4570 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Teleworking could reduce greenhouse gas emissions but cut demand for public transit

 

 

[Victoria Watcher]

that was a very puzzling statement yes.   like somehow "demand for public transit" is a good thing.  at its fringe public transit is very expensive and quite wasteful.  like that second-to-last bus to sooke on a tuesday night.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 03 May 2021 - 08:09 AM.

[Mike K.]

UVic's 2021 Gustavson Brand Trust Index finds consumers losing trust in big brands

 

The 2021 Gustavson Brand Trust Index (GBTI) reveals a dramatic shift in consumer loyalty and purchase considerations. These changes highlight the relationship between consumer trust, brand advocacy and authenticity.

 

On the heels of an exceptionally tumultuous year, the seventh iteration of the GBTI study found that consumers’ trust in brands is linked to authenticity—their belief that the brand reflects their values. Previously trusted brands such as Amazon, Whole Foods, Air Canada and Tesla Inc., dropped in the rankings as consumers felt that the companies’ values no longer aligned with their own.

 

“More than ever, CEOs are being viewed as societal leaders entrusted to take a stand on social issues, from climate change to addressing racial injustice,” says Saul Klein, dean of the Gustavson School of Business. “As the world climbs out of the pandemic, brand awareness is no longer the currency of business—consumer trust is the priority. There is a need for companies to rethink how they are driving positive societal change.”

 

Over the past year, Canadian consumers have shown an acute awareness of whether a brand is truly compassionate in its activities, or whether their acts of compassion are opportunistic, and this distinction is reflected in the findings.

 

“Amazon may be past its peak in terms of brand trust,” adds Klein. “While Canadians have used Amazon services more than ever before, concerns about the company’s broader impact have resulted in Amazon dropping sharply in this year’s study. Whole Foods had always prided itself on its employee culture, but the company’s brand trust and advocacy scores plummeted in 2021, and employee relations may have played a part in that.”

 

Early in the pandemic, many grocery chains offered hazard pay to their employees, only to discontinue the benefit a couple of months later. Whole Foods also faced numerous lawsuits from employees after it was reported that they were being disciplined for wearing Black Lives Matter apparel. In Canada, employees were initially prohibited from wearing Remembrance Day poppies due to the company’s dress code policy.

 

“Trust in key institutions, in society and in business, has been eroding over the past few years,” says Klein. “Consumers are more conscious of brand values and whether leaders can manage their companies in ethical, transparent and authentic ways that benefit both people and the planet.”

 

Other Key Findings

 

Younger consumers are less trusting than older consumers. The GBTI study has found that millennials are less trusting compared to older generations. This finding appears to be due to the younger generation’s inclination to assign their loyalties to proactive organizations who they perceive to be helping solve long-standing societal issues and contributing to making the world a better place.

 

Trust in media is at an all-time low. In the spring of 2020, the media category saw a spike in trust as people tuned in at the beginning of the pandemic. Since then, the trust bubble has burst, with all traditional and new media brands (except for Maclean’s magazine) giving up most (if not all) of the gains they saw early on. Social media brands such as Facebook remained among the least trusted in the index.

 

Trust in Canadian telecom companies is on the rise, but it is still the second least trusted category. Past year-on-year results had telecom companies showing signs of trouble, with nearly all of the companies seeing a decline in their brand trust scores. Three of the big four telecom companies, however, saw significant improvement after COVID-19 struck as they provided critical infrastructure for both work and social interaction.

[spanky123]

that was a very puzzling statement yes.   like somehow "demand for public transit" is a good thing.  at its fringe public transit is very expensive and quite wasteful.  like that second-to-last bus to sooke on a tuesday night.

 

Reduced demand might lead to reduced funding and reduced interest in things like dedicated bus lanes. Advocates would hate both of those things.

[Mike K.]

We saw this from a mile out, when circa 2014 the parking wars began and commuters were left pleading for the City of Victoria to invest in parking. The response from City Hall was if there was a business case for parking, the private sector would capitalize on it.

 

Fast-forwarding to 2021, the various groups that begrudged having to supply parking for commuters and begrudged the construction of the McKenzie Interchange are now concerned what a reduction in commuters will mean to the health and vitality of the core.

 

Making it expensive/challenging/restrictive for people to commute into downtown Victoria has backfired. People are not at all interested in spending $250/month to park their vehicle downtown, if they can do their job from home. Now what? How do we convince them to spend several thousand on parking each year, gas to get to downtown, wear and tear on their vehicle, etc., if they have a choice not to do a daily commute?

[Victoria Watcher]

UVic's 2021 Gustavson Brand Trust Index finds consumers losing trust in big brands

 

The 2021 Gustavson Brand Trust Index (GBTI) reveals a dramatic shift in consumer loyalty and purchase considerations. These changes highlight the relationship between consumer trust, brand advocacy and authenticity.

 

why would we trust a report about brand trust named after a guy that ran his company into bankruptcy leaving over 70 creditors owed over $145 million?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 03 May 2021 - 09:43 AM.

[Ismo07]

Making it expensive/challenging/restrictive for people to commute into downtown Victoria has backfired. People are not at all interested in spending $250/month to park their vehicle downtown, if they can do their job from home. Now what? How do we convince them to spend several thousand on parking each year, gas to get to downtown, wear and tear on their vehicle, etc., if they have a choice not to do a daily commute?

 

Rates drop if less people are commuting, we already see this.  We have seen daily rates drop already and will do for sometime, until once again we start seeing high capacity levels and then rates will change again.  Parking rates should be adaptive.  Less commuters and then more spaces available for short-term parking and less driving around to find a space (remember those complaints?).  Covid created this backfire, not what you are suggesting.  Pre Covid we saw a record January and February 2020 with respect to parking transactions and revenue.  Now we reduce and regroup.  Parking rates, from my perspective, are supposed to be reactive - almost like using economics.  We got as high as 75% of normal parking a couple times only to reduce again due to imposed restrictions.

[Mike K.]

why would we trust a report about brand trust named after a guy that ran his company into bankruptcy leaving over 70 creditors owed over $145 million?

That’s a tough scenario, for sure.

[spanky123]

why would we trust a report about brand trust named after a guy that ran his company into bankruptcy leaving over 70 creditors owed over $145 million?

 

In fairness the EncoreFX bankruptcy was caused when dozens of debtors failed to honour their obligations to cover their positions. You can argue that EncoreFX should not have taken on this much risk, but it is hardly like PG ran the business into the ground. 

[Victoria Watcher]

it’s unlikely they did it on purpose yes.

[Victoria Watcher]

yet somehow my bangers, mash, tripe and black pudding stocks are not rising today.

 

 

 

 

UK economy to record best year since 1941, Bank of England says

 

https://www.euronews...of-england-says

 

 

 

 

 

why was '41 good?  is that after the battle of britain ended?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 06 May 2021 - 02:04 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Canada loses jobs in April amid COVID-19 spike

 

Employment fell by 207,000 last month, with the unemployment rate rising 0.6 percentage points to 8.1 per cent, according to Statistics Canada. This came as the third wave of the pandemic took hold across Canada, and governments imposed new restrictions, including lockdowns.

 

 

 

 

non-essential businesses are all shut in alberta ontario and quebec.  that'll do it.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 May 2021 - 04:46 AM.

[spanky123]

^and the stock market jumps to a record high as people are eager to get more free government money!

[Victoria Watcher]

British Columbia will give all workers up to three days of paid sick leave to support those affected by COVID-19.

 

https://bc.ctvnews.c...leave-1.5422894

[spanky123]

^ So in other words the Province just added 3 days of paid vacation for every employee at the employer's expense. So much for the program being funded by the Government. Requiring an employer to deal with Worksafe BC to try and get partial reimbursement is a joke. I am sure all Worksafe will do is jack their premiums as soon as there is a claim.

 

Of course this will hurt the most in hospitality where workers tend to be the most transient and many employers have the least amount of time to futz with Government paperwork and claims to try and recover their costs.

Edited by spanky123, 11 May 2021 - 10:11 AM.

[vortoozo]

^ So in other words the Province just added 3 days of paid vacation for every employee at the employer's expense. So much for the program being funded by the Government. Requiring an employer to deal with Worksafe BC to try and get partial reimbursement is a joke. I am sure all Worksafe will do is jack their premiums as soon as there is a claim.

 

Of course this will hurt the most in hospitality where workers tend to be the most transient and many employers have the least amount of time to futz with Government paperwork and claims to try and recover their costs

 

What's your solution for reducing workplace transmission in low-income positions? Many are arguing for 10+ days. I think this strikes a good balance. Getting a test & result doesn't take more than 72 hours. Now if you think you're sick, you can get tested and self-isolate while waiting for the result, and then get back to work if you test negative without having to worry about your pay cheque. If you test positive, this has saved a bunch of potential transmission and you move onto the federal sick program.

 

If employers don't want to deal with the paperwork, then they should expect to pay for the time off. It can't be "too" easy, otherwise what prevents a small employer from giving 3 government paid days off to a healthy employee?

[Victoria Watcher]

I am not convinced workplace transmission is that rampant.

[Rob Randall]

why was '41 good? is that after the battle of britain ended?

For the same reason Andrew Agopsowicz has been very good for the local economy.

[vortoozo]

I am not convinced workplace transmission is that rampant.

 

Oh?

B.C. restaurants, industrial workplaces and gyms among biggest COVID-19 cluster sites | Globalnews.ca

COVID-19: Fraser Health has closed 46 workplaces due to transmission | Vancouver Sun  (Aprill 17-27)

20 more Lower Mainland businesses ordered to close due to coronavirus transmission | CTV News

 

Each of the closed workplaces has seen a minimum of 3 transmissions.

And then those go on to spread at home, in social situation, etc.

 

It's definitely happening.

[Victoria Watcher]

That’s “rampant”? What about the other 2500 new BC cases each week?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 12 May 2021 - 07:16 AM.