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The Federal Trade Commission is proposing a new rule that would eliminate the use of non-compete agreements in most employment contracts. The agency contends that such agreements drive down the incomes of all workers and not just those who have agreed to such clauses as terms of employment. Research shows that women and people of…

A regional director of the National Labor Relations Board’s office in Tampa, FL, said that Starbucks managers at a store in Estero engaged in unlawful threats and retaliation against workers in the lead-up to a union election at the store. The actions were so egregious, according to the NLRB, that the agency may require Starbucks…

Amazon.com is allowing its lease on an office tower near its headquarters in downtown Seattle to expire in April. It marks only the second time that the company has allowed that to happen. Amazon has recently announced 18,000 job cuts, including 1,852 people in Seattle and another 448 in Bellevue, WA.

The yield of citrus fruits coming from farms in Florida has been dramatically reduced as a result of two hurricanes, citrus disease and an unexpected freeze. Less than half of last year’s crop, which itself was a poor year, is expected to be picked this year. That has led to a substantial increase in prices.

Amazon.com has informed customers that it will end its AmazonSmile charity program through which the company donates a percentage of sales on eligible products to organizations selected by customers. “After almost a decade, the program has not grown to create the impact that we had originally hoped,” the company said in a statement. “With so…

Retail sales fell 1.1 in December and one percent in November, but online sales were up, according to a variety of sources. Jim Monkmeyer, president of transportation for DHL Supply Chain, North America, said, “E-commerce is continuing to boom.” Mr. Monkmeyer pointed to food and high-end consumer products and spirits among fast-growing categories online.

The average shrink rate as a percentage of retail sales was 1.4 percent in 2021, down from 1.6 percent in 2020, based on National Retail Federation figures. Retailers have pointed to a rise in organized retail crime as a prime driver of shrinkage in the U.S.

Guitar Center, which began moving its data to the cloud in March, is going all-in as it seeks to support its in-store and online operations. The musical instrument chain plans to roll out mobile devices to its 13,000 store associates this year.

Apple will introduce new devices with functionality for the smart home market, such as a new, faster TV set-top box, smart displays and standalone devices. The tech giant recently relaunched its larger HomePod speaker.

Many bar owners and operators already dealing with challenges from the economy and the normal letdown that follows the holiday season are having to contend with patrons who are refraining from drinking alcoholic beverages as a result of Dry January.