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What’s Next for Fraudsters?

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Dora Boling
by Amber Bradley, Editor-in-Chief, TalkLPnews Retailers are on the frontlines of combating crime that goes beyond shoplifting and coupon scams—crime...
Talklp
Workers’ rights caught in collision of Trump’s priorities

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TalkLPNews Editor
The independent federal agency in charge of enforcing workplace anti-discrimination laws is caught in a bind under President Trump.Why it matters: The White House crackdown — on transgender people; diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility; and the independence of federal agencies — all comes to a head at the the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.The civil rights of Americans are at stake, according to advocates for workers and former EEOC officials.Staff are "in revolt" over concerns that fulfilling Trump's anti-DEI and anti-transgender orders would break the law, as the Wall Street Journal reported this week.The big picture: The situation is a big change from the fairly hands-off way Trump treated the agency in his first term.In fact, it was a Trump Supreme Court appointee, Neil Gorsuch, who authored the landmark Bostock opinion, which found that discrimination against workers based on their sexual orientation or gender identity is prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the law that the EEOC enforces.Where it stands: The agency is now treating gender identity cases differently, which will likely slow the process for those facing harassment at work.Any cases that "implicate" Trump's executive order on "Gender Ideology Extremism" are getting reviewed at EEOC headquarters, an agency spokesman told Axios in an email.Typically, cases are handled by local offices, and workers who bring charges to the EEOC are issued a "right to sue" letter to file a lawsuit in federal court.The agency said it will continue to issue these letters, but didn't offer more about what the headquarter review process would entail.The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the agency's new approach.Also unclear: What happens to the cases brought by the agency that are already underway?These include one, filed on behalf of a housekeeper at a Holiday Inn Express in New York, who was fired after complaining about harassment from a supervisor who referred to them as "it," misgendered them, and made multiple offensive derogatory comments.Such harassment is a violation of the way the agency has interpreted the Supreme Court ruling, but that interpretation is opposed by EEOC acting chair Andrea Lucas."Sex is binary (male and female) and immutable," Lucas, an outspoken DEI opponent, said in a statement last week about Trump's executive order."It is not harassment to acknowledge these truths — or to use language like pronouns that flow from these realities, even repeatedly."What they're saying: "The EEOC's mission is to prevent and remedy all forms of unlawful discrimination in the workplace," said Karla Gilbride, former general counsel at the agency, who was recently fired by Trump."I'm concerned about the effect of President Trump's executive order on gender, and the way it's being implemented, is having on the agency's ability to serve that mission," Gilbride told Axios.Context: Trump also fired two Democratic EEOC commissioners, including Jocelyn Samuels, who he placed in that role during his first administration. "I was shocked it happened to me," she told NPR this week.While it's not unusual for a new administration to replace an agency's general counsel, terminating commissioners with defined terms is highly unusual.The firings leave the agency without the quorum it needs to do much of its work, and the moves have been criticized as part of a broader attack on the independence of federal agencies.What's next: Once new commissioners are in place, Lucas has said she'd like to update the guidelines around enforcing sex-based discrimination and roll back what she's called "the Biden administration's gender identity agenda."It's likely those changes will face court challenges.The bottom line: The agency tasked with protecting the rights of transgender workers may no longer be focused on fulfilling that mission.
AXIOS
1-800-Flowers.com Partners with Uber to Manage V-Day Delivery Spikes

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TalkLPNews Editor
1-800-Flowers.com is collaborating with Uber Direct — Uber’s white label delivery service for merchants — to help florists meet demand during one of their busiest periods of the year (and a day when many panicked Romeos and Juliets buy flowers at the last minute) — Valentine’s Day. The more than 1,000 local florists in the […]
Retail TouchPoints – News
Albertsons Snips FreshPass Subscription Fee in Half for SNAP Recipients

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TalkLPNews Editor
Albertsons is offering a 50% discount on its FreshPass program for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), cutting the annual cost to $49. FreshPass offers free delivery on orders over $30 as well as access to exclusive deals, a $5 monthly credit and 5% off on Albertsons’ private label organic and natural product […]
Retail TouchPoints – News
Australia’s Adore Beauty Brings Digital ‘Endless Aisle’ into its New Physical Stores

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TalkLPNews Editor
As it enters physical retail, Australian online beauty retailer Adore Beauty has teamed up with Tutch to ensure that customers visiting its newly minted brick-and-mortar stores will still have access to the more than 14,000 products in its online catalog. Through the Tutch in-store digital platform, Adore Beauty customers will be able to purchase products […]
Retail TouchPoints – News
L’Oreal looks to U.S. ‘land of opportunity’ as China disappoints

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TalkLPNews Editor
The world's largest beauty group L'Oreal said Friday that it plans to become less dependent on the Chinese consumer for growth, instead targeting burgeoning opportunities in the U.S. market.
CNBC – Retail
Starbucks Offering Free Coffee To Perk Up Super Bowl Monday: How To Get Yours

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TalkLPNews Editor
If you're dreading waking up the morning after the Super Bowl, one coffee chain will give you a pick-me-up after the big game.Starbucks is offering a free tall (12-ounce) hot or iced brewed coffee to its rewards members on Monday, Feb. 10. Members must apply the "Starbucks Monday"&nb…
Daily Voice
US job market likely began the year strong, but faces cloudier future

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TalkLPNews Editor
The U.S. labor market probably started 2025 the way it spent most of last year: generating decent, but unspectacular, job growth.
Click Orlando
Amazon retail sales beat analyst expectations as AI push continues

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TalkLPNews Editor
Executives told analysts that Amazon would up capital expenditure by 20%, with the majority dedicated to artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Retail Week
Heavy retail promotions drives ‘welcome’ January footfall boost

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TalkLPNews Editor
UK footfall rose in January following a dissapointing festive season, as cash concious shoppers descended on UK retail destinations in the hunt for bargains.
Retail Week
Federal workers sue to stop USAID’s dismantling and the cutting of its workforce from 10,000 to 300 staff

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TalkLPNews Editor
Politics Federal workers sue to stop USAID’s dismantling and the cutting of its workforce from 10,000 to 300 staff Noah...
Business Insider
Federal Workforce Fallout: Employees face uncertainty with deferred resignation offer legalities under debate

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TalkLPNews Editor
Scott Oswald, managing principal at the Employment Law Group joined WUSA9 to discuss the legalities of the offer and next steps for federal employees.
WUSA 9 – VA / MD