Latest news with #Wegman
Irish Independent
31-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Security fears behind Elon Musk's controversial ultimatum to staff, senior X executive says
Lauren Wegman, a senior HR director, said the message was an attempt to give Twitter workers an opportunity to resign with severance, if that was what they wanted to do. She said her understanding is that Mr Musk was reading negative comments on Twitter and internal messaging platform, Slack, and came up with the email. Ms Wegman said managers needed to move fast, as employees had access to data centres, algorithms and financial information. She claimed some individuals were openly saying that they wished to harm the company. The HR executive also accepted there could have been more clarity for workers in documents that explained Mr Musk's email, and information regarding benefits was 'not ideal'. Ms Wegman, who is based near Atlanta in Georgia, was giving evidence during an appeal by X of a record award of €550,131 to former Dublin-based executive Gary Rooney. Last year, adjudication officer Michael MacNamee found that Twitter unfairly dismissed Mr Rooney. The former Twitter employee did not respond to the tech billionaire's email in November 2022. In his email, Mr Musk asked workers to click a link to make a choice between an 'extremely hardcore' future under his leadership or resign with severance pay. Twitter was rebranded to X in July 2023 after Mr Musk's takeover of the social media platform. During cross-examination, Padraic Lyons SC, for Mr Rooney, asked Ms Wegman if Mr Musk was asked to come along to give evidence at the Labour Court. ADVERTISEMENT Ms Wegman said she did not know if he was asked to be there. Mr Lyons put it to her that Mr Rooney had no way of knowing under Twitter 2.0 whether 'hardcore' meant working through weekends. Ms Wegman said her personal 'take' on this was that she was already doing it. He said Mr Rooney had no way of knowing what his benefits would entail and asked if he was supposed to ferret out this information before a tight deadline. Mr Lyons said HR should have explained what it meant to make the remotest attempt to be reasonable towards its employees. Ms Wegman said that in November 2022 it was 'all hands on deck', and they had all jumped in to do what we could to 'keep the ship afloat'. She said she would not describe it as a bad time, but a difficult time. Mr Lyons said Mr Musk's 'bombshell' email was the very definition of an ultimatum. He said a timescale was imposed and the consequence was that employment would come to an end. Ms Wegman said she did not believe that Mr Rooney had anything to do with the posts that posed a security threat that she referred to, and none of the posts she saw had his name on them. She said the email would help staff who wanted to depart as they would get severance pay, as opposed to resigning without severance. However, she said the employer did not have insight or control over who was leaving or staying, so were left with skill gaps. Ms Wegman said the email offered staff a way to get out of the company Mr Lyons said Mr Rooney did not submit any decision, but the employer decided to bring his employment to an end. He said the only rational interpretation of that is that he was dismissed by his employer. Ms Wegman accepted that he did not write 'I resign'. She said it would have been nice to have a 'no' box in the email. Mr Lyons said it would have been better if there had been a 'can't decide' box. Chair of the court Louise O'Donnell asked Ms Wegman how managers knew they were going to attract those who raised security concerns with the severance offer. Ms Wegman accepted they could stay, but the email offered them a way to get out of the company. Meanwhile, the court heard that Twitter '1.0' was a very fun place to work with great perks including ping-pong tables, meditation rooms, meals cooked by celebrity chefs and visits by 'very important Tweeps'. Ms Wegman listed the benefits workers enjoyed while giving evidence. But she told how the company ended up in a 'terrible, terrible financial situation' that led to drastic cost-cutting three years ago. She told Cathy Smith, SC for X, that Twitter is known among employees as Twitter 1.0 before its acquisition by Mr Musk in 2022. She said she believes the takeover was the largest public to private company acquisition of all time. Ms Wegman told Ms Smith that staff had a hashtag 'love where you work' that was very much felt and lived by them. X denies Mr Rooney was dismissed and further claims made by him under payment of wages laws relating to a performance bonus. The hearing is set to resume at a date that has yet to be decided.
Newsweek
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Reaches Gulf Coast
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. Smoke from wildfires currently burning in Canada reached the Gulf Coast in the Southern United States this week. The smoke doesn't look like it will clear the U.S. "anytime soon," National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Prediction Center meteorologist Joe Wegman told Newsweek, although the heaviest smoke has stayed north of the coast, so it's unlikely that air quality alerts will be issued that far south. Why It Matters This is the first time excessive Canadian wildfire smoke had descended into the U.S. since 2023 when wildfires worsened air quality to dangerous levels for millions in the Northeast. In smaller amounts, smoke can cause hazy skies and create beautiful sunsets and sunrises. However, in higher amounts, the smoke can be dangerous, even prompting alerts urging people to stay inside until it clears. What To Know Since last week, air quality in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota has been impacted by the heavy smoke. Although most air quality alerts remain in the Upper Midwest, the smoke has moved toward the South. As of Monday, some of the smoke had moved off the Eastern Seaboard, but a high-pressure system has circulated it back into the U.S. and across the Southern states, Wegman said. The heaviest smoke affecting the region remains north near Atlanta and Birmingham, Alabama, but smoke will have a noticeable impact on sunsets in the Gulf Coast states this week. Some states that might notice smoke include South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama over the next two days. Poor air quality isn't as much of a threat for Southern states because of the distance the smoke has traveled. Wegman still urged caution for anyone with breathing troubles or those who are particularly sensitive to air pollution. Satellite imagery captured the smoke descending into the U.S. over the weekend, and the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) posted a timelapse of the video on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday. "Wildfire smoke has overtaken skies above the Eastern United States," the post said. "This time lapse shows the drifting smoke over the last three days." Smoke from wildfires in Canada shrouds the skyline of lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center at sunset on August 16, 2024, in New York City. Smoke from wildfires in Canada shrouds the skyline of lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center at sunset on August 16, 2024, in New York City. Gary Hershorn/Getty What People Are Saying National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Prediction Center meteorologist Joe Wegman told Newsweek: "It certainly will influence the sunsets because it doesn't take all that much in order to do that. It's cool because it makes the sunsets have vibrant colors, and that's kind of neat to see." An air quality alert issued in Northwest Wisconsin said: "Sensitive groups: Consider rescheduling or moving all activities inside. Go inside if you have symptoms. People with asthma: Follow your asthma action plan and keep quick-relief medicine handy. People with heart disease: Symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious problem. If you have any of these, contact your health care provider. Everyone else: Keep outdoor activities shorter and less intense. Go inside if you have symptoms." What Happens Next? The smoke is unlikely to evacuate the U.S. soon, Wegman said. Hazy skies are expected to persist throughout the duration of its presence.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Yahoo
Fla. Troopers Say They Saw Married Woman Having Sex on Grave in Historic Cemetery with Lover — But Only She Is Jailed
A Florida woman is behind bars and facing multiple felony charges after a member of the Florida Highway Patrol allegedly discovered her in a graveyard engaging in sexual activity. Trooper W.R. Kelly said in an incident report that he travelled to the Wild Cow Cemetery on the afternoon of March 27 so that his K9 could take a break. Once he arrived at the cemetery, he noticed a white Nissan "with the windows down and no one in the immediate area," the report states. He then "observed a white male and female at the rear of the cemetery engaged in sexual activity," Kelly writes in the affidavit. The man and woman were also seen by two other members of law enforcement on the scene, according to the report. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Troopers then approached the couple to ask for identification as the cemetery was locked at the time, and the pair returned to the car "to obtain clothing, put a blanket back and the female obtained her ID," the report states. A fourth member of law enforcement then arrived on the scene and conducted a "free air sniff" of the vehicle with the K9, who alerted the trooper of a "trained odor," according to the report. The officers allegedly found methamphetamine, Xanax and Oxycodone in the car during the search, Kelly writes. Troopers booked the woman, Stephanie Wegman, into custody that same day and a few days later charged her with two counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription as well as a single count of trafficking oxycodone. Court records show that Wegman had been arrested three weeks prior as well and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. She is being held without bond and is set to be arraigned on May 12. She does not have a lawyer at this time but has filed an application seeking indigent status. Kelly writes in his report that the man caught in the graveyard with Wegman was transported to a local hospital for a pre-existing leg injury. The report claims that a warrant will be sought for that man but there has not been one filed at this time. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Reimagining the Jewelry Shopping Experience
In this week's episode of WWD Voices, Nicole Wegman, founder and chief executive officer of Ring Concierge, a fine jewelry company, joins host Arthur Zaczkiewicz to discuss how her engagement ring shopping experience in New York's Diamond District led to the inception of her business in 2013. Frustrated by the antiquated and high-pressure sales environment, she saw an opportunity to leverage her e-commerce experience to modernize the engagement ring and fine jewelry buying experience. To listen to this episode, .Since its founding, Ring Concierge has broadened its scope beyond engagement rings to fine jewelry. Wegman explained, 'We started with just engagement rings, hence the name Ring Concierge, but it has since evolved into so much more.' Today, the company caters to Millennial women, particularly professionals who typically purchase jewelry for Concierge boomed as an online business, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, recognizing the enduring value of brick-and-mortar stores in the fine jewelry sector, Wegman has expanded her business model. 'To date, about 90 percent of the fine jewelry industry is still done in brick-and-mortar…we realized quite quickly that we needed to get ahead of having a brick-and-mortar location,' she Ring Concierge operates five successful stores in key locations including Manhattan, Los Angeles, Houston, and Boca Raton, Fla. These venues offer an immersive and tactile shopping experience that resonates well with the preferences of Millennials and Gen Z consumers, who crave engaging and memorable shopping experiences.A key ingredient to Ring Concierge's success is its strategic use of social media, particularly Instagram. Wegman highlighted the monumental role of Instagram in building trust and brand recognition globally. As the company prepares for future growth, maintaining a robust online presence remains a pivotal strategy. More from WWD K-beauty Retailer Olive Young Is Setting Up a U.S. Subsidiary in Los Angeles Alexis Bittar Brought the Subversive to NYFW With His First Presentation How the State of Consumer Search Continues to Evolve Past Search Engines
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Daylight saving time 2025: When do clocks spring forward?
The sun rises behind the skyline of lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center in New York City on May 1, 2023, as seen from Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by) Days are growing longer across North America with some areas gaining more than an hour of sunlight throughout February. The longer, brighter days are a prelude to the annual ritual of daylight saving time, which is fast approaching for many across the United States. One month from today, clocks will spring forward one hour on Sunday, March 9, 2025, as daylight saving time begins across most of the United States. This will result in later sunrises and sunsets. Hawaii and Arizona, with the exception of the Navajo Nation located in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, are the only states that do not observe the biannual time shift and remain in standard time year-round. Electric Time Co. employee Walter Rodriguez cleaning the face of an 84-inch Wegman clock at the plant in Medfield, Mass. Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) Several states have proposed laws to end the practice of changing clocks twice a year, but the legislation has yet to go into effect. The Sunshine Protection Act has also been introduced by lawmakers in the nation's capital, but the bill has not passed the Senate and House of Representatives to make it to the president's desk where it can be signed into law. Daylight saving time will last for nearly nine months, ending on Nov. 2, 2025. On this date, clocks will fall back one hour, and the entire country will once again be in standard time. Most people are in favor of sticking to either standard time or daylight saving time throughout the entire year, but there is some debate as to which one to stick with permanently. There are benefits and drawbacks to both, with impacts ranging from health dangers to economic influences and personal preferences.
