According to Bloomberg, Facebook Inc. is heading toward its worst month since May 2013 after an analyst report warned of a temporary pullback in advertising and the FTC confirmed it’s investigating the social network’s privacy practices. Questions: How much market value for Facebook stock has been erased in the last 10 days? What is the… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Ethical Dilemma
Rise up and REBEL!
According to the New York Times, after many employee complaints, United Airlines said it was “pressing the pause button” on a plan to replace its modest monthly bonuses with a lottery system that would have offered large rewards to a few workers at random. Questions: Why were the employees furious and what did they do… Read more »
Hidden Blacklist
According to Politico, the new tax law includes a little-noticed blacklist barring people working in certain fields, and earning more than $157,500, from claiming a new 20 percent deduction for unincorporated businesses called pass-throughs. Questions: Why did the Congressmen decide that pass-throughs should be limited? Who ultimately gets to make the decision? According to Acting IRS… Read more »
Massive Fraud Femme Fitale
According to Masunaga and Peterson, four years ago, the Silicon Valley firm Theranos Inc. was valued at $9 billion and its founder and Chief Executive Elizabeth Holmes was hailed as a potentially revolutionary force in the blood-testing industry. Today, she is deemed a fraudster. Questions: Theranos’ proprietary analyzer could only perform __________ of the… Read more »
Branson
In a ballroom of a mountain lodge, diversity coach Miguel Joey Aviles, asked whether anyone knew how to merengue. Only two replied: Yes. These were Branson Missouri managers, who said they’re desperate for employees and are paying $50 each for the workshop. They came from hotels, hospitals, hardware stores and banks. The goal of “Hispanics… Read more »
Johnson & Johnson
According to Douglas House, a new analysis has been released that shows patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) that are treated with Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) unit Janssen Pharmaceuticals’ INVOKANA (canagliflozin) experienced significantly less risk of cardiovascular (CV) death or hospitalization for heart failure (HHF). Questions: Based on the data, what is the reduction of… Read more »
It’s just for my stockholders
Martin Shkreli, a former pharmaceutical executive notorious for increasing the price of Daraprim by 5,000 percent, along with mounting sneering defenses of his actions and even issuing a bounty for one of Hillary Clinton’s hairs, was sentenced to seven years in prison for fraud. Questions: What had prosecutors sought for a sentence? What had… Read more »
The Amazon Effect
According to the New York Times, to create a Super Bowl snack, their authors bought the same ingredients at a new Whole Foods 365 store and a Walmart. The prices were different and so were the outcomes. Questions: 1. What did the authors want to cook? 2. What was the price difference? 3. Which cooked… Read more »
What was your past salary?
According to the New York Times, laws prohibiting employers from asking job candidates about their past compensation before making a salary offer are gaining momentum, aimed at reducing pay disparities and other obstacles confronting women and minorities. Questions: 1. What does the article say about the way some researchers see it? 2. What does some… Read more »
No cash allowed
In Sweden, “No cash accepted” signs are becoming an increasingly common sight in shops and eateries across the country as payments go digital and mobile. Questions: 1. Why is going cashless bad for tax cheats? 2. Why are authorities in Sweden worried about the cashless society? 3. What percent of Swedes never use cash? 4…. Read more »