Meta spends big on keeping Mark Zukerberg safe, Twitter cancels Q/A session with employees over Musk’s enrollment, and Dell Netherlands tests a four-day workweek.
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That’s all the tech news that’s trending right now, welcome to Hashtag Trending. It’s Wednesday, April 13, and I’m your host, Tom Li.
As the CEO of Meta, Mark Zukerberg requires higher security than most people, and that’s an expensive ordeal. According to Business Insider, the company spends more than $20 million on personal security for Zuckerberg and his family. In 2021, Meta spent a record $26.8 million, up from $25 million in 2020. Business Insider described the security arrangements in broad strokes, as the company did not detail what it paid for. It said that aside from 24/7 bodyguard protection, Meta also installed an office with bullet-resistant glass and a panic button.
Source: Business Insider
Following Twitter’s initial announcement that Elon Musk was to join its board of directors, many Twitter employees were worried about the change. To address their concerns, Twitter has set up a Q/A session with its staff, where they can speak directly to Musk. Of course, that meeting has now been cancelled since Musk rejected his seat on the board. But the mood is still chaotic on Twitter as rumours flew left and right, including the possibility of Musk expanding his stake in the company. In the meantime, Musk remains Twitter’s largest shareholder. It’s still unclear why he declined to join its board.
Source: Protocol
Dell Netherlands will be embracing the four-day work week trial spreading across the U.K. One spokesperson told the Register that the new structure will not only increase employee retention but also increase accessibility and diversity. She said that by having a four-day workweek, more talents will be able to apply for roles they’d have trouble filling before on a five-day schedule. Unlike some other pilots, Dell will not be cramming five days of work into four days. Instead, it will be four eight-hour days. Dell employees will see corresponding pay adjustments according to hours worked.
Source: The Register
Honda is spending big on developing electric vehicles. Following the company’s commitment to turning all of its car sales into electric by 2040 last year, the company has now dedicated $40 billion to restructure its production. The investment will be spread out over the next 10 years. The company is already working on making electric vehicles more affordable. In a live briefing, Honda said that it plans to launch 30 EV models by 2030, including an ultra-cheap mini EV that costs just $8,000 by 2024. Some of its most popular series like the Acura and Prologue will also see electric variants.
Source: Engadget
That’s all the tech news that’s trending right now. Hashtag Trending is a part of the ITWC Podcast network. Add us to your Alexa Flash briefings or your Google Home daily briefing. Make sure to sign up for our Daily IT Wire newsletter to get all the news that matters directly in your inbox every day. Also, catch the next episode of Hashtag Tendances, our weekly Hashtag Trending episode in French, which drops every Thursday morning. If you have a suggestion or a tip, drop us a line in the comments or via email. Thank you for listening, I’m Tom Li.