• WARN-related layoff filings have risen to their highest levels in nearly a decade, Goldman found.
• Outplacement firm data showed corporate layoff announcements peaking outside a recession.
• Goldman said it has not concluded that AI is driving a significant share of recent job cuts.

Goldman Sachs researchers are warning that the US labor market may be starting to soften as private-sector data show a growing wave of layoffs across several industries, the Wall Street bank said in a new report.

The firm said state filings related to planned mass layoffs have surged to their highest level since 2016, excluding the pandemic spike — the sharpest increase Goldman has tracked in nearly a decade.

Layoff announcements compiled by Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a firm that tracks corporate job cuts, had by October climbed to a level previously unseen outside of a recession, the report noted, citing cuts in sectors like tech, industrial goods, and food and beverage as factors that drove the increase.

Goldman‘s economists said the combination of rising layoff signals is concerning — representing “growing signs of weakness” — because workers are increasingly struggling to secure new employment, making rebounding after losing a paycheck especially difficult.

Even some of corporate America’s biggest names haven’t evaded the job market’s cooling. Amazon, for example, announced plans this fall to eliminate about 14,000 corporate jobs as it seeks to streamline and embrace AI.

“A sustained increase in layoffs would be particularly concerning because the hiring rate for workers is low and it is harder than usual for the unemployed to find jobs,” economists Manuel Abecasis and Pierfrancesco Mei wrote.

Decade-high layoff signals

The state filings Goldman cited — known as Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, notices — are required by companies with more than 100 employees in advance of instituting layoffs. They’re a helpful indicator of employer behavior, signaling when cuts may be around the corner.

On top of the rise in WARN notices, the bank found that the leadership of more publicly traded companies had begun openly discussing potential layoffs on recent earnings calls with shareholders. Taken together with the Challenger outplacement data, the picture strongly suggests more companies are considering trims and efficiencies in the coming months.

Still, the bank said weekly jobless claims remain low, which means government reports might not yet reflect the full extent of deterioration in the labor market. A recent Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report for September surpassed economists’ expectations.

But Goldman noted that claims tend to lag private layoff trackers by about two months, which could hint at a potential uptick in federal data about job losses as winter continues.

And although concerns have grown about whether artificial intelligence is pushing companies to reduce headcount, Goldman said current evidence does not show that AI is meaningfully driving the latest layoffs.

“While AI may be increasingly considered in workforce decisions,” the Goldman researchers wrote, “clear evidence of layoffs directly motivated by AI remains limited.”

• The Wang Fuk Court fire has killed at least 75 people, with another 76 missing, Hong Kong officials said.
• The fire is under control, Hong Kong’s chief executive John Lee Ka-chiu said.
• Three executives of the construction firm that built the tower have been arrested.

The deadly fire that ripped through the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has claimed the lives of dozens, displaced hundreds, and led to the arrests of three local executives.

At least 75 people have died from the fire, which began Wednesday afternoon, local time, and eventually tore through seven of the complex’s eight towers. Roughly 4,600 people live in the complex, and nearly 300 are still missing, and 76 are injured, Hong Kong leaders have said.

Among the injured, 11 are firefighters, and Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region John Lee Ka-chiu said at least one firefighter has died as a result of the blaze.

The devastating fire, which is now under control, according to Hong Kong authorities, is one of the deadliest in recent memory and has already surpassed the death toll from London’s 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people.

Hong Kong authorities have said materials on the outside of the building did not meet fire safety standards, and three executives from the construction firm that built the towers have been arrested for manslaughter.

“We have reason to believe that those in charge of the construction company were grossly negligent,” said Eileen Chung, a senior superintendent of police, during a press conference.

Parts of the building were under renovation, with bamboo scaffolding and a flammable safety net on the outside of the towers.

The aftermath of the fire is being felt locally and internationally. K-pop awards show, Mnet Asian Music Awards, being held in a Hong Kong stadium on Friday night, canceled its red carpet but still plans to proceed with the event. Pope Leo sent a telegram to the bishop in Hong Kong expressing his sympathies for the victims.

For those affected, the government has established an assistance fund where each household receives roughly $1,300, which is less than the average monthly rent in the Tai Po region.

• Many parents I kknow resist letting their kids quit activities, thinking it reflects poorly on them.
• I want my kids to quit activities and friendships that no longer suit them.
• I think allowing kids to quit builds confidence, maturity, and helps them evaluate their own needs.

Not a week goes by that I don’t hear a parent saying their child is miserable in an extracurricular activity, an advanced placement class, or even a friendship. That parent often then remarks that they won’t allow their child to quit. It seems that parents have inherited and sustained the idea that letting a child quit is a moral failure and reflects poorly on the parent with a resounding, “I’m not raising a quitter!”

I am taking the opposite approach with my own four kids, two of whom are teens and two are tweens. I believe there are perfectly acceptable reasons to quit — the main of which is that quitting can be a healthy habit. After all, as an adult, I have no problem quitting a job, a relationship, a volunteer position, or even holiday plans if they no longer serve me and my family.

Ultimately, I ask, why should I have a different standard for my children than I have for myself? If the goal of parenting is to raise well-adjusted, well-functioning adults, why not let them quit?

I let my kids quit sports

Last year, one of my teens was enrolled in an elite, short-term sports program. We were convinced that the tough love she was getting on the court would help her have more grit and build skills.

Our child, who thrives with calm coaching and more private criticism, was miserable with the coaching style of this team. She asked to quit, and we readily agreed because she was reporting to us that she wanted to completely give up her beloved sport. The mental anguish wasn’t worth the “elite” program.

I’m happy to report that quitting worked. She’s still in her sport, just not at an unhealthy capacity.

I let my kids quit relationships

Many family-to-family relationships develop because parents want to spend time with other kids’ parents, but the kids? Sometimes they grow apart or never even liked each other at all. I try not to force my kids to stay in these uncomfortable situations.

Quitting a relationship can be a quiet fade; it doesn’t have to be loud and dramatic. We want our kids to evaluate relationships and understand what is and isn’t healthy. The same goes for dating relationships. It’s OK to break up with someone who simply isn’t a match, rather than wasting time and energy.

I have shared with my kids how I felt two of my own friends stopped supporting me when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and how it was better for me to let them go than to implore them to hang in there with me. I hope they’ll do the same if faced with a similar situation.

I let my kids quit classes

Once kids reach high school, they have more freedom to change their schedules, even a few weeks into a class. One of my daughters quit a science class because there was far too much math, a subject she struggles with, than she expected there would be. Just because a kid is qualified to take an advanced placement or dual-credit class does not mean the prestige is worth the sacrifices they may have to endure.

As a college teacher, I have seen far too many students hit burnout from taking too many classes or enrolling in classes that are over their heads, resulting in plummeting grades and deteriorating mental health. I want my high schoolers to learn to bail now, when necessary, rather than suffer in silence.

There’s also the benefit of them carefully looking at all the pros and cons, weighing their options, and making a decision that works for them. This builds confidence and is empowering, propelling them into greater maturity.

I let my kids call in

We are fortunate to live in a state that offers students excused mental health days. If my kiddo is feeling overwhelmed, they are allowed to use the days they need, without a penalty from me or the school. Though this technically isn’t quitting, I do think it’s a short-term “quit” for a day to recharge and evaluate what they need moving forward.

In my opinion, perfect attendance awards are inherently ableist. I don’t want my kids to be rewarded for being pushed to (or over) their breaking point. Instead, my children are learning to gauge how their bodies and brains are feeling, attuning to their intuition, and yielding to the warning signs that they need to take a pause.

• A Campbell’s Soup VP accused of calling the company’s chicken “3D-printed” is no longer at the company.
• Campbell’s said it believes Martin Bally is the voice in a secretly recorded conversation with a former employee that went viral.
• In that conversation, he appeared to disparage Campbell’s customers and employees.

Campbell’s said Wednesday that a vice president who was embroiled in a public firestorm over a lawsuit and secret recording was no longer at the company.

The recording appeared to show the now-former executive, Martin Bally, disparaging customers and colleagues and referring to the company’s chicken as “3D-printed.”

“The comments were vulgar, offensive and false, and we apologize for the hurt they have caused,” the company said in a statement Wednesday. “This behavior does not reflect our values and the culture of our company, and we will not tolerate that kind of language under any circumstances.”

The accusations about the former Campbell executive, Martin Bally, were made in a lawsuit filed in Michigan on November 20 by Robert Garza, a former employee. Garza said he was unjustly fired after complaining about Bally’s conduct.

Garza said he secretly recorded a conversation where Bally — then Campbell’s vice president of information technology — insulted the intelligence of “Indians,” belittled customers, and blasted the company’s products in a profane rant.

Garza’s law firm provided Business Insider with a copy of the recording. It wasn’t included as an exhibit in the lawsuit and Business Insider hasn’t verified its authenticity.

In a sample quote from the conversation, the person in the recording said Campbell’s products were “shit for fucking poor people” and “unhealthy.”

“Even in a can of soup — I look at it, and look at bioengineered meat,” the person said. “I don’t want to eat a fucking piece of chicken that came from a 3D printer, do you?”

Campbell said in its Wednesday statement that it believed “the voice on the recording is in fact Martin Bally” and said the description of the food is “patently absurd. ” The company said Tuesday that Bally was “on leave” before saying Wednesday that he “is no longer employed by the company.:

The remarks caused a firestorm online and caught the eye of Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who said he would investigate the company because of the state’s ban on lab-grown meat.

Bally didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

• I made Ina Garten’s “grown-up” mac and cheese recipe. 
• The recipe features Gruyère, extra-sharp cheddar, and blue cheese, plus bacon and breadcrumbs. 
• I thought Garten’s mac and cheese was delicious and perfect for Thanksgiving.

The holidays are nearly upon us, which means it’s time to indulge in one of the most universally beloved pastas.

I’m talking about mac and cheese, obviously.

I’m a huge pasta fan, especially when the recipe is by Ina Garten (I’ve even been ranking them!). So I decided to try her “grown-up” mac and cheese just in time for Thanksgiving.

Ina Garten’s “grown-up” mac and cheese features bacon, basil, and plenty of cheese.

To make Garten’s “grown-up” mac and cheese for four, you’ll need:

• 4 cups of elbow macaroni or cavatappi
• 4 slices of white sandwich bread
• 8 ounces of Gruyère cheese, grated
• 6 ounces of extra-sharp cheddar, grated
• 4 ounces of blue cheese, crumbled (Garten recommends Roquefort)
• 8 ounces of thick-sliced bacon
• 3 cups of milk
• 4 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter
• 4 tablespoons of freshly chopped basil leaves
• ½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
• Pinch of nutmeg

First, I preheated the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and prepped the bacon.

I arranged my bacon on a sheet pan in one layer. Garten recommends placing a baking rack over the sheet pan, but I didn’t have one, so I just lined mine with aluminum foil to avoid making a greasy mess.

I cooked my bacon for 15 minutes, until the strips turned crisp, then transferred them to a plate lined with a paper towel.

While the bacon was in the oven, I prepped my breadcrumbs and started cooking the pasta.

I sliced the crusts off my sandwich bread, cut each slice into smaller pieces, and roughly chopped my basil.

Then, I threw my pasta into a large pot of boiling salted water, letting it cook for around six minutes. I opted for cavatappi over elbow macaroni because I believe it’s better at carrying the ooey-gooey sauce of a great mac and cheese.

Once my noodles were al dente, I drained them and set them aside.

And I grated a lot of cheese.

If you’re making this for Thanksgiving, just recruit some family members to help!

I threw my chopped bread and basil into a food processor to make the breadcrumbs.

After a few pulses, my breadcrumbs were ready!

Once the bacon had cooled a bit, I gave it a rough chop.

Garten kept her bacon pieces pretty chunky while demonstrating this recipe on an episode of “Barefoot Contessa,” so I did the same.

Then, I began warming up some milk for the roux.

I heated the milk in a small saucepan, making sure not to boil it.

While the milk was heating, I began melting my butter.

I added the butter to a pot set over medium-low heat.

Then, I added flour to the pot with the melting butter.

I stirred the butter and flour together over low heat for two minutes.

“This cooked butter and flour is going to act as a thickener for the sauce,” Garten explained during the episode.

As I whisked the flour and butter together, I added the hot milk.

Garten says you should cook the sauce for about one or two more minutes, until it’s thickened and looks smooth.

“It’s not incredibly thick, but what it does is it just coats the spoon,” she added.

I took the pot off the heat and added all my cheeses, plus seasoning.

Garten recommends adding one teaspoon of salt, some freshly ground black pepper, and nutmeg.

“It’s a really classic spice that’s used in gratins,” Garten says in the episode. “You won’t know it’s there, but it’ll make everything taste better.”

I added the cooked cavatappi to the pot, as well as the chopped bacon.

I gave everything a good stir as a delicious cheesy scent filled my kitchen.

Then, I poured my mac and cheese into a casserole dish.

Garten used individual gratin dishes while making this on “Barefoot Contessa” since she was only making it for herself and her husband, Jeffrey.

Since I doubled the recipe to make dinner for my family, I used a 12-inch casserole dish, which was the perfect size.

I sprinkled my breadcrumbs over the mac and cheese and threw the dish into the oven.

I didn’t use all of the breadcrumbs because I had already fully covered the top, but my family later said they wished there had been more — so I recommend using every last crumb!

If you’re planning to make Garten’s “grown-up” mac and cheese the day before, just throw your dish into the fridge overnight and bake it right before you want to serve it.

Garten says to bake the mac and cheese for 35 to 40 minutes, but my pasta didn’t need that long.

While reading reviews of Garten’s recipe on the Food Network’s website, I saw that many people said their mac and cheese had turned dry after baking it for the recommended amount of time. They suggested baking the pasta for 25 minutes or less.

I checked my mac and cheese at the 20-minute mark and saw the breadcrumbs were already starting to brown. At the 25-minute mark, they were beautifully golden, so I took my dish out of the oven.

Not all ovens are made equal, so check your mac and cheese as you go.

My pasta was still bubbling as I started to serve dinner, and it looked like a creamy, cheesy dream.

The sound of the bubbling sauce was so satisfying that I couldn’t resist taking a few videos of it.

My family watched with excitement as I dug my spoon through the breadcrumbs and pulled up a scoop of ooey-gooey noodles. Dinner couldn’t come soon enough!

Garten’s “grown-up” mac and cheese is easy, delicious, and a great Thanksgiving side dish.

My parents and sister were huge fans of Garten’s mac and cheese.

The texture is velvety rather than cloying, and I loved the balance of flavor between the Gruyère, cheddar, and blue cheeses. The Roquefort adds a bit of tang, so if you’re making this for someone who really dislikes blue cheese, maybe only use half so you’re still getting the depth that it adds. Personally, I’m not a huge blue cheese fan, but I didn’t find it overpowering.

I also loved how the smoky bacon cut through the cheesiness — I’d even recommend throwing in an extra slice or two. The crunchy breadcrumbs on top were also a huge hit, adding a lovely contrast to the creamy noodles underneath (definitely don’t skimp on them).

I think the flavors of Garten’s mac and cheese are perfect for a holiday side and would pair well with turkey. We even enjoyed eating it as a main course for dinner.

If you’re looking for a great traditional Thanksgiving dish with a twist, Garten’s “grown-up” mac and cheese is a great pick.

• The Thanksgiving travel season could break records this year.
• There are some surprising things you can’t bring on a plane via airport security.
• Foam swords are not allowed in carry-on bags, but lightsabers are permitted.

Thanksgiving travel season can mean long lines at the airport, so it’s always helpful to know what items you can — and can’t — put in your carry-on bag.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, this week’s Thanksgiving travel period could be the busiest in 15 years.

Before you hop on a flight, you may want to check that you don’t have any items that could slow you down at TSA.

The Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, maintains a lengthy, searchable online database of items you can review before packing your bags, and you might be surprised to learn that everything from large quantities of soup to Magic 8 Balls are prohibited in carry-on luggage on flights.

Here are 12 carry-on items you’d be surprised aren’t allowed through airport security.

Snow globes

Leave the snow globes at home. They often contain more than the permitted amount of liquid for carrying on a plane.

According to the TSA, snow globes are allowed through if they are about tennis-ball size or less, and appear to contain less than 3.4 ounces of liquid. However, if you’re bringing back a travel memento from a trip, it’s usually a safe idea to pack it in your checked bag. 

Magic 8 Balls

When it comes to Magic 8 Balls, the future is clear: Leave them at home, or put them in your checked bag. Toys like the Magic 8 Ball that contain liquid are not allowed in carry-on bags.

“For carry-on bags: We asked the Magic 8 Ball and it told us… Outlook not so good,” TSA wrote on its official website. “For checked bags: We asked the Magic 8 Ball and it told us… It is certain!”

Christmas crackers

If you’re traveling to or from the UK around the holidays, you might want to avoid packing this traditional British Christmas item. TSA guidelines state that “English Christmas crackers” are not allowed in carry-on or checked bags. 

Made from a cardboard tube wrapped in brightly colored paper, crackers contain small gifts that come out when pulled on either end. When both ends of the cracker are pulled, there is a bang.

That’s because, inside, there are two strips of card attached to each end of the cracker. The two pieces of card have a slight overlap that is treated with gunpowder. When each end of the cracker is pulled, friction is generated where the card overlaps, creating a small explosion on the part containing gunpowder.

A US Transportation Security Administration spokesman told Airport Parking and Hotels that these items are prohibited from flying in checked or carry-on bags.

“They are flammable and should not be brought on airplanes. They fall in the same category as sparklers and fireworks,” they said.

Large quantities of soup

You can bring snacks on a plane, but a large quantity of soup is prohibited in carry-on luggage.

The TSA reported that soup is allowed on flights if you are carrying less than or equal to 3.4 fluid ounces, but any amount larger than that is prohibited in carry-on bags.

Cast-iron cookware

If you plan on cooking at your destination, cast-iron cookware should be packed in your checked luggage.

Cast-iron cookware, such as skillets and pans, is not allowed in carry-on luggage. While the TSA website does not explain why these items are prohibited, heavy cast-iron items could cause serious injuries or damage if used as weapons.

Other types of pots and pans are allowed in carry-on and checked bags.

Alcoholic beverages containing more than 70% alcohol

Alcoholic beverages with more than 70% alcohol, or over 140 proof, are prohibited from both carry-on and checked bags.

Some high-percentage alcohols that would be affected by this ban include Hapsburg Absinthe XC, Sunset Very Strong Rum, Devil’s Springs Vodka 160, and Golden Grain 190, which contains 95% alcohol by volume.

Alcoholic beverages that contain more than 24% but not more than 70% alcohol are limited in checked bags to no more than 5 liters and no more than 3.4 liquid ounces in carry-on bags.

Foam toy swords

They might not be lethal, but foam toy swords can’t come in your carry-on. Instead, they can be packed in checked bags.

That being said, lightsabers are allowed to be brought on board, per TSA guidelines. 

Nerf guns

Carry-on bags cannot contain squirt guns, Nerf guns, or other items that resemble realistic firearms or weapons.

The TSA recommends that you pack these items in your checked bags, instead. The agency also notes that “replicas of explosives, such as hand grenades, are prohibited in checked and carry-on baggage.”

Water guns packed in a carry-on should be emptied of all liquid, or contain less than the 3.4 ounces allowed through security. 

TSA officers also have the option to prohibit or confiscate any item that goes through the security screening checkpoint “if they believe it poses a security threat,” TSA guidelines state.

Full-size scissors

Nail scissors are allowed in carry-on luggage, but regular scissors need to be checked in a bag — anything that could be used as a weapon is usually banned from carry-on bags, and full-sized scissors are no exception.

TSA’s website states that scissors are allowed in your carry-on, but must be less than 4 inches in length from the pivot point and wrapped or sheathed securely “to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.”

Fertilizer

TSA guidelines explain that fertilizer is not allowed in carry-on or checked bags. The Street reported that this is because fertilizer is deemed a hazardous material, as it can be flammable and could be a risk for explosion. 

Gel-filled heating pads

Gel-filled heating pads are also not allowed in carry-on luggage, since the gel in heating pads is liquid, but they can be checked.

Electric heating pads that do not contain gel or liquid are not restricted in any way.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7

After a series of dangerous incidents in which the phones overheated, Samsung recalled the devices on September 15, 2016, and again on October 13, 2016. The Department of Transportation issued a 2016 statement banning both recalled Galaxy Note 7 phones and refurbished versions.

“We recognize that banning these phones from airlines will inconvenience some passengers, but the safety of all those aboard an aircraft must take priority,” then-Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in 2016. “We are taking this additional step because even one fire incident in-flight poses a high risk of severe personal injury and puts many lives at risk.”

“The fire hazard with the original Note 7 and with the replacement Note 7 is simply too great for anyone to risk it and not respond to this official recall,” said US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) chairman Elliot F. Kaye. “I would like to remind consumers once again to take advantage of the remedies offered, including a full refund. It’s the right thing to do and the safest thing to do.”

In a December 2016 statement, Samsung said 93% of recalled Galaxy Note 7 phones had been returned, but that the company was rolling out a software update that month that would render the phones unusable.

“Consumer safety remains our highest priority,” it said in the statement.