Forklift Fete
It’s probably seldom that a forklift operator is honored by having her image splashed across the trailer of an 18-wheel truck. But that happened last week to Patricia Gloria, a forklift operator at PepsiCo Beverages North America’s Torrance plant. A Pepsi delivery truck with her image on the side was unveiled on Wednesday – which was International Women’s Day – because she was a winner in a company program that, as the company put it, “recognizes and celebrates frontline women associates across the company as an example of PepsiCo’s ongoing commitment to empower women while reinforcing its supply chain through a more diverse workforce.”
Gloria, nicknamed “Pepsi Pat” by her colleagues and the only woman on her team, has 20 years of experience driving a forklift and has been with Pepsi for 30 years. So it’s no surprise that dedication was one factor that figured into the honor.
Speaking of International Women’s Day, Robert Half last week released a survey of 1,600 employed American women that showed they remain concerned about pay equity. Only 58% of those women feel fairly paid, versus 72% of men. And for those female professionals who were considering a job change, the main reason was to pursue higher pay.
The survey by the California-based human resource consulting firm also said that 34% of women want greater flexibility to choose where and when they work. And 29% want a promotion this year.
They also revealed the top factors tied to their job satisfaction, other than pay and benefits, are work-life balance, a good working relationship with their boss and opportunities to learn and gain skills.
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You may assume that San Francisco is far more entrepreneurial than Los Angeles. However, a new study suggests that San Francisco is only barely ahead.
San Francisco County had more than 19 business applications for every 1,000 in population in 2021. Los Angeles followed closely with more than 18. That’s according to a study by Forbes Advisor, the personal finance arm of the business news outlet.
For what it’s worth, Los Angeles had far more applications to start businesses than San Francisco: 178,500 to 15,800, respectively. However, since San Francisco County’s population is much smaller, its ratio of applications per person is higher.
Orange County placed third with 15 applications per 1,000 people. California’s rural counties came in toward or at the bottom in the state rankings. Nationally, the average was 11 applications for every 1,000 people.
The Insider is compiled by Editor-in-Chief Charles Crumpley. He can be reached at [email protected].
