Friday, October 23, 2020

"Food-service, hospitality jobs susceptible to automation"/ "McDonald's tech changes prompt staff turnover"/ Le Chateau closing down




Mar. 18, 2017 "Food-service, hospitality jobs susceptible to automation": Today I found this article by Rachelle Younglai in the Globe and Mail:

Jobs in the accommodation and food-services industry are most vulnerable to automation, according to a new study released this week, as fast-food chains across the country embrace self-ordering technology.

Although the C.D. Howe Institute study found that Canada’s labour market is concentrated in industries that have a low probability of being taken over by robots, the report said that 72 per cent of employment in the accommodation and food-services industry was “highly susceptible” to automation.

“They unfortunately are at high risk,” said Rosalie Wyonch, coauthor of the study and a policy analyst with C.D. Howe. “We have already seen implementation of the fast-food ordering kiosks. It’s not only feasible that they might be automated, but we are already seeing that gradually happening.”

McDonald’s, Starbucks and other restaurants allow customers to order and pay for their purchases without talking to store staff. San Francisco-based Eatsa does not have a single server in its automated vegetarian restaurants in the United States.

The C.D. Howe study builds on other Canadian research that shows the accommodation and food-services industry at risk of being automatized.

But the study also looked at skills that are “difficult to computerize” as barriers to automation, such as leadership, flexibility, initiative and being aware of people’s reactions.

Because of these skills, other jobs in the restaurant industry such as bartenders and wait staff are less at risk. “There’s lots of tasks that you can automate but since a large portion of their jobs is interacting with people, they are pretty safe. They will just have less of the boring repetitive tasks to do,” Ms. Wyonch said.

Other Canadian research from the Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship found that hosts, servers, food-counter attendants and kitchen helpers had the highest likelihood of being replaced by automation, followed by cooks, bartenders and food-service supervisors.

“The most routine-oriented types of jobs were the ones that were the most at risk of automation,” said Sean Mullin, executive director with the Brookfield Institute.

McDonald’s has self-ordering kiosks in more than 900 restaurants in Canada. Starbucks has a mobile app that allows customers to order and pay for their purchases in about 1,000 coffee shops across the country.

Burger King and Tim Hortons plan to launch their version of an order-and-pay app later this year.

At Eatsa, the only Eatsa-employed human you will find in the restaurant is a greeter near the front door. The ordering and paying is done on an in-store iPad or your phone. Then, about a minute later, your custom-made meal is ready for pick-up in a selfserve area.

Eatsa co-founder Scott Drummond would not disclose the number of staff working in a restaurant or provide detail on how much of the kitchen was automatized. But he said: “Of course we have people working in the back.”


Mar. 17, 2018 "McDonald's tech changes prompt staff turnover": Today I found this article by Leslie Patton in the Edmonton Journal:

For Dudley Dickerson, the mobile-app orders were the last straw.
McDonald’s has been updating with new technology, delivery, a revamped menu, and curbside pickup. But the “Experience of the Future” has employees handling more tasks — in many cases, they say, without pay raises or adequate staffing. So Dickerson, 23, handed over his spatula for the last time.

“They added a lot of complicated things,” Dickerson said in an interview. “It makes it harder for the workers.”
Many fast-food employees hop from job to job. But with unemployment so low, turnover is becoming a problem. Workers are walking rather than dealing with new technologies and menu options. The result: Customers will wait longer. 

 Drive-through times at McDonald’s slowed to 239 seconds last year — more than 30 seconds slower than in 2016, according to QSR magazine. It’s also pokier than Burger King, Wendy’s, and Taco Bell.

Turnover at U.S. fast-food restaurants jumped to 150 percent — meaning a store employing 20 workers would go through 30 in one year. That figure is the highest since industry tracker People Report began collecting data in 1995.

“Quick-service restaurants are having a little more trouble with job openings and finding workers,” said Michael Harms, executive director of operations at People Report. “It’s the pace of work, the pace of technology, and the lower-wage rate.”

 McDonald’s and its franchisees haven’t seen an increase in crew turnover over the last year, nor is there a correlation between the new initiatives and turnover, spokeswoman Terri Hickey said in an emailed statement. 

 “Together with our owner-operators, we are investing in all necessary training to ensure successful implementation of any changes in our restaurants,” she wrote. “Just as Experience of the Future modernizes the restaurant experience for our customers, there is also a focus on improving the work experience for restaurant employees.”

 McDonald’s chief executive officer Steve Easterbrook has been pushing initiatives that have helped turn around comparable sales, which rose 3.6 percent last year in the U.S. But they’ve also made it tougher to retain restaurant employees in an already tight labor market.
“The ball is really in the court of the workers,” Harms said. “Not the employers.”

 Last year, McDonald’s said, it employed 235,000 people, including corporate and restaurant workers. Each of those people generated $97,000 in revenue, compared to about $65,000 the year before. While this could be a sign of increased efficiency, it could also be seen as stretching thin an inadequate number of employees.

 In Broward County, Fla., Westley Williams said he’s moving from McDonald’s to burger joint Checkers because of mobile-app orders, new items, and six new self-order kiosks.

 “It’s more stressful now,” said Williams, 42, noting he didn’t get a raise for doing more work. “When we mess up a little bit because we’re getting used to something new, we get yelled at.”

On a recent Wednesday afternoon, about 10 McDonald’s workers hustled behind the counter of a store in Chicago’s Loop. They called out order numbers for those waiting for lunch — some had ordered via an in-store kiosk, some from the mobile app, and some the old-fashioned way, at the register.

 An order of a Bacon McDouble, small fries, and an apple juice took about 2½ minutes, faster than the average drive-through time, but the drink was missing and the employee seemed confused when asked for it.
“The biggest risk when you have a lot of employee turnover is the customer experience,” said Brian Yarbrough, an analyst for Edward Jones. “If that starts to wane, then this turns into a bigger problem.”


This week's theme is about jobs and technology in the present and future:

"Robots, AI, and jobs: All three are coming"/ The Ladder: Dax DaSilva




"Why Silicon Valley gurus believe in the power of Burning Man"/ "To protect your job, monitor evolutions in the workplace"




My week: 


Oct. 18, 2020 Chad Boseman died without a will:


The Black Panther star’s widow, Taylor Simone Ledward, filed a petition for probate in Los Angeles on Thursday, according to documents obtained by multiple outlets. The actor, who lost his battle to colon cancer on Aug. 28 at the age of 43, died “intestate” — meaning he had no will.

Ledward, who quietly married Boseman amid his secret, four-year cancer battle, requested to be made an administrator of his estate. Entertainment Tonight reports she is seeking to have “limited authority,” which means she’ll need court approval to sell any real estate.

https://ca.yahoo.com/news/chadwick-boseman-died-without-will-wife-files-probate-case-173043921.html

My opinion: I hope all of you will learn from Boseman and create a will.  I know someone who was about to go into surgery to remove cancer.  She is in her 60s and then she created and signed a will, and then told her kids.  

I don't know everything about Boseman's situation, but as soon as he gets a terminal diagnosis, he should start preparing a will.  By all means, he did, but didn't sign it.


Ruckify: Today I found out about this company. I really like this because it's about saving time and money, and it's good for the environment.

Your Peer-To-Peer Rental Marketplace

Buy Less. Experience More.

Founded in Ottawa, Canada, in 2018 with a dream to change the world, Ruckify’s rent anything marketplace provides an accessible platform for everyone to use. Having built driving technology and forward-thinking leaders, Ruckify has paved the way for peer-to-peer sharing in building and established communities. 

This tool allows the ordinary person to generate an income from virtually nothing, and the established company to grow into new audiences and target markets. One small application gives the power to share more than items, but experiences, passions, and the potential to build a global community that can make a tourist feel at home when oceans away. 

Ruckify provides its users with the freedom to do what they want when they want without the restriction of time, storage, price, and availability. While also encouraging sustainability by reusing items throughout the community without having to buy new or throw away the neglected. Ruckify gives you an opportunity to make a real difference while obtaining financial security and confidence in your entrepreneurial instincts.

“We are passionate about giving everyone the opportunity to start their own rental business through the Ruckify app, while helping the environment. Renting instead of buying helps lower our carbon footprint, and we believe that the sharing-economy will ultimately have a profound, positive impact on our planet.” — Ruckify Founder, Steve Cody.

https://ruckify.com/en/about/

My opinion: This reminds me of way earlier this year where I asked to borrow a USB headset for a work from home job. There was a little fight with my friend J.

J: I feel like you gave me $5 to rent out my headset, and then I don't even get to keep the $5.

Tracy: I gave you the $5 as like a insurance of "If you don't give me my headset back, you don't get your $5 back."

He then sold me the headset for $10. I told him that I can't read his mind, and to be open with the communication about what he thinks and feels. We smoothed it over through emails.

Oct. 19, 2020 Work from home job search: I found this job at KGS Research that is FT and temp.

Training

· Training will be provided in our Scarborough office for up to two weeks, after completion of training - working from home options will be available.

My opinion: That's a lot of time, effort, and money to get a job there.

Money: A flight to Scarborugh, and a flight home.

Money for rent to stay at an Airbnb and food.

Time: The time to fly there and be there for 2 weeks and fly back.

Then fly back to Edmonton and self- quarantine for 2 weeks. 

Effort: The effort to learn the job, and flying to and from Scarborugh.

Result: I don't know, by all means after a few days I don't like the job training, and quit.  Or after 2 weeks, it was hard and I quit or they let me go.

I have done work from home training, at home on my computer like at Contract World.

Cleaning: I washed my bedroom window, and got the winter blanket ready for my room.

Oct. 20, 2020 Winter: Today I shoveled some snow.

Motivation: I don't feel motivated to look for a work from home job.  I had taken a break, and then went on and put a timer for 30 min to look for a job.

"Rumer Willis responds to 'harsh' criticism of photo shoot": 'I was not prepared for the amount of negativity'":


While co-hosting The Talk on Monday, Rumer Willis opened up about a series of photos that she appeared in that were taken with photographer and friend Tyler Shields. In two of the images, which were shared to Instagram in late September, the actress rocked a leather bodysuit with thigh-high boots. In another picture, she wore nothing but the boots while the whip was wrapped around her body and wrists.

The pictures are meant to be a commentary on the expectations placed on women from having children to getting dressed. “There are so many rules on what you can do, what you can’t do and what you can’t share, and I don’t know, there was a part of me that was just feeling really empowered and good about myself, and I wanted to share it,” the 32-year-old said.

Though many of Willis’s celebrity friends praised her for the photos, she faced harsh criticism. “I knew that it would probably bring up a lot of comments, but I was not at all prepared for the amount of negativity,” she admitted. “It was really harsh. ... I mean people saying you should be ashamed of yourself and this is disgusting.”

Willis added that there were comments accusing her photos of being harmful to trauma survivors, but countered that there are survivors that do participate in bοndage for empowerment.


https://ca.yahoo.com/style/rumer-willis-responds-to-criticism-010913611.html

My opinion:

1. She is an adult.

2. She can take sexual pictures of herself like a lot of female and male celebrities and non- celebrities do.

3. She isn't doing anything illegal.

4. I have said this on my blog like "You should be ashamed of yourself for sexual harassment."  She shouldn't be ashamed of herself for taking these pictures.

I am neutral about this.  It's like what Britney Spears said: "If you don't like me than don't look at me."

"Bachelorette Fans Are Mad About That Strip Dodgeball Date":


Last night's episode brought another moment that has Bachelor Nation talking on social media, and not necessarily for a good reason. Crawley took a set of suitors on a group date that involved playing dodgeball. Sounds harmless enough, right? But this game had a twist—it was strip dodgeball. 

Fans were quick to point out that, had the roles been reversed, with women stripping down for a Bachelor, there would have been an outcry. “My friends are forcing me to watch The Bachelorette. During one part, the guys were forced to strip off playing strip dodgeball," one fan tweeted. ”Could you even imagine if female contestants were forced to take their clothes off and run around? Like. The feminist screaming would never end.” Another wrote, “This dodgeball would not fly on The Bachelor; therefore, it should not fly on The Bachelorette. I do not like.”

Others criticized Crawley directly, especially after she said, “This is my game; these are my rules.”

“Imagine the outrage if Juan Pablo asked the girls to do strip dodgeball...and said, ‘Sorry girls: My game, my rules.’ Why does Clare get a pass? This is cringeworthy TV,” one person tweeted. 

Reality Steve believes the blame lies elsewhere, however. “Any1 who is bitching about Clare & this date & choosing to ‘make’ them strip, I hope were also just as loud when Peter ‘made’ the women lingerie pillow fight each other,” he tweeted. “This date is ridiculous, they absolutely have a double standard, but it’s NOT on the lead. Blame the show.”

https://news.yahoo.com/bachelorette-fans-mad-strip-dodgeball-140115829.html

My opinion: 

1. I have never watched The Bachelor or Bachelorette shows mainly because 1 person dates like 20 people.  The 20 people are like: "You date this person, but how do you know you are really a good match?  It seems like you're more competing than dating."

That's why I prefer Blind Date, back in the days when I was in my teens and early 20s.  These are 2 people getting to know each other, and no competing.  I have seen a little bit of Elimidate and The 5th Wheel, which I didn't like.  I quit Blind Date towards the end of 2005 when I made myself stop watching Dr. Phil and Maury.  

2. This is a reality dating TV show, so you should know this show is going to be bad and trashy and "cringeworthy" even without the strip dodge ball.

Oct. 22, 2020 Should I apply to a holiday sales temp job?:

Pros:

1. I make money.

2. I keep busy.

3. If I work there and don't like it, I know it's only temporary.

Cons:

1. I am out and exposed to COVID-19.  I wear a mask and keep a physical distance.

2. I am not that motivated to work at a store.

My opinion: This is good to write about the pros and cons.  I would work at a store, only if I like the store.  Or I will look for a work from home job.

Oct. 23, 2020 "Le Château plans to close its doors, files for CCAA protection":

Le Château Inc. says it is seeking court protection from creditors to allow it to shut down and liquidate its assets.

Le Château’s application under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act will be heard today by a Quebec court.

The clothing retailer says it can no longer continue its operations as a going concern.

https://globalnews.ca/news/7415332/le-chateau-closing-liquidate-assets/

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