Jobless claims rose to a level last recorded in early June with the Labor Department reporting 419,000 for the week ended July 17. The latest figures show the recovery remains uneven, though job gains and consumer spending remain elevated. Overall, numbers have been falling gradually from the peaks seen at the beginning of the pandemic, but the delta variant is sparking renewed fears regarding business closures and restrictions. Surprise Gain in Jobless Claims Shows U.S. Labor Market Churn - Bloomberg Stock futures are flat as jobless claims unexpectedly rise - CNBC @grossdm: Stimulus fading--between June 26 and July 3, the number of people receiving unemployment benefits fell 1.26 million as state end pandemic benefits Large tech companies in Silicon Valley are navigating the balance between business interests and the wellbeing of employees amid the pandemic’s ever-changing rules and recommendations. Google parent Alphabet Inc. is “strongly encouraging” all returning employees to wear a mask inside Google property at all times while Facebook, employees who provide proof of being fully vaccinated can forgo masks. Apple, whose workers have been one of the most vocal about misgiving in returning to campuses, recently pushed back its return to the office. Big Tech Companies Are Rethinking Office Reopening as Delta Variant Spreads - Observer The California Dream Is Dying - The Atlantic Navigating Out-of-Office Gatherings in the Age of Covid-19 - Bloomberg Law The French will begin having residents present a “COVID pass” in order to participate in any “leisure activity where more than 50 people are gathered.” This includes museums, cinemas, festivals and swimming pools. The pass confirms the holder is either fully vaccinated or recently tested negative for COVID-19. France Has Strict New Vaccine Requirements, Could It Work for US? - Healthline The EU vaccine 'passport' and what it means for travel - BBC Will vaccine passports ever really take off? - Slate Fox has quietly implemented its own version of a vaccine passport while its top personalities attack them - CNN Airlines continued to see a rise in ticket sales despite the prevalence of COVID-19’s delta variant, though international travel is still hobbled due to delays of border openings. Airline executives hypothesized that a high percentage of their best customers are fully vaccinated. An analysis found that the least vaccinated states also earn the least and are largely congregated in the South and Midwest. IBM and Amadeus integrate travel health platforms amid travel rebound - Reuters Summer Travel Seasons Don’t Get Weirder Than This One - The Wall Street Journal Southwest (LUV) and American Airlines (AAL) 2Q 21 earnings - CNBC @usatodaytravel: More than 2 million people a day, mostly summer vacationers, are packing U.S. airports. That is a turnaround from the lockdown summer of 2020. The pandemic redefined the office lunch break, which once represented a time for a mental-health break and connection with coworkers. The coronavirus ushered in further layers to the hour, including a renewed interest in health and nutrition, as well as convenience. ‘Game Over’: Food Carts Adjust to a Changed City - The New York Times Returning to the office? Here’s how to level up your work lunch. - The Washington Post "For unvaccinated, coronavirus is soaring again" - The Washington Post / Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CONTENT FACTS Turbine Labs has tracked 21,594 media articles and blogs and 21,850 social media posts over the last 24 hours. The next Turbine Labs Leadership briefing will be delivered on Friday, July 23 at 9:30AM EST. Questions or feedback? Don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.