Remote work boosts diversity in Facebook workforce - July 20, 2022

The European Union will propose a voluntary 15% cut in natural gas use for its member states to ensure enough fuel for the winter if Russia cuts its supply. While Russian President Vladimir Putin said the country will honor its commitment to provide gas via the Nord Stream pipeline, he warned that flows will be curbed unless a spat over sanctioned parts is resolved. The International Monetary Fund warned on Tuesday that a Russian gas shutoff would send some EU countries into recession, a dire message as inflation in the U.K. reaches a 40-year high. Facebook’s embrace of remote work has allowed it to create a more diverse workforce, according to a company report. Remote job offers in the U.S. were more likely to be filled by people of color, people with disabilities and veterans, while remote candidates around the globe were more likely to be women. Remote work has also spurred a national wage leveling at tech companies. One study found the median compensation for startup workers in several U.S. cities was lifted to San Francisco compensation rates, although economists say many workers have opted for pay cuts in order to keep working from home. U.S. officials confirmed that they recently disrupted the actions of a hacking group sponsored by the North Korean government, recovering $500,000 in ransom payments and cryptocurrency. The group targeted U.S. hospitals with ransomware, prompting federal authorities to encourage businesses to come forward for help if they have been hacked. While the pace of large-scale attacks that first surged in 2021 appears to have slowed, smaller targets such as hospitals continue to be affected. Some e-commerce companies that experienced explosive growth during the pandemic are in danger of a cash crunch, underscoring a shift in consumer spending habits that have many online retailers on edge. Furniture retailer Wayfair and online used-car sellers Carvana and Vroom are among the cash-burning internet retailers that may need to raise external financing in the coming years to stay afl