Oct
2
Volkswagen Admits to Emissions-Cheating Device in Cars
After an anonymous tip, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) busted German car manufacturer, Volkswagen, on an emissions-cheating device planted in cars to assist in passing state-mandated emissions testing. The investigation has resulted in such a high profile scandal that the President of Volkswagen has officially resigned, and the company is now deciding which steps will be taken to rectify the situation. It is estimated that as many as 11 million cars have been built with the cheating device, which include Audi, Skoda and Seat. By definition, a recall is required when the defective part could result in injury or harm, which technically, the device could not. Volkswagen is currently weighing whether or not the cars will be recalled. Read more…
Whole Foods to Stop Selling Food Manufactured by Prison Inmates
Whole Foods Market has announced that as of April 2016, it will no longer sell food manufacturer by prison inmates. In an attempt to assist inmates in acquiring jobs skills and making an income, companies source jobs with state penitentiaries and in return, pay the inmates pennies on the dollar for their work. While Whole Foods originally felt that it would be in the best interest of the inmates, customers have expressed concern with the ethics of the agreement and Whole Foods has acted on the customer’s requests. Most notably, tilapia and goat cheese that were manufactured by inmates have been pulled from shelves and will no longer be sold at Whole Foods. Read more…
Caterpillar to Cut up to 10,000 jobs by 2018
After four years on the decline, Caterpillar officially announced this week that they are expecting to cut as many as 10,000 jobs – or 8% of it’s workforce – by 2018. Since the construction downturn in China’s construction industry, the company has slowed been dropping in revenues for the past four years, reaching an all time low for the first time in almost 100 years. Since 2012, Caterpillar has cut almost 32,000 jobs and is forecasting another 5% drop in revenues for 2016. Peoria, Illinois, where Caterpillar’s headquarters is located, is expected to feel a impact from the lay offs, with as many as 5,000 jobs being cut by the end of 2015. Read more…