Somebody is watching you at work 👁️

Hey there! Yesterday was President’s Day, which made us wonder: What is the president’s annual salary? 💭

The answer: $400,000. And let’s not forget the perks, which include free housing (casual), food, security, and travel (which, in this case, is a private jet). The president also gets $19,000 for entertainment and has access to a $100,000 non-taxable travel account. 

Giving the mic over to you: 🎤 Do you think the president is fairly compensated?

 1   Your boss might be using AI to spy on your work messages 👁️

No, this isn’t a George Orwell novel. Companies are using Aware, an AI-powered app, to analyze and monitor employee messages across Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom, reports The Hustle. Aware’s big-shot clientele includes Starbucks, Delta, Walmart, and Nestle. 

It sounds weird (because it is) but Jeff Schumann, co-founder and CEO of Aware, says the AI is just here to help companies “understand the risk within their communications”—including bullying, discrimination, and leaks of confidential information, among others. 

But here’s where things could go wrong: The companies determine what’s classified as a "major security threat and violation,” and the lines can be blurry. Even worse? If an employee is fired, they won't be able to see the data involved in the decision—meaning they can’t defend themselves.

Now’s a great time to brush up on your workplace surveillance rights. A few states (shout-out New York, Connecticut, and Delaware) require bosses to tell you if they’re monitoring you—but it’s not a widespread practice. So for now, save the tea for IRL.

 2   Lyft, Uber, and Grubhub go on strike during Valentine’s Day ❤️‍

Trading Cupid’s arrows for picket signs. On Valentine’s Day, thousands of Lyft, Uber, and DoorDash drivers across the US and UK protested for higher wages and basic labor protections, per Vox. 

“A mobile sweatshop with virtually zero protections on the job.” That’s how one representative for Justice for App Workers described ride-hailing. App workers are classified as independent contractors, which means they don’t have the same rights or benefits—minimum wage, healthcare, overtime, etc.—as their employed counterparts. “We’re tired of the exploitation,” said Uber driver Marianna Porras. 

The industry’s response? Lyft and Uber were quick to point to their average hourly rate: Uber said its US drivers earn an average of $33 an hour, while Lyft’s drivers make $30.64 an hour. 

• Context: That hourly rate sounds solid, but it often amounts to much less. Why? Drivers have to pay out-of-pocket for taxes, tolls, and commercial insurance. Add on unpredictable customer tips, and in some cases, hourly rates are as low as $9–$12. 

Ready to help support these gig workers in their fight for better labor protections? Join the movement right here. 

 3   Companies are ditching Friday calls to increase productivity 💤

The ideal Friday at the office? A short to-do list, evening plans with friends, and Zero. Work. Calls. Some companies are turning this into reality by cutting out Friday meetings to eliminate the Friday lull. 

These “Flow Fridays” or “Focus Fridays” aim to boost productivity by freeing up time on Fridays—a day notorious for low motivation. Oyster, an HR firm, found that no-call Fridays have increased productivity more than ‘Summer Fridays’ or offering free pizza and ice cream (we could’ve told them that, but here we are). 

• Our take: Why not go the extra step and eliminate working on Fridays completely? A 2023 study trialed the four-day workweek in Spain and found it led to increased productivity and happier workers (just saying). 

Time for a pop quiz. 🙇‍♂️ Can you guess the job based on the following details? 

• Pay: The average annual salary is $119,597. 

• Description: Use engineering principles and programming languages to build software products. 

• Education: Most employers prefer a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. But it’s possible to land a job without a degree through certifications or creating a portfolio of projects! 

If you guessed software engineer, you’re correct! Our latest video features in-depth interviews with 12 software engineers who cover the ins and outs of their jobs. That includes work-life balance, benefits, and of course, salaries (which are well in the six figures). 

Interested in pursuing this career? Here are the top software engineering certifications to get your foot in the door.

• Love (and salaries) are in the air with our Valentine’s Day couples edition video. 💚

• A TikToker challenged herself to earn $100 for 100 days through side hustles. Here are the top-earning gigs she recommends. 

• Mayor Bowser officially signed DC’s pay transparency legislation. It’ll go into effect on June 30!

• The DoL announced updated plans to support racial and gender equity in the workforce. 

• Can you lose a job offer by negotiating salary? STS investigates. 

Thanks for being here! Another one bites the dust: Tesla and News Corp are paying the price after being caught not adhering to NYC’s pay transparency laws. Can’t say we didn’t warn them. 🤷‍♀️

See you next week!