BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee named top employer for women
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has been recognized as a 2022 Best Employer for Women by Forbes, ranking 12th out of 400 employers across the nation.
“Women make up 74 percent of our workforce, so we understand the need for a culture where our employees feel fulfilled and able to balance their work and personal lives,” said Ron Harris, vice president of corporate workforce diversity for the Chattanooga-based health insurer. “It’s rewarding to see our commitment honored with the highest ranking in Tennessee and among other insurers and Blue plans.”
The Best Employers for Women rankings were determined through an independent survey from a sample of approximately 50,000 U.S. employees – including 30,000 women – who work for companies with at least 1,000 people.
Survey participants were asked to rate their employer on topics such as culture, career development opportunities, salary and wages, and how likely they’d recommend their employer to others.
Savannah Port boosts traffic by 18 percent
The Georgia Ports Authority kicked off its new fiscal year with the fastest start ever, handling 530,800 of the 20-foot equivalent container units in July, an increase of 18 percent.
Since January, GPA has moved 3.4 million TEUs, up 231,400 or 7 percent over its performance during the same period in 2021 – a record year in which GPA handled 5.6 million TEUs.
“The Port of Savannah has clearly become a preferred East Coast gateway for shippers globally, including cargo diverted from the U.S. West Coast,” GPA Executive Director Griff Lync, said in a report Tuesday. “Our expedited infrastructure projects, extended gate hours and the outstanding work of our employees and partners are key to our ability to move cargo at a record pace.”
Buffet buys 20 percent of Occidental Petroleum
Warren Buffett’s company has bought up more than $11 billion worth of Occidental Petroleum stock this year, giving Berkshire Hathaway control of more than 20% of the oil producer.
Wall Street follows Buffett’s actions closely, including his investments in Occidental Petroleum. Its shares have more than doubled in price this year.
Berkshire, which owns the Dalton, Georgia-based Shaw Industries and the Knoxville-based Clayton Homes, has repeatedly acquired shares of the Houston driller whenever the stock falls below $60 in recent months. Buffett also dropped more than $20 billion on Chevron stock in the first quarter of this year and took advantage of the surge in oil prices after Russia invaded Ukraine. Berkshire’s Chevron stake is worth more than $24 billion.
That means Buffett’s Omaha, Nebraska, conglomerate holds nearly $47 billion in oil sector investments because Berkshire holds another $10 billion worth of preferred Occidental shares that it picked up in 2019 when it helped finance Occidental’s purchase of Anadarko.
Walmart members may get streaming addition
Walmart has held discussions with major media companies about including streaming entertainment in its membership service, according to three people with knowledge of the conversations, part of an effort to extend its relationship with customers beyond its brick-and-mortar stores.
In recent weeks, executives from Paramount, Disney and Comcast have spoken with Walmart, the people said, as the retailer ponders which movies and TV shows would add the most value to its membership bundle, called Walmart+. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because the discussions were private.
It is unclear whether any of the streaming companies are inclined to reach a deal with Walmart. Disney operates the Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu streaming services; Comcast owns the Peacock streaming service; and Paramount runs the Paramount+ and Showtime services.
A Walmart+ membership, which costs $12.95 per month, includes free shipping on orders and discounts on fuel. It also includes a free six-month subscription to the Spotify Premium music service.
Chipotle to pay workers for labor law violations
The fast-food chain Chipotle Mexican Grill will pay $20 million to current and former workers at its New York City restaurants for violating city labor laws.
The settlement between the city and Chipotle was announced Tuesday. It covers about 13,000 employees who worked at the chain’s New York City outlets between 2017 and this year. The $20 million deal is the largest worker protection settlement in New York City history.
Scott Boatwright, Chipotle’s chief restaurant officer, said the restaurant chain is pleased to be able to resolve the issues. He said Chipotle has taken steps to improve compliance.
– Compiled by Dave Flessner