26 May MILLIONAIRES WANTING TO BE TAXED MORE?; AUSSIE WORKERS LEAD THE OFFICE REBOUND.
Welcome to this week’s business and media intelligence update.
MILLIONAIRES WANTING TO BE TAXED MORE? HOLD THE FRONT PAGE!
A group called Patriotic Millionaires presented business and political leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week with an open letter urging governments to hit them with higher taxes and wealth levies.
The letter was signed by 150 millionaires, including Disney heiress Abigail Disney, former Blackrock boss Morris Pearl, and American actor Mark Ruffalo, who believe higher taxes for the rich is the key to tackling the rising cost of living.
Their calls came as delegates at the Davos talkfest heard warnings about how the cost-of-living crisis and war in Ukraine could soon force both Europe and the US into recession again.
AUSSIE WORKERS LEAD THE OFFICE REBOUND
The great return to work is challenging employers around the world, but some countries are rebounding faster than others.
A new survey from real estate company CBRE found more than a third of Australian businesses are encouraging staff to go to the office at least a few days a week – and employees are responding.
The rebound has been driven by changes in the office, such as unassigned seating, introducing more collaborative spaces and companies moving into buildings with strong environmental, social and governance credentials.
SHELL’S AGM GETS OFF TO A SLIPPERY START
Global energy conglomerate Shell was forced to temporarily suspend its Annual General Meeting in London this week after dozens of climate change activists stormed the event, accusing the oil giant of spending “more money on green advertising than green technology”.
The activists chanted “shame on you” and sang “we will, we will stop you” to the tune of Queen’s rock anthem We Will Rock You as investors prepared to vote on Shell’s climate proposals.
Shell’s Chairman, former BHP boss Sir Andrew Mackenzie, hit the pause button until order was restored, later remarking that it had been “an interesting start to the meeting’… You could certainly say that.
Feel free to share these updates with colleagues or friends. They can sign up here to receive our daily newsletter.