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July 29, 2021

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Quote of the Day

"I made a little cosy for my medal to stop getting scratched" â British diving star Tom Daley on knitting a little case for the Olympic gold. Weave heard it all.

It's a Date. A Mandate.

The Story

Governments and companies are saying 'ready, set, vaccinate.'

What's happening?

The delta variant's happening. And it's giving everyone March 2020 flashbacks. While there's been progress since that fateful date (hi, vaccines), cases are climbing back up. And it's not even winter yet. So the CDC brought masks back for everyone, including the jabbed. And health officials keep reminding Americans that we literally have a solution for this coronavirus problem. (Hint: it's vaccines.) Now, govs and companies are telling workers to 'get the jab done.' Here's what that means for:

Companies...Yesterday, Google and Facebook told their tens of thousands of US employees to roll up their sleeves if they want to WFOffice in the fall. It comes after The Washington Post and Morgan Stanley did the same. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs is saying 'just let us know if ya got jabbed.' And airlines Delta and United are adding the vax mandate to their new employee onboarding. And before you ask: yes, employers can legally require employees to get vaxxed before they swap their sweatpants for pantsuits.

'Muricaâ¦Today, President Biden is planning to announce a vaccine requirement for about 2 million federal employees. They'll have to either get jabbed or face regular COVID-19 testing. But don't call it a mandate: the admin promises those who don't vaccinate aren't at risk of losing their jobs. The admin's not the first gov entity to start nudging vaccines on employees. Earlier this week, the Dept of Veterans Affairs beat Biden to the punch and told all of its health care workers to get vaxxed within two months. California and New York have sent state employees a similar memo.

Govs abroad...Turkmenistan and Indonesia have mandated vaccines for all adults. Russia is telling workers 'if you wanna clock in, you need a jabbin'.' Greece is doing the same for nursing home staff and health care workers. France is too. And is imposing a health pass requirement for dining, traveling, and other public venues â which has some saying 'non, merci.' Meanwhile, other EU countries are checking green passes at the door.

How will everyone know that I'm vaxxed, waxed, and up to the task?

Your employer could ask for proof. So whether your vax card is somewhere in the back of your sock drawer or you treated it with the respect it deserves, time to have it ready.

theSkimm

As vaccine rates stall, governments and employers are laying down the law â and employee handbook â to try to keep COVID-19 under control. It's a tactic that will alienate many...and vaccinate countless more.

And Also...This

What may be coming to an endâ¦

Relief programs. In the next few weeks, some COVID-19 programs are nearing their deadlines. The Trump admin put many of these policies in place last year as COVID-19 put the economy into panic mode. While the Biden admin extended many of them, some are coming to an end. Dems are pushing for the help to keep on coming for student loans and housing protections. But a lot is up in the air for:

Housing: On July 31, the federal eviction moratorium that protects millions of renters is set to expire. About 11 million Americans are at risk of losing their homes.
Unemployment: Expanded unemployment benefits of an additional $300 a week will end in early September. And 25 states have already ended the unemployment benefit.
Food assistance: Additional food stamp benefits â that gave some households about $100 more a month â will end Sep 30.
Student loans: Starting Oct 1, student loan borrowers have to start paying back their federal loans.

Who people are talking aboutâ¦

Noor Mukadam. Last week, the 27-year-old daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat was tortured, stabbed, and beheaded â according to police reports. Police arrested a suspect â an acquaintance. Her death sparked outcry online. Vigils reportedly sprouted throughout Pakistan and in diaspora communities. Activists reportedly blame society's patriarchal attitudes for the high rate of violence against women. (By one count, 34% of women experiencing spousal violence.) The country's prime minister, Imran Khan, faced backlash and protests after he blamed victims of rape last month for wearing "very few clothes." And Pakistan is ranked 164th out of 167 countries in Georgetown University's 2019 Women, Peace, and Security Index.

Where's justice?: Lawmakers have reportedly tried to push for protections for women against violence. But have gotten pushback from community and religious leaders in the socially conservative country. Most recently, from Pakistan's Council of Islamic Ideology that advises the gov on laws.

Who's telling everyone to read the roomâ¦

Scientists. Yesterday, they published a study warning that 18 out of 31 of the planet's vital signs hit record highs or lows. Fancy talk for 'things are about to get a whole lot worse' unless we do something about climate change. In 2019, more than 11,000 scientists warned climate change would bring "untold suffering." Now, around 13,900 signatories are calling for action to address the root cause of climate change. And not just the symptoms â like wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and more.

...Oh and speaking of climate change, this congressman's got a few things to sing about it.

What's giving people something to celebrateâ¦

Progress. A report found that every state (except Mississippi) has elected at least one LGBTQ+ official. But considering more than 5% of US adults identify as LGBTQ+, there's more work to do.

...Oh and speaking of progress, Wharton announced that the majority of its incoming MBA class will be women. St-UPenn-dous.

Who can finally unclench his fistâ¦

Arthur.

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PS: Want more crypto news and tips? Time to sign up for the Skimm Money newsletter. Tomorrow we've got a special edition, where we're going deep on alllll things crypto.

Here are today's recs to help you live a smarter lifeâ¦

1. Advice on how to win at work from an Olympic gold medalist. In our latest ep of "9 to 5ish with theSkimm" sponsored by Saks OFF 5TH, Nastia Liukin talks staying cool under pressure, learning from failure, and handling competition. Headphones, in.*

2. A wallet-friendly way to shop for high-quality groceries. That ship right to your door. Misfits Market is on a mission to reduce waste with organic produce and sustainable meat and pantry staples. Oh, and Skimm'rs get 20% off their first two boxes. Yes, please.*

3. An easy way to shop for term life insurance. That doesn't feel like...shopping for term life insurance. Bestow's process is simple and 100% online. They'll get you a quote in seconds. Plus, they don't require any medical exams (which most companies do). Learn more.*

4. How to bring sunshine into your kitchen. Cue this brand's re-release of their ever-popular marigold colored cookware (available as a set or Ã la carte). Each piece is 100% non-toxic and non-stick. No wonder it's got over 15K five-star reviews. Psst...Skimm'rs get 15% off.*

5. Up to $50 off purchases at Tushy. Get ready to feel cleaner than ever. And it's all thanks to this bidet that'll have you waving goodbye to traditional toilet paper. Add to cart.

*PS: This is a sponsored post.

Skimmârs

We like to celebrate the wins, big and small. Let us know how your friends, neighbors, coworkers (and yes, even you) are making career moves, checking off goals, or making an impact in the community.

Jacks of all trades...Molly S & Sarah C (CA & MA). A former Olympian and an Olympics coach recently launched Movement in a Box â a subscription box that combines purposeful movement and learning for children ages 3-6. Jump in.

In the driver's seat...Sommer F (PA). She completed her master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Integrated Product Design. And is about to start her dream job at Ford in Detroit.

(Some) Birthdays...Joey Lane (NY), theSkimm's Becky Murray (NY), Dana Stone (NY), Kevin Frey (GA), Andrea Dacey (CA), Kelsey Green (OH), Marisa C. Colaneri (MA), Jess Farah (MN), Samuel Zients (NY), Emily Fox (WI), Tory Sanders (OK), Dea Hoover (MO), Amy Prohaska (KS), Jody Herbert (IL), Corissa Ng (CA)

*Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.

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