Prepaid Card Scrutiny – No more “under the radar”?

Posted by & filed under Accounting Information Systems, Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Ethical Dilemma, Financial Accounting, Financial Statement Analysis, Intermediate Accounting, Managerial Accounting.

When prepaid cards started out, they were basically simple gift cards from retail stores. Since that time they have become popular financial-management tools, rivaling bank checking accounts. Because of this, regulators have plans this fall to bring the sector under greater scrutiny. Questions: 1. How much is expected to be loaded on prepaid cards this… Read more »

Solidarity Forever!

Posted by & filed under Accounting Information Systems, Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Ethical Dilemma, Financial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Uncategorized.

Reversing a landmark ruling from the George W. Bush era, the National Labor Relations Board ruled today that graduate students who work as teaching and research assistants at private universities have the right to form labor unions. Questions: 1. Where did the original case take place? 2. What universities are excluded from the ruling and… Read more »

Here’s the money. Do you want it?

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According to this article, Ireland doesn’t want Apple’s billions. Instead, the Irish government is appealing Europe’s tax ruling, a move that is exposing a rift in a country still feeling the aftershocks from years of harsh cutbacks. Questions: 1. What is your opinion of the politically motivated defense? 2. Would you consider Ireland to be… Read more »

You Got Caught! Unauthorized!

Posted by & filed under Accounting Information Systems, Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Ethical Dilemma, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Fraud Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Video Updates.

According to The Guardian, Wells Fargo will pay $185m in a settlement over illegal sales practices that included the opening of unauthorized duplicate accounts and credit cards by employees in order to meet sales quotas. Questions: 1. What does the settlement include? 2. Over what period did this take place? 3. Which agency took action… Read more »

Ramen Noodles are the new Prison Currency!

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At some state prisons, budget cuts have led to a reduction in the caliber and total number of meals that prisoners receive, which means that the practical value of ramen noodles have skyrocketed in their value as contra ban. Questions: 1. According to the article, why don’t prisoners stock up on Ramen, since it commands… Read more »

Apple and Taxing Issues!

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This week, the European Union (E.U.) ordered Ireland to collect $14.5 billion in unpaid taxes from Apple. According to Margrethe Vestager, the European Union’s commissioner for competition, Apple’s illegal deals with the Irish government allowed the company to funnel profit from two Irish subsidiaries to a “head office” with “no employees, no premises, no real… Read more »

Scamming taxpayers with an Act that prevents actions against misconduct?

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According to Business Insider, the Commerce Department’s Inspector General concluded that thousands of employees in the federal Patent and Trademark Office scammed taxpayers out of at least $18.3 million, probably a lot more, by falsely claiming nearly 289,000 hours of work they never put in. Questions: 1. What Act restricts federal officials from comparing multiple… Read more »

End of an Era

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A slice of Americana is about to “leave the stage.” For those of you who are too young to remember, Howard Johnson is not an old movie star. It was a bustling restaurant chain across the U.S. Sadly, the last of two remaining Howard Johnson restaurants will close on Sep. 6, making it the end… Read more »

CostCo Woes: Maybe or Maybe not?

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Costco started to transition from American Express to Visa as its exclusive credit card partner in June. As a result, delays and confusion have only gotten worse nearly two months later! Questions: 1. What were some of the biggest problems they faced? 2. Who is the issue of the new Costco Anywhere Visa and what… Read more »

Amazon and the 30 hour work week

Posted by & filed under Accounting Information Systems, Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Ethical Dilemma, Financial Accounting, Financial Statement Analysis, Intermediate Accounting, Managerial Accounting.

According to the Washington Post, the U.S. online retailer, Amazon, will try out teams that log 30-hour work weeks. But here is the catch: employees will receive the same benefits as those putting in 40-hour weeks, but get three-quarters of the pay. Questions: 1. Will this change be company-wide? 2. Last year the New York… Read more »