Managers need to watch out

Editor’s note

Joining the workforce during a period of historically low unemployment, Gen Z professionals have been able to make demands of employers that previous generations could only dream of. They won’t work long hours or tolerate toxic bosses. They will do only exactly what they are paid to do. The concept of a “dream job” makes them go “ick” because, honestly, work is just a small part of their lives.

When I consider this tremendous impact, I wonder two things. The first: Are we really talking about Gen Z-specific traits and desires? Or just what youthful people have always wanted? The second: This generation entered the workforce at a time when workers had all the power and companies had to bend over backward to attract them. Will that dynamic always hold? Let me know what you think: insidertoday@insider.com.

— Nicholas Carlson

• Zuckerberg laid out plans to cut costs. Declaring 2023 the “year of efficiency,” the Meta CEO made it clear last year’s layoffs were just the “beginning.” Here’s what’s in store.
• Judge in NY Trump Organization trial has warned warring lawyers: The October trial will start on time “come hell or high water.” More here.
• You should immediately stop using eye drops that may be linked to a death, the CDC says. So far, 50 patients have tested positive for a drug-resistant bug. Read the full story.

Semaglutide is the first FDA-approved drug for treating obesity in almost a decade. But almost as quickly as it burst onto the market, it’s become difficult to find.

It’s also incredibly expensive to try it and to stay on it long term. Wegovy, designed to treat obesity, costs $1,349 a month. Ozempic, intended to treat type 2 diabetes, costs $892 a month. So some patients, who can’t find or afford the real thing, have resorted to “compounded” versions of the drug for a fraction of the price.

But here’s the thing that’s troubling doctors: Taking compounded drugs is safe if you know where the ingredients come from. In this case, we don’t. What we do know is that these versions don’t contain semaglutide — a patented drug that is not available for compounding. Experts warn that it’s difficult to know how safe or effective it might be.

Top reads

• Instagram’s status as a moneymaker is under threat from TikTok. Its platform is optimized for influencers and power users, but that means it’s losing out on engagement from regular people. How TikTok beat Instagram.
• Watch out, managers: The job cuts are coming for you next. Companies like Meta and FedEx are paring back managerial jobs as businesses look to cut costs and put an end to an endless loop of “managers managing managers.” Read more.
• Taking a “hush trip” may help with burnout — but could cost your company. More remote workers are secretly traveling without their employer’s permission. These trips are poised to be a top trend in 2023, but could leave employers with hefty tax bills. Here’s what to know.
• The rise of Sam Altman. He’s the CEO of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. But the Stanford dropout also rebuilt a Macintosh computer at age 8 and started several companies before cofounding his AI company with Elon Musk. Inside Altman’s fabulous life.
• A Chick-fil-A restaurant’s traffic got so bad that city officials ordered it to be demolished. The solution? Make it a drive-thru-only restaurant. Check out the new design.
• Brazil wants to abandon its biggest warship out at sea. It plans to abandon the 34,000-ton São Paulo in international waters, after the ship was denied entry to a Turkish scrapyard. It would become one of the largest pieces of garbage in the ocean. More here.
• Looking for a stock boost? Just say you’re using new AI tools like ChatGPT. Tronics, dot com, crypto … ChatGPT. The AI bot has supercharged investor interest in the space — and some companies are starting to cash in. Find out more.

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This edition was curated by Nicholas Carlson and edited by Hallam Bullock, Lisa Ryan, Dave Smith, Nathan Rennolds, Kevin Kaplan, and Shona Ghosh. Get in touch: insidertoday@insider.com.