More time off … A new study found that 41% of workers said they’d rather have more vacation time than a raise, if given a choice. Other findings: 30% of employees said they feel guilty taking vacation time, 42% have hesitated to take time off for fear of disrupting things at work, and 28% said their company expects them to work while they're on vacation. (PRNewswire)
Maybe we all need a break from reality … Ratings are way up for the Hallmark Channel. The feel-good network is up 9% so far this year … and the Christmas movies haven’t even started yet. (Washington Post)
Starbucks and … sushi? Yep, Starbucks is now selling sushi burritos at select locations in Chicago and Seattle. Don’t expect to see sushi chefs alongside your baristas, though. These burritos are actually made with chicken, not fish. The chicken maki roll is wrapped in seaweed and stuffed with sushi rice, cucumber, pickled cabbage, onion, avocado, tomatillo salsa and lime crema. (Business Insider)
Oh, and not surprisingly, the Twitter world has been less than enthusiastic about the Starbucks sushi announcement. (The Daily Meal)
How annoying is using your phone while out to dinner? So annoying that some restaurants have started offering discounts if you leave your phone at the door. One such restaurant, Sushi Lounge in Hoboken, New Jersey, started something called "Reconnect Tuesday" where they offer a 20% discount to diners who put their phone in a box at the table and leave it there until the check comes. Not everyone can do it. "For some people the struggle is real. They can’t do it," says assistant manager Casey Zin. "I've seen people on dates scrolling through Instagram and said, 'This isn’t going well.'" (Moneyish)
Rent a baby? In Kenya they have very long lines when it comes to voting. They've also got a rule in place that allows parents with babies to skip to the front of the voting line. Some people there have been taking advantage of this rule by renting babies. They pay a few bucks to carry a baby, then give the baby back – hopefully – after voting. Election officials have been trying to stop this practice and, during the recent presidential election, got sneaky. They put ink on the fingers of some babies to trap these baby renters. Any parent caught with a baby with ink on the fingers was sent to the back of the line! (The Globe and Mail)