Bosses are beginning to wake up and smell the coffee badging

Companies using the hybrid work model typically mandate that remote employees appear in the office at least some of the time. But “coffee badging” — the practice of a worker showing up in the office for just a few minutes to satisfy the requirement — has caught the ire of some employers. Amazon, for example, is considering demanding a minimum number of hours hybrid employees must spend in the office, according to The Seattle Times. Other companies are also cracking down on coffee badging with similar required office-time mandates

A survey by Owl Labs, which coined the phrase, “coffee badging,” found that last year 58% of hybrid workers admitted to the practice.

Venmo in, Amex out at eBay

EBay is adding Venmo as a payment option, but keep your American Express card in your wallet. The e-commerce site says adding Venmo, popular with Gen Z and millennial shoppers, aligns it with the “preferences of today’s digital natives.” At the same time, eBay says it will no longer accept American Express as a payment option. Visa, Mastercard and Discover cards are still accepted.

Tablet sales surge

Tablets staged a comeback in the second quarter as manufacturers’ shipments rose 22% compared with the same period a year ago, according to research firm IDC. Sales of tablets soared during the pandemic but have been falling steadily since 2023. Apple’s iPads were the biggest seller in the second quarter, grabbing a 36% share of the market, followed by Samsung at 20%.

Report: U.S. probing Nvidia

Rivals have accused Nvidia of abusing its market dominance in selling chips that power artificial intelligence — and the U.S. Justice Department is investigating these complaints, technology news site The Information reported. According to the news outlet, Justice Department officials are looking into concerns Nvidia is potentially cornering the market and pressuring its customers to unfairly retain business. Nvidia said it competes by “scrupulously adhering to all laws.” — AP