The Daily Populous

Thursday March 18th, 2021 night edition

image for Microsoft tried a 4-day workweek in Japan. Productivity jumped 40%

Hong Kong (CNN Business) A growing number of smaller companies are adopting a four-day workweek.

Now the results of a recent trial at Microsoft (MSFT) suggest it could work even for the biggest businesses.

The company introduced a program this summer in Japan called the "Work Life Choice Challenge," which shut down its offices every Friday in August and gave all employees an extra day off each week.

In addition to reducing working hours, managers urged staff to cut down on the time they spent in meetings and responding to emails.

They suggested that meetings should last no longer than 30 minutes.

Employees were also encouraged to cut down on meetings altogether by using an online messaging app (Microsoft's, of course). »

McConnell's filibuster threats are already backfiring: Biden signals support for major Senate reform

Authored by salon.com
image for

There was a time when elected officials would express their support for a new president of the opposite party, wishing them success for the good of the country.

So, they are now seriously discussing reforming the filibuster in order to pass some of their important priorities.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Il, remained unfazed by the threat, however, pointing out that McConnell "has already done that. »

​NTU Singapore scientists develop device to 'communicate' with plants using electrical signals

Authored by media.ntu.edu.sg

Scientists have known for decades that plants emit electrical signals to sense and respond to their environment.

However, plants' electrical signals are very weak, and can only be detected when the electrode makes good contact with plant surfaces.

The hairy, waxy, and irregular surfaces of plants make it difficult for any thin-film electronic device to attach and achieve reliable signal transmission. »