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The effects of poisonous gases that leaked from the <keyword id="23933468" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Carbide" source="keywords">Union Carbide</keyword> factory in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal 40 years ago were seen in the next generations of those who survived the tragedy, a former government forensic doctor has said. At least 3,787 people were killed, and more than five lakh were affected after a toxic gas leaked from the pesticide factory in the city on the intervening nights of December 2 and 3, 1984. Speaking at an event held by organisations of gas tragedy survivors on Saturday, Dr. D. K Satpathy, former head of the forensics department of Bhopal's Gandhi Medical College, said he performed 875 post-mortems on the first day of the disaster and witnessed 18,000 autopsies the next five years. Sathpathy claimed Union Carbide had denied questions about the effects of poisonous gases on unborn children of women survivors and said effects would not cross the placental barrier in the womb in any condition. He said blood samples of pregnant women who died in the tragedy were examined, and it was found that 50% of the poisonous substances found in the mother were also found in the child in her womb. Children born to surviving mothers had the poisonous substances in their system, and this affected the health of the next generation, Sathpathy claimed and questioned why research on this was stopped. Such effects will continue for generations, he said. Satpathy said it was said that MIC gas leaked from the Union Carbide plant, and when it came in contact with water, thousands of gases were formed, and some of these caused cancer, blood pressure, and liver damage. Rachna Dhingra of <keyword id="24137747" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bhopal-Group-for-Information-and-Action" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bhopal Group for Information and Action" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Bhopal Group for Information and Action">Bhopal Group for Information and Action</keyword> said Satpathy, who carried out most autopsies, and other first responders in the 1984 disaster, including the senior doctors in the emergency ward and persons involved in mass burials, narrated their experiences during the event. Rashida Bee, president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh, said a poster exhibition covering every aspect of the disaster will be held till December 4 to mark the 40th anniversary of the tragedy. An anniversary rally will be organised, with a focus on global corporate crimes such as <keyword id="20335495" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="industrial-pollution" source="keywords">industrial pollution</keyword> and climate change, she said.

Bhopal gas tragedy: Effects of leak seen in next generation of survivors, says ex-forensic doctor

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Trump wants to cut taxes on Social Security benefits, impacting current and future beneficiaries.</li><li>Experts warn these cuts could deplete the Social Security fund three years earlier than expected.</li></ul>Donald Trump plans to make changes to America's Social Security system with his return to the White Housein January. The president-elect promised on the campaign trail to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trumps-tax-plan-social-security-retirement-medicare-2024-8">cut taxes on Social Security benefits</a> in his second term. "People on Social Security are being killed, and one of the things I'm doing is no tax for seniors on Social Security, and I'll get it done quickly," Trump told "Fox &amp; Friends" in August. For some baby boomers, lower <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retirement-savings-social-security-baby-boomers-without-savings-401k-poverty-2024-8">Social Security</a> taxes could mean larger monthly checks in the short-term. But experts predict that the <keyword id="23944791" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Social-Security-tax-cuts" source="keywords">Social Security tax cuts</keyword>, along with other campaign promises made by Trump, could quickly drain the national Social Security fund. That would put benefits at risk for low-income retirees and younger generations, who may <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retirement-savings-social-security-baby-boomers-without-savings-401k-poverty-2024-8">rely on that income</a> as they age. "It's designed to help retirees, but the people it's going to hurt are people that rely on Social Security the most," Taylor Lee, a certified financial planner at Belmont Capital Advisors, told BI of Trump's Social Security tax cut. More than 72 million Americans receive Social Security and the estimated average monthly check is <a target="_blank" href="https://faq.ssa.gov/en-us/Topic/article/KA-01903">$1,92</a>4.35 a month, per the Social Security Administration. Americans can begin taking Social Security at age 62, or wait until their full benefits kick in at 67, the national retirement age. Trump's campaign promise comes as Business Insider has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/older-americans-regret-retirement-savings-taking-social-security-early-investments-2024-10">heard from older adults</a> with limited retirement savings, many of whom are struggling to afford necessities like housing and groceries on their fixed Social Security income. Income taxes on Social Security apply to all beneficiaries with an annual household income above $25,000, and most pay taxes on at least <a target="_blank" href="https://www-origin.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/taxes.html">50%</a> of their benefits. Lower-income beneficiaries pay less in taxes. <h2>Social Security tax cuts would hurt low-income retirees, younger generations</h2>US Social Security will be depleted<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/when-will-social-security-benefits-run-out-retirement-crisis-boomers-2024-5">in the next decade</a> without Congressional action. The fund is largely financed through payroll taxes that Americans contribute to throughout their career. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.crfb.org/blogs/what-would-trump-campaign-plans-mean-social-security">A report</a> published in October by the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said that Trump's campaign promises — which alsoincludes ending taxes on tips, reducing <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tax-plan-tarriffs-benefits-top-earners-study-2024-10">some income taxes</a>, expanding deportations, and imposing tariffs — would take a toll on the Social Security fund, making it "insolvent" within the next six years. That's three years earlier than the Congressional Budget Office's current estimation. Those policies would also lead to a 33% <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.crfb.org/blogs/what-would-trump-campaign-plans-mean-social-security">benefit cut</a> in 2035, a 10% increase from what the Congressional Budget Office projects under the current law. Lee said that low-income boomers and younger generations are likely to feel the brunt of these cuts. Low-income boomers living on Social Security already pay less income taxes, so they wouldn't see the benefits Trump promised. Lee said that many don't have other <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/social-security-no-savings-snap-benefits-debt-boomers-experiences-2024-6">retirement savings </a>to fall back on if their benefits are slashed. He added that older Americans who are wealthy or middle class would feel less stress from Social Security cuts, and may benefit in the short term from Trump's tax plan. "It would help people in the middle class, people that have the luxury of having a 401(k) or an IRA and have multiple sources of retirement income," Lee said. "But the people that's going to hurt the most are people that don't have that traditional retirement income." Lee said it's possible that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-social-security-insolvency-medicare-donald-trump-biden-mcconnell-2023-3">younger generations</a> will have lower Social Security benefits, requiring them to rely more heavily on retirement savings. To be sure, any changes Trump hopes to make the tax or Social Security systems would need to be approved by Congress. Working in his favor is that the<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/republicans-win-senate-election-majority-election-2024-11">Senate will have a Republican majority</a>.(Votes for House representatives are still being counted.) Lee added that tax funding is also not the only challenge facing Social Security: people are living longer, meaning that more benefits funding is required per person. As for other retirement finances, like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/investing/what-is-401k">401(k) accounts</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-election-victory-impact-investments-costs-housing-taxes-childcare-2024-11">investments</a>, it's unclear what impact a second Trump term will have. The president-elect plans to impose tariffs on foreign goods and make broad tax cuts, a move that is likely to drive inflation and make the cost of living <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tariffs-higher-inflation-fed-interest-rates-taxes-mortgage-rates-2024-11">more expensive</a>. With the <keyword id="23944794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="future-of-Social-Security" source="keywords">future of Social Security</keyword> uncertain, Lee said it's important for retirees to build a strong financial plan. "There's a lot of planning that we can still do," Lee said. "Government policy — we really can't affect that. So we just have to control what we can control." Are you relying on Social Security in retirement? Are you adjusting your retirement plans based on Trump's return to office? If so, reach out to this reporter at <a target="_blank" class="" href="mailto:allisonkelly@businessinsider.com">allisonkelly@businessinsider.com</a>.

Trump's plan for Social Security will help baby boomers in the short term and cut benefits for anyone younger

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Now in <keyword id="19896940" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Walmart" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Walmart" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Walmart">Walmart</keyword> aisles: a <keyword id="23944922" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Skibidi-Toilet-action-figure" source="keywords">Skibidi Toilet action figure</keyword> — a $45 mystery toilet bowl.</li><li>The head of brands for toilet-maker <keyword id="23944923" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bonkers-Toys" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bonkers Toys" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bonkers Toys">Bonkers Toys</keyword> says it's selling well.</li></ul>Recently at my local Walmart, I saw a massive display in the main aisle of the toy section: It featured a plastic toilet, about a foot tall, with a ghoulish head sticking out. For $44.95, I could be the proud owner of the <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-link--underline" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/skibidi-toilet-is-good-actually-2023-10">Skibidi Toilet</a> — complete with <keyword id="23944930" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="toilet-themed-toys" source="keywords">toilet-themed toys</keyword> in the bowl. And in case you were wondering: Yes, it makes a flushing noise. If you've spent any time lately around someone who isn't old enough to drive, you've probably heard some utterance of the word "skibidi." I'll spare you the full summary of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/skibidi-toilet-gen-z-alpha-memes-internet-culture-outdated-old-2023-7" target="_blank">Gen Alpha meme</a>, but the short form is: It's a YouTube series about a dystopian battle of good and evil (the toilet guys are the villains). My colleague Lindsay Dodgson <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/skibidi-toilet-is-good-actually-2023-10" target="_blank">describes</a> it as "part 'Terminator,' part 'Bladerunner,' and obviously, part toilets." She says the series is actually good. What's interesting to me is that this absurd toilet meme appears to be doing a robust business in the toy aisle of your local discount store. I spoke with Dan Meyer, head of brands at Bonkers Toys, the company behind the flush. "Right away we noticed that it was exploding," Meyer said of the skibidi phenomenon online. Bonkers made a licensing deal and started pitching vendors on the toilet toy — an easy sell, he said. Bonkers started making prototypes of the toilet toy in early 2024 — and it's hit the shelves in time for the holiday season, a tight timeline. "When we're pitching it to [retailers], we had enough data to see that in middle schools and elementary schools, the term skibidi was already a thing," Meyer said. Bonkers could point to the YouTube views the Skibidi Toilet series had racked up — its channel has more than 40 million followers — or how if they searched Instagram, they'd find "hundreds and hundreds" of people dressed in homemade Skibidi Toilet costumes. Bonkers Toys, founded in 2017 in San Diego, has carved a niche for itself by licensing intellectual property from YouTube creators. Its first big toy was the giant "mystery egg" toy for Ryan's World. At the time, Ryan's World was one of the top channels on YouTube, a pioneer in the genre of "little kid opening toys." <div type="image" title="skibidi toilet toys" height="3000" width="3000" msid="115096128" hostid="261"></div>Bonkers' move into memes is in line with what retailers are trying to achieve, Blake Droesch, a senior retail analyst with BI sister company Emarketer, told me. He said big box stores like Walmart are trying to respond quickly to online trends, especially for toys. They need to move fast to compete with viral shopping on the likes of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-gen-x-boomers-love-temu-2024-1">Temu</a>. "This environment has certainly created demand for manufacturers who can produce fast and cheap products that will serve this growing market," he said. "It's no different than fast fashion, but for toys. They respond quickly to viral moments and get products on the shelves while the trend is still hot." The original Skibidi Toilet was the creation of animator Alexey Gerasimov, who made it for his YouTube channel DaFuq!?Boom!, which has 44.3 million subscribers. Gerasimov has partnered with Invisible Narratives, a companyfounded by Adam Goodman, the former president of DreamWorks SKG and Paramount Pictures who works with YouTube creators to help them make the jump to more traditional media, like movies and TV. It also helps them with licensing their brands for merchandise, like Skibidi's deal with Bonkers. Merchandising, like with the toys from Bonkers Toys, is crucial to success for these new media brands, he said. "We believe that young people don't want to pay for content anymore," Goodman told Business Insider. "Their parents pay for subscriptions, and the don't really go to movies the way that they used to — but they like buying stuff." Skibidi Toilet is certainly not the first YouTube creation to enter into consumer merchandise. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-mrbeast-pitches-brands-sponsorship-deals-jimmy-donaldson-youtube-2024-10">MrBeast</a> sells chocolates and premade lunches along with Logan Paul and KSI, who make the popular drink Prime. <div type="image" title="Skibidit toilet plush toy" height="3000" width="3000" msid="115096131" hostid="261"></div>Meyer wouldn't provide numbers on how many toilets they've sold, but so far, things are looking promising, he said. He said Bonkers' launch of a LankyBox-themed product about three years ago — which was another product centered on a YouTube creator — was one of the "biggest, most successful-selling brands in the boys' action aisle" at discounters, including Walmart. He said the Skibidi Toilet was outselling LankyBox by around double. (Walmart didn't respond to requests for comment on sales numbers.) Right now, there are only a few Skibidi Toilet-theme products from Bonkers: individual action figures, mini-figures, plushes (aw, cute), and the aforementioned "mystery" toilet, which includes stickers, minifigures, and lanyards. But there will be more products for next year, Meyer said — including what every little boy and girl dreams of getting from Santa: a remote-controlled toilet bowl. Correction: November 8, 2024 — In the Skibidi Toilet YouTube series, the toilet guys are the bad guys, not the good guys.

Dear Santa: Please bring me a Skibidi Toilet for Christmas

The makers of the highly anticipated sequel to the 2000 classic, '<keyword id="20238187" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gladiator-2" source="keywords">Gladiator 2</keyword>,' directed by <keyword id="20127843" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ridley-Scott" source="keywords">Ridley Scott</keyword>, have unveiled a thrilling new trailer that showcases a gritty and intense <keyword id="20202726" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paul-Mescal" source="keywords">Paul Mescal</keyword> as <keyword id="22273459" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lucius" source="keywords">Lucius</keyword>, the son of Lucilla and nephew of the villainous Commodus. Set against the backdrop of war-torn <keyword id="20138954" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rome" source="keywords">Rome</keyword>, the trailer hints at a narrative filled with conflict and emotional depth. Years after the events of the original film, Lucius finds himself navigating the harsh realities of life as a gladiator in northern Africa. The new trailer emphasises his journey back to Rome, where he faces formidable foes while reconnecting with his mother, portrayed by <keyword id="20572245" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Connie-Nielsen" source="keywords">Connie Nielsen</keyword>. A pivotal moment in the trailer reveals Lucius's true parentage. In a powerful scene, Lucilla imparts the legacy of his father, saying, "Take your father's strength. His name was Maximus. And I see him in you." <div type="INSTAGRAMURL" thumbUrl="undefined" caption="Caption not available." user="undefined" cmsId="1727158941207"><url><![CDATA[https://www.instagram.com/p/DAQquSLPx-w/]]></url><permalink><![CDATA[https://www.instagram.com/p/DAQquSLPx-w/]]></permalink><payload><![CDATA[]]></payload></div>Paul Mescal expressed his astonishment upon discovering his character's background. "I was like, 'Holy shit,'" he recalled in an interview, as per Variety. He further noted the challenge of carrying such a significant legacy, stating, "It's an affronting thing to see it written on the page," he said. The cast also features a star-studded lineup, including <keyword id="20140099" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pedro-Pascal" source="keywords">Pedro Pascal</keyword> as Marcus Acacius, a Roman general trained by Maximus; <keyword id="20517778" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Denzel-Washington" source="keywords">Denzel Washington</keyword> as Macrinus, a powerful figure in Rome; and Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger as the twin emperors. Scott has promised viewers that this instalment will contain the "biggest <keyword id="20415738" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="action-sequence" source="keywords">action sequence</keyword>" he has ever directed, surpassing even his previous works. Known for crafting unforgettable cinematic moments in films like 'Alien' and 'Blade Runner,' Scott aims to elevate the action in 'Gladiator 2' to unprecedented heights. Scott discovered Mescal's potential after witnessing his standout performance in 'Normal People.' A brief conversation led Scott to cast Mescal as the film's lead, which the actor approached with great dedication, significantly transforming his physique for the role. Pascal humorously dubbed him "Brick Wall Paul" due to his impressive strength, adding, "I would rather be thrown from a building than have to fight him again," as per Variety. With excitement building, 'Gladiator 2' is set to hit theatres on November 22, promising to deliver a blend of heart-pounding action and rich storytelling that fans of the original film have been eagerly awaiting.

'Gladiator 2' new trailer unveils epic battles and family secrets

The highly anticipated sequel to the <keyword id="19940411" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="blockbuster" source="keywords">blockbuster</keyword> hit <keyword id="19986789" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pushpa" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Pushpa" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Pushpa">Pushpa</keyword>: The Rise, <keyword id="20035132" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pushpa-2" source="keywords">Pushpa 2</keyword>: The Rule, is set to take the box office by storm. With its pre-release business reportedly reaching a staggering Rs 900 crore according to News18, the film has already created history. Fans have been eagerly waiting for the second part of the film, and the excitement has been palpable. The movie's digital and satellite rights have been sold at a record-breaking deal of Rs 900 crore, making it one of the most lucrative film deals in <keyword id="20060213" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-cinema" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian cinema" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Indian cinema">Indian cinema</keyword>. While the official OTT platform announcement is awaited, reports suggest that the theatrical rights have also been sold for a substantial sum of Rs 650 crore. Directed by <keyword id="20141226" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sukumar" source="keywords">Sukumar</keyword>, Pushpa 2 is a <keyword id="23594296" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="high-budget-film" source="keywords">high-budget film</keyword> with a star-studded cast, including <keyword id="19943690" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Allu-Arjun" source="keywords">Allu Arjun</keyword>, <keyword id="19917047" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rashmika-Mandanna" source="keywords">Rashmika Mandanna</keyword>, <keyword id="20180296" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Fahadh-Faasil" source="keywords">Fahadh Faasil</keyword>, and Sunil. The film's music is composed by Devi Sri Prasad, who, along with Allu Arjun, won the National Award for their work in Pushpa: The Rise. The sequel promises to be even more action-packed and thrilling than its predecessor. With a budget of Rs 500 crore, Pushpa 2 is one of the most expensive Indian films ever made. The filmmakers have spared no expense to create a visually stunning and immersive cinematic experience. Fans are eagerly awaiting the release of Pushpa 2: The Rule, and it is clear that the film is poised to become a massive commercial success. With its record-breaking pre-release business and the immense anticipation surrounding it, the movie is all set to redefine the <keyword id="20125529" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="action-drama" source="keywords">action drama</keyword> genre in Indian cinema.

Allu Arjun’s ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ breaks records with Rs 900 crore business even before release!

<keyword id="20082498" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cameron-Diaz" source="keywords">Cameron Diaz</keyword> recently opened up about her nearly decade-long break from acting, revealing that the decision was deeply personal and driven by a need to regain control of her life. Known for her roles in blockbuster films like There’s Something About Mary and The Mask, Diaz surprised many when she stepped back from <keyword id="19900806" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hollywood" source="keywords">Hollywood</keyword> after her performance in the 2014 remake of Annie. During a candid discussion, the actor shared insights into why she felt it was the right time to walk away from the limelight, despite her successful career. “For me, it was something I had to do to take care of myself,” Diaz said as per an ANI report originally attributed to Deadline. She added that her decision was about reclaiming her life and building a future that aligned with her personal values. “I didn’t care about anything else—no one’s opinion, no one’s success, no one’s offer. It was about me wanting to focus on my own life and what I wanted it to be,” she said. The actor was clear that stepping away from her profession allowed her to prioritise what she was most passionate about: <keyword id="19895682" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="family" source="keywords">family</keyword>. In 2015, Diaz married musician <keyword id="23571177" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Benji-Madden" source="keywords">Benji Madden</keyword>, and the couple now has two children. Her desire to build and nurture her family was a significant factor in her decision to take a break from acting. Beyond family life, Diaz also explored other creative avenues during her hiatus, writing several health-related books, including The Body Book and The Longevity Book, focusing on wellness and longevity. Diaz recently spoke at <keyword id="23581899" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Fortunes-Most-Powerful-Women-Summit" source="keywords">Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit</keyword>, where she reflected on the importance of taking time to engage in activities that truly “feed the soul”. She encouraged others to pursue what brings them peace and fulfilment, even if it means stepping away from a successful career. “Whatever it is, if it speaks to your soul, then it’s worth pursuing,” she added. After nearly a decade away, Diaz is returning to acting in the upcoming Netflix action-comedy <keyword id="20441935" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Back-in-Action" source="keywords">Back in Action</keyword>, set to premiere in January 2025. The film reunites her with actor Jamie Foxx. In addition to this project, Diaz is expected to reprise her role as Princess Fiona in <keyword id="20444362" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shrek-5" source="keywords">Shrek 5</keyword>, slated for a 2026 release, and is reportedly in talks to star in the Jonah Hill-directed dark comedy Outcome, alongside Keanu Reeves and Hill. Her return to acting is eagerly anticipated, but for Diaz, her time away was essential for building the life she envisioned. (With ANI inputs)

Cameron Diaz talks about taking a break from acting, says it was to build her family

Climate Action 15: 2024's top global innovators powering green solutions

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-ceo-wont-tell-employees-days-to-work-in-office-2024-9">Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol</a> has been in his new role for about a month.</li><li>Employees at Starbucks stores say they're eager to see what changes he makes.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-worker-criticizes-restaurant-soulless-fast-food-empire-2024-9">Starbucks</a> could see lots of changes as CEO Brian Niccol gets his bearings.Niccol, who has been at the helm of the coffee giant for a month now, has made clear that it has room to improve its American stores. He plans to work on "reestablishing Starbucks as the community coffeehouse" and "empowering our baristas to take care of our customers," he wrote in an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-new-ceo-wants-customers-spend-more-time-coffee-chain-2024-9">open letter</a> published last month."Many of our customers still experience this magic every day, but in some places — especially in the U.S. — we aren't always delivering," Niccol wrote. "It can feel transactional, menus can feel overwhelming, product is inconsistent, the wait too long or the handoff too hectic. These moments are opportunities for us to do better."Niccol is spending his first 100 days at Starbucks getting to know the business, including visiting some of the chain's stores, according to the letter. He is Starbucks' fourth CEO in less than three years. He follows Laxman Narasimhan, who took the job in 2023 after a transition period, Howard Schultz, who served as interim CEO starting in 2022, and Kevin Johnson, who was CEO between 2017 and 2022.There's evidence that Starbucks needs a turnaround. The chain's North American sales have fallen in the last two quarters that it has reported. Starbucks' stock price was down roughly 20% this year until August, when Starbucks appointed Niccol and its shares erased those losses.Analysts have said Niccol may be the right man for the job. As <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-starbucks-ceo-brian-niccol-could-change-c-suite-menu-2024-8">Chipotle's CEO</a>, he led the brand's recovery from a food safety crisis and oversaw the creation of online ordering at the chain.Business Insider has spoken to 10 <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-baristas-what-new-ceo-should-do-pricing-drinks-menu-2024-8">Starbucks store workers</a> — whom the company calls "partners" — since the chain announced Niccol would become CEO. They declined to have their names used in this article for fear of retaliation from Starbucks, but BI has verified their identities and employment with the company. Starbucks had about 219,000 partners at its company-operated stores as of last October, according to its latest annual filing with the SEC.Here are the issues that they said they hope Niccol addresses:<h2 id="79829550-92ae-436e-bed5-8fa523e9ddc7">Some Starbucks stores should feel more like a 'third place'</h2>Not all Starbucks stores feel like great places to hang out, some partners told BI.One store in Florida, for instance, has an old, worn-down floor that has become difficult to clean, according to one partner who works there. That leads to a stench in some parts of the café that turns off patrons, they said."If you stand too close to the bar or lean over to get a straw, you might get a whiff," the partner said. "I've had customers who can see the condition of the floor, and they're like 'What?'"A Starbucks spokesperson directed BI to comments from former CEO Narasimhan on the company's July earnings call about Starbucks' plans to renovate about 800 stores in North America by the end of the company's 2024 fiscal year.Another partner at a Starbucks store previously told BI that the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-new-system-to-make-slow-ordering-better-isnt-solution-2024-9">Siren Craft System</a>, which the company has touted as a way to streamline drink production and free up partners to serve customers, often forces partners at his store to put off tasks, including cleaning.Employees at many Starbucks locations also have to juggle serving customers who visit the cafés to enjoy their coffee there and those who want a quick cup of coffee to go — perhaps by ordering through Starbucks' mobile app — and to avoid talking to anyone. "It's no longer the third place," one <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-online-orders-might-stand-in-way-new-ceo-plans-2024-10">Starbucks store manager in Florida</a> previously told BI. "It's a pit stop."<h2 id="fdc112e5-6ada-4c9c-b5f6-ea2fc7be3baa">Starbucks should hire more workers to shorten wait times</h2>Shifts at Starbucks stores are often short-staffed, multiple partners have told BI.One store in North Carolina usually has just two or three partners on duty outside of a two-hour shift in the morning, one partner who works there said. The store needs one or two more workers during those shifts to function smoothly and get customers their orders without long delays, he said.Starbucks stores often schedule more workers in the morning, when customers are likely to stop by for coffee. But far fewer workers are on the floor later in the day at some stores.The Florida store with the worn-out floor is often overwhelmed when students from a nearby school stop by in the afternoon, the partner there said."Monday through Friday, there's an afterschool rush at 3:00 p.m., and we never have enough people to work it," the partner said. That leads to "big lines that wrap around the building," the partner added.<h2 id="38169ef0-e68a-4c5e-b436-7044011ebda9">Starbucks needs a better way to manage mobile orders</h2>Partners at some stores say that they struggle to fill orders that customers place through the chain's mobile app in a timely manner, BI has reported.During busy times of the day, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-worker-long-wait-times-down-to-staffing-mobile-orders-2024-8">one Starbucks store in North Carolina</a> receives up to 20 mobile orders at a time, a partner who works there told BI. This year, the problem has gotten so bad that the store has closed in-person ordering just to catch up, the partner said.Another partner in South Dakota told BI that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-online-orders-might-stand-in-way-new-ceo-plans-2024-10">promotions through the app</a>, such as four drinks for $20, make it especially hard for workers to keep up.<h2 id="54d77444-ab80-4f8b-b80d-ec2470e4c620">Starbucks should rethink its bring-your-own-cup incentive</h2>In January, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2024/starbucks-becomes-first-national-coffee-retailer-to-accept-reusable-cups-for-drive-thru-and-mobile-orders/">Starbucks said</a> that it would start letting US customers bring their own clean, reusable cups to cafés to hold the drinks that they order. The move was meant to cut the number of single-use plastic cups that the chain uses, and customers get a 10-cent discount and rewards points for the effort. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2024/a-better-cup-for-all/">Starbucks said</a> about 400,000 of its rewards members brought in a personal cup for an order in the several days following the announcement.But a partner at a Starbucks in Florida said those incentives are too minor and don't seem to be pushing many customers to bring in their own cups. "That's not motivational, not to the average person," the partner said."I love my job, I love the company, but things have to change because of what we're doing to the environment," the partner added.A Starbucks spokesperson said the company has seen "encouraging results" since starting the reusable cup initiative in January.Do you work at Starbucks and have a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:abitter@businessinsider.com">abitter@businessinsider.com</a>.

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