Latest news with #NealTaparia
Newsweek
01-08-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Map Shows States With Best Work-Life Balance
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The industry you work in and your employer can make a huge difference when it comes to work-life balance. However, a new report from Solitaire Bliss indicates that the state you live in could also play a part. The report analyzed the average time spent on a variety of leisure activities reported in the U.S. Census Bureau's latest American Time Use Survey and found that Missouri, Louisiana, and Connecticut were the three best states for work-life balance. Why It Matters In the years following the coronavirus pandemic, conversations around work-life balance have reignited, with remote work and flexibility becoming key offerings for employers to attract top talent. While some employers feel it's vital to reduce turnover and attract top talent, others are more restrictive, preferring maximum time in the office. What To Know Missouri, Louisiana, Connecticut, Indiana and Massachusetts all ranked in the top five for states with the best work-life balance, with a leisure-to-work ratio of 1.3 or more. Closely following in the top 10 were Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Illinois. Meanwhile, Utah, Kansas, and Iowa are the three worst states for work-life balance. "You'd expect Utah to be near the top given its strong outdoor lifestyle and recreational appeal," Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. "To see it ranked as the worst state is a bit of an anomaly. That said, Utah's cost of living is higher than the national average, which could be a contributing factor." Other trends emerged in the data, according to Solitaire Bliss. "Some states ranked higher in work-life balance due to outside factors such as shorter commute times, job flexibility, and access to leisure-friendly environments such as nature," Solitaire Bliss CEO Neal Taparia told Newsweek. "This is especially seen with states such as California, where people spend the most time playing sports and in spiritual activities." While California and Pennsylvania residents spent the most leisure time on religious and spiritual activities, people in Nebraska and Missouri spent the most leisure time socializing and relaxing. California and Oklahoma residents were heavy on sports and exercise, while Iowa and Michigan saw high rates of leisure time spent traveling. File photo of a child painting while his mother works in the background. File photo of a child painting while his mother works in the People Are Saying Solitaire Bliss CEO Neal Taparia told Newsweek: "The findings suggest that an even balance of work-life activities is closely tied to overall well-being, mental health, and productivity. States that support more leisure time often have healthier, more satisfied residents, and the residents are far less likely to experience burnout." Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "It may surprise some to see Missouri, Louisiana and Indiana beating out states more renowned for their outdoor-heavy activities like Utah and Colorado when it comes to a better work-life balance. However, work-life balance isn't just about options; it's about accessibility. "Some states have a better mixture of not just increased options for life outside of work, but they also benefit from shorter commute times, better job flexibility, and more affordable options for making activities with families or groups an easier possibility." What Happens Next Companies that prioritize work-life balance are likely to reap the benefits in the years to come, Taparia said. "As more people recognize these benefits and as employees begin to speak out about the importance of having leisure time, employers could start offering more supportive practices, such as flexible hours or even four-day workweeks," Taparia said. "On the employer side, enacting these changes could improve morale in the workplace and retention rates."
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Walmart customers get bad news (Trader Joe's fans will be glad)
There's no accounting for taste, so the saying goes. Costco vs. Sam's Club. Walmart vs. Target. Odds are you're in one camp or the other. When it comes to choosing a grocery store, people have particularly strong opinions. And now we have the receipts to prove it. App maker Solitaired recently analyzed seven million Google Reviews, offering insights into customer satisfaction ratings for various grocery stores. Don't miss the move: SIGN UP for TheStreet's FREE Daily newsletter Solitaired examined the top 30 grocery chains in the U.S. across 3,000 store locations in the country's 100 most populated cities. The company focused on Google reviews with three stars or fewer, isolating common frustrations related to price, selection, wait times, and staffing. What the analysis revealed just might change where you shop next. Image source:Trader Joe's continues to capture shopper loyalty. Of the 188 locations analyzed, the budget-friendly chain known for its unique snacks, customer service, seasonal specialty items (and of course those viral mini totes) earned an average Google-review rating of 4.65 out of 5 stars, giving it the overall crown. Even though Trader Joe's is committed to its low-tech ways, and shows no signs of planning to improve its notoriously terrible parking lots, it was the only national chain to break into the top of list. "We found that Trader Joe's was the only chain to rank highly for best grocery stores alongside small business grocery stores," Solitaired Co-Founder Neal Taparia told TheStreet exclusively. "Their emphasis on customer service, good value, and curation of great products creates a compelling experience for shoppers." In fact, Trader Joe's may be the only chain that feels more like a small-grocer experience, Taparia said. "From our data and analysis, with Trader Joe's, you really get the best of a chain store with the best of a mom-and-pop grocery store." Related: Trader Joe's making huge mistake not copying Walmart, Target The Solitaired analysis also identified the grocery stores with the lowest customer ratings. King Soopers, owned by Kroger, came in last place with an average of just 3.84 stars. The Colorado- and Wyoming-based chain was criticized for long lines, poor service, and inconsistent product quality. Walmart, despite its massive footprint of over 4,000 U.S. stores, fared only slightly better with a 3.95-star average across 525 locations analyzed. Reviewers frequently cited high prices, unhelpful staff, and chaotic store layouts as top complaints. Even more damning, Walmart makes up 44% of the worst 50 stores in America. "If I were Walmart, I would take a 'less is more' approach," said Taparia. "How can you make shopping simple with fewer but better products, all priced at a great value?" In a close contest with Trader Joe's, Publix, a Florida-based regional supermarket, came in second for high marks, with a 4.5-star average. Next in line was WinCo, an employee-owned chain with 142 locations across the U.S., earning 4.47 stars. These findings closely mirror the 2025 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey, which also placed Trader Joe's and Publix at the top of its rankings, based on feedback from over 41,000 shoppers. Related: Trader Joe's shares new locations coming soon A few other key findings from the analysis: Trader Joe's made up 66% of the 50 best-rated grocery stores in the U.S. Walmart ranks as the second-worst grocery chain, despite its ubiquity. New York City had the most entries in the bottom 50 stores for both quality and pricing; Jersey City also had low marks. Florida is home to two of the nation's highest-rated grocery stores. And in a shout-out to the grocery scene in Florida, it turns out it's a grocery-shopping paradise and home to two of the country's most-loved markets. The highest-rated individual grocery stores were the local spots Mazzaro's Italian Market in St. Petersburg and Freshfields Farm in Orlando; both received a near perfect 4.8 star rating. Third-place honors went to Glorioso's Italian Market in Milwaukee and Choi's Asian Food Market in Louisville, Kentucky. As for the worst grocery store, that title goes to the Safeway on 40th St. in Washington, D.C. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
