy SEAL who oversaw the bin Laden raid says Americans will 'prevail' against coronavirus

March 20, 2020, 2:12 pm

≫ Next: Goldman Sachs CEO gets 19% raise, bumping his pay to $27.5 million (GS)

≪ Previous: 44 books everyone should read in their lifetime

Admiral McRaven SEAL

In an opinion column published in The Washington Post, retired US Navy Adm. William McRaven compared his training experience to the ongoing efforts to combat the outbreak.
"Hell Week is the worst week of the toughest military training in the world," McRaven said. "It is six days of no sleep, constant physical and mental harassment, and one 'special day' at the Mud Flats."
McRaven recalled that "one voice began to echo through the night"— one of the candidates began singing, albeit "terribly out of tune but sung with great enthusiasm."
"The only thing more contagious than a virus is hope," he wrote.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The retired US Navy Adm. William McRaven, a Navy SEAL who oversaw the raid that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in 2011, offered a message off hope to Americans as the US grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.

McRaven, who served 36 years in the Navy before retiring in 2014, shared his experience during "Hell Week"— an intense period in the Navy's 24-week-long Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) course — in a column published in The Washington Post.

"Hell Week is the worst week of the toughest military training in the world," McRaven said. "It is six days of no sleep, constant physical and mental harassment, and one 'special day' at the Mud Flats."

The Mud Flats is a stretch of terrain between Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego, California, where SEAL candidates are instructed to traverse and endure the mud, even throughout the night.

"The mud consumed each man until there was nothing visible but our heads," McRaven wrote. "We were all exhausted, numb from the cold and desperate to hold on. The instructors told us that we could all leave the mud — if just five men quit. It was the instructors' way of turning us against each other."

McRaven recalled that "one voice began to echo through the night." One of the candidates began singing, albeit "terribly out of tune but sung with great enthusiasm."

"One voice became two, and two became three, and before long the entire class was singing," McRaven said in the column.

Navy SEAL Buds training

The SEAL instructors threatened that the candidates would continue to suffer in the mud if they continued, but nevertheless, "the singing persisted."

"Those of us stuck in the mud believed that if one of us could start singing when he was up to his neck in mud, then maybe the rest of us could make it through the night," McRaven said. "And we did."

McRaven compared the experience to the ongoing efforts to combat the coronavirus outbreak in the US. States have widely declared a public emergency and initiated complete lockdowns. At least 213 people died from the coronavirus as of Friday afternoon. Over 16,000 patients have also been reported in all 50 states US territories.

"Today, the coronavirus has thrown us all in the mud," McRaven wrote. "We are cold, wet and miserable, and the dawn seems a long way off. But while we should not be cavalier about the dangers of this pandemic, neither should we feel hopeless and paralyzed with fear."

McRaven said that despite the tribulations, "hope abounds," due to the US having "the greatest scientists in the world" and "an unmatched ability to mobilize when called to action."

"More importantly, as we always have in times of crisis, Americans are rallying together, caring for one another, showing the compassion and concern that have always characterized this nation of good people," McRaven wrote.

McRaven theorized that "the number of cases will rise" and "the markets will stumble," however, he believed "we will prevail, because the only thing more contagious than a virus is hope."

"We are all up to our necks in mud," McRaven wrote. "It's time to start singing."

McRaven's optimistic column is a departure from his others that were published in the New York Times and Washington Post in recent years. The former commander and book author has become one of the most influential and effective critics of President Donald Trump via several columns and criticizing him in interviews. It is already very unusual for retired military leaders to speak against a sitting president, and McRaven's comments have attracted significant attention due to his seniority, his accomplishments and his strident tone.

McRaven spearheaded Operation Neptune Spear, targeting al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, in Pakistan. He retired from the Navy in 2014 and became the chancellor of the University of Texas system in 2015. Two years later, he said he would leave that job, citing health concerns.

He has written several bestselling books about leadership, including "Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life ... And Maybe the World" and "Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations."

DON'T MISS: Goldman Sachs just announced its first partnership for transaction banking as it looks to build a new $1 billion business moving money around the world

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Goldman Sachs CEO gets 19% raise, bumping his pay to $27.5 million (GS)

March 20, 2020, 2:23 pm

≫ Next: 25 US states at risk of losing the most jobs because of the coronavirus

≪ Previous: 'The only thing more contagious than a virus is hope': Former top Navy SEAL who oversaw the bin Laden raid says Americans will 'prevail' against coronavirus

David Solomon

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon received a 19% raise for his work in 2019, according to a company filing on Friday.
The raise bumps his pay to $27.5 million from $23 million the year prior.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon received a 19% raise for his work in 2019, a filing issued on Friday shows.

The increase bumps his pay to $27.5 million for 2019, up from $23 million for his work in 2018.

Solomon's 2019 compensation includes a $1.9 million base salary, a $7.7 billion cash bonus, and a $17.8 million stock bonus, according to the filing.

Goldman Sachs said in the filing that Solomon "successfully executed on his priorities in his first full year as Chairman and CEO," and "demonstrated a strong commitment to improved transparency," among other "performance achievements."

Solomon became CEO of Goldman Sachs in 2018, replacing Lloyd Blankfein.

A spokesperson for Goldman Sachs was not immediately available for comment.

NOW READ: 'We went to every bank in Tulsa, and they all laughed at us and told us no': The story of how 2 friends raised funding on their own to launch a vodka bar that would go on to make millions

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25 US states at risk of losing the most jobs because of the coronavirus

March 21, 2020, 4:45 am

≫ Next: A former police officer turned a side hustle cleaning up crime scenes into a multimillion-dollar franchise — and now she's taking on cleaning up the coronavirus pandemic

≪ Previous: Goldman Sachs CEO gets 19% raise, bumping his pay to $27.5 million (GS)

Las Vegas Nevada

As businesses close and lay off workers in response to the the novel coronavirus outbreak, economists predict many Americans could lose their jobs by this summer.
The Economic Policy Institute used employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and forecasting data from Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank to estimate the number of job loss in every state by summer 2020.
Nevada is projected to have the highest share of job loss in the private sector by this summer, owing to its large dependence on the tourism and hospitality industries.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A recession seems to be on the horizon as more and more businesses have to lay off workers and close their doors temporarily due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Goldman Sachs predicted a record number of 2.25 million claims for unemployment next week.

Some US states could be prone to being hit harder by the economic chaos than others.

The Economic Policy Institute recently shared their analysis of predicted job losses in every state by this summer. They used state employment data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and forecasts from two Wall Street banks. EPI reported that Goldman Sachs forecasts 3 million jobs lost by June, and Deutsche Bank projects 7.5 million jobs lost by this summer.

EPI used the midpoint of the two investment bank projections, 5.25 million, to forecast the number and share of job losses in the private sector in each state. Their analysis also factored in the share of employment in each state in the leisure, retail, and hospitality industries, as they predict these sectors will be hit the hardest in the upcoming months.

While some states are projected to fare better than others, EPI estimates that every state and Washington, DC will see at least some job loss as a result of the epidemic and the drastic responses to contain the new virus.

Nevada has the largest projected job loss at a 5.3% decline in private sector employment. The Economic Policy Institute wrote in their post that Nevada's losses might be so high because it has one of the highest shares of workers in the leisure, retail, and hospitality industries. Two out of every five jobs in the state are in one of these industries, according to their analysis.

The following are the 25 states that are projected to have the highest share of job losses in the US by this summer, based on EPI's estimates factoring in each state's share of national total private employment and the share of jobs in the leisure, hospitality, and retail sectors in the state. We also included the estimated number of job losses and the share of employment in the leisure, retail, and hospitality industries.

25. Tennessee is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.12%, with an estimate of 110,670 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 25.5%

24. Washington is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.13%, with an estimate of 119,145 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 25.6%

23. Oregon is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.15%, with an estimate of 68,104 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 25.8%

22. Oklahoma is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.16%, with an estimate of 56,213 job lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 26.0%

20 (tie). Arizona is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.17%, with an estimate of 104,914 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 26.1%

20 (tie). Alabama is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.17%, with an estimate of 70,159 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 26.1%

19. Delaware is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.19%, with an estimate of 16,727 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 26.4%

17 (tie). North Carolina is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.20%, with an estimate of 161,363 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 26.5%

17 (tie). Colorado is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.20%, with an estimate of 97,912 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 26.5%

16. Idaho is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.24%, with an estimate of 26,819 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 27.0%

14 (tie). South Dakota is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.27%, with an estimate of 15,402 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 27.3%

14 (tie). West Virginia is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.27%, with an estimate of 24,255 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 27.3%

13. Louisiana is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.31%, with an estimate of 71,452 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 27.8%

11 (tie). Maine is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.33%, with an estimate of 23,114 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 28.0%

11 (tie). New Hampshire is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.33%, with an estimate of 25,726 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 28.1%

10. New Mexico is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.34%, with an estimate of 29,016 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 28.2%

9. Vermont is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.37%, with an estimate of 11,334 job lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 28.5%

7 (tie). Alaska is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.39%, with an estimate of 10,946 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 28.7%

7 (tie). South Carolina is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.39%, with an estimate of 79,802 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 28.8%

6. Wyoming is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.46%, with an estimate of 9,850 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 29.7%

5. Mississippi is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.47%, with an estimate of 40,929 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 29.7%

4. Florida is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.51%, with an estimate of 352,753 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 30.2%

3. Montana is projected to have private sector employment decline by 4.64%, with an estimate of 18,230 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 31.8%

2. Hawaii is projected to have private sector employment decline by 5.09%, with an estimate of 26,926 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 37.3%

1. Nevada is projected to have private sector employment decline by 5.32%, with an estimate of 66,656 jobs lost.

Share of state employment in the leisure, hospitality, and retail industries: 40.2%

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A former police officer turned a side hustle cleaning up crime scenes into a multimillion-dollar franchise — and now she's taking on cleaning up the coronavirus pandemic

March 21, 2020, 6:00 am

≫ Next: Real-estate services giant JLL explains how the coronavirus could usher in a permanent 'paradigm shift' towards more remote work

≪ Previous: 25 US states at risk of losing the most jobs because of the coronavirus

Laura Spaulding alongside her team of clean-up technicians for Spaulding Decon.

Laura Spaulding makes things go away for a living: cleaning up crime scenes, hoarding disasters, and meth labs alike and sharing it all on a YouTube series.
It started when Spaulding cleaned up after two brothers shot and killed one another while she was serving as a Kansas City police officer — she later turned it into her full-time job.
When she scaled her business, Spaulding Decon, she brought on two stay-at-home moms at first — she now has 24 franchises and estimated her company is worth $10 million.
Spaulding said she's written $30 million in job estimates for coronavirus-related work, including fogging and disinfecting frequented spaces like daycares and sporting arenas.
Click here for more BI Prime stories.

When a woman jumped off a 22-story luxury high-rise condominium, Laura Spaulding got a call.

When a doctor distraught over his impending divorce put a shotgun to his head and pulled the trigger, Spaulding got a call, too.

When the ammonia concentration from cat urine permeated the neighborhood and all signs pointed to the house with 24 cats, Spaulding also got a call.

And when that meth lab down the street gets busted by the cops, Spaulding will most likely get a call as well.

It's become commonplace for Spaulding's phone to ring off the hook with panicked calls from hotel and property managers who all conveniently have her on speed dial. They reach out to her when they are faced with the types of situations that need to go away quickly — because Spaulding makes things disappear for a living.

What began as a one-woman crime-scene side hustle 15 years ago has since grown into the multimillion-dollar, nationwide outfit known as Spaulding Decon, one of only four companies in America specializing in expert biohazard, crime scene, mold remediation, extreme hoarding, and meth lab clean-up services.

The first clean-up

Spaulding's life as a trauma cleaner began in 2005 when her phone rang on Christmas Day. Two brothers had shot and killed one another and their mother was on the other end of the line in dire need of a clean-up in her kitchen. Spaulding, working as a Kansas City police officer in the vice and narcotics department at the time, couldn't afford to hire outside help, so she got into her decade-old Ford Bronco with a trailer hitched to it and did the job on her own. It took two full days and required a bit of construction, as the blood had managed to seep through the door frame.

"The family watched the entire clean-up, which at the time I thought was odd. Years later, I Iearned everyone has a different way of processing grief. Seeing the blood washed away was their way of moving on," said Spaulding. "When I was done, I never felt more accomplished and satisfied, having been able to erase the visual nightmare of what had happened inside those walls. I thrive on bringing order to chaos. To this day, I get a rush from the before and after," she admitted.

Deceased and decomposed for unknown period of time. Male melted through the floor into the basement below. We had to remove the carpet, tile, subfloor and insulation. Then we had to treat the basement floor and ceiling below. #spauldingdeconphiladelphia #crimescenecleanup #decomposed #deadbody #death
A post shared by Spaulding Decon (@crimescenecleaning) on Jan 7, 2019 at 11:36am PST on Jan 7, 2019 at 11:36am PST

Doing jobs without any assistance was a struggle, but Spaulding made do, like the time she attached makeshift PVC handrails to a furniture dolly MacGyver-style to help remove a king-size hotel mattress someone had died on. "I'm only 5'5", so navigating this giant mattress on wheels made me look like a monkey screwing a football," she explained.

At the time, Spaulding owned a home in Missouri and was living on a $40,000-a-year police officer's salary.

"I hated my living situation, I hated my job, and I hated being poor, and I saw an opportunity, so I tried to get a small business loan," she said. "I was turned down by every single bank I walked into, but I wasn't going to take no for an answer." Out of sheer desperation and necessity, she got creative and looked into home equity loans. Then, she went to another bank and told them she needed a $15,000 loan for new windows for her house.

"They rubber-stamped it and gave me the money! A few days and $2,500 later, I was in Texas for a week-long biohazard training," she shared.

A one-woman side business brings on new team members and offerings

Laura Spaulding in 2007 onsite at one of her first meth lab jobs By early 2007, Spaulding had relocated to Florida and taken a job selling medical equipment to gain some hands-on sales experience. She was still cleaning crime scenes, but now she was in a position to hire part-time clean-up technicians, so she posted a classified on Craigslist.

"I was very candid about the type of work it was. I came right out and said the prerequisites were handling suicides, homicides, dead animals, and decomposition-based clean-up, and I still wound up with 60 resumes that day," she said, noting that she took the post down after 12 hours due to the flood of applicants.

While former military and law enforcement personnel like Spaulding typically make good technicians because they've seen it all before, her first two hires wound up being stay-at-home-moms.

"They didn't really need the money, they were just looking to get out of the house every now and then, so they didn't mind the sporadic schedule. That's the kind of people I needed at that point. They said after changing diapers for years they were ready for anything. I know if I could get them to overcome the death part of [it] all, they would work well and they did," she explained.

In 2008, Spaulding turned in her resignation at her medical equipment job to focus on crime-scene cleaning full time. She eventually added meth lab clean-up to her list of services. Soon after, she added extreme hoarding and mold remediation to her business model, and in 2016 she began buying unwanted homes to gut, renovate, and flip for profit.

No longer a side gig but a franchise

Laura Spaulding, trauma queen, onsite at a job

Spaulding's willingness to take on a variety of different work has made her a one-stop shop and opened up a host of revenue streams for her and her business. With one suicide every 12 minutes and a murder every 31 minutes in the United States, there's a critical need for services like those of Spaulding Decon.

"Every day someone, somewhere is faced with a suicide or homicide or dealing with a relative that hoards and they don't know what to do. Everyone who's ever watched CSI assumes the forensics team comes in for evidence and cleans everything up, but in reality the aftermath is left to the homeowner to deal with, and that's where we come in. Most people don't know we exist, until they need us," said Spaulding.

As the need for services arose in other parts of the country, Spaulding saw the opportunity to franchise. With 24 small business-approved franchises operating at a buy-in of $150,000 each, plus royalties, Spaulding estimated her business is worth $10 million.

There seems to be no sign of it slowing down any time soon, either. In fact, just over the past few weeks she said she's written $30 million in job estimates for coronavirus-related work for everyone from daycare centers to call centers to sporting arenas, and has already been contracted to do work with the Philadelphia courthouse along with a host of manufacturing sites, office buildings, banks, and insurance companies. This work entails fogging the designated space with disinfectant and then going behind and hand wiping every surface.

"Unlike a lot of businesses, we've proven to be relatively recession proof. Trauma, hoarding, and waste removal are not contingent on the economy, so there's job security here," she said.

Becoming an online sensation

Clean-up technician Kyle Kunz and Laura Spaulding tackle a hoarding job In an effort to enlighten people about her work and also entertain, Spaulding took a gamble in 2019 when she hired a videographer to follow her crew onto jobs, using the content to develop a YouTube series. It worked and people were hooked, begging to hear the stories behind the images of blood-soaked mattresses, roach-infested lodgings, and heaping mounds of trash.

Within a year, with the aid of a digital marketing consultant, the series has grown from 14,000 to 214,000 subscribers and their Instagram account has skyrocketed to 367,000 followers.

Before and after the Pringle’s job. For the video go to our YouTube. Link in bio. #hoarders #hoarding
A post shared by Spaulding Decon (@crimescenecleaning) on Jan 9, 2020 at 10:18am PST on Jan 9, 2020 at 10:18am PST

"There was a chance this could have blown up in my face and brought out the haters, but instead we built this community of people learning about what we do and who we are," said Spaulding.

One glance at Spaulding's accomplishments along with her meteoric rise on social media to "Trauma Queen" standing and some might deem her an overnight success. She'll be the first to tell you that's the farthest thing from the truth.

Underestimating the time it can take to get a job done and miscalculating costs on renovations, along with partnering with the wrong people for her brand are just a few of her self-admitted errors over the course of her career.

"I've made every mistake in the book since opening this business, but I own them all," she shared. "It's been a gigantic learning curve and the takeaway is that people who fail either don't put enough attention or grit into their work. You've got to have a sink or swim mentality. We've all heard the saying about having a Plan B, but I say if you have a Plan B, you aren't putting 100% into your Plan A. The key to this job, like many others, is empathy. You either have it or you don't. When we suit up and get to work on a job, we aren't just transforming a physical space, we are transforming lives."