Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates 
Amazon Stock Rebounds After Earnings as $200B Capex Plan Sparks AI Spending Debate 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
CK Hutchison Launches Arbitration After Panama Court Revokes Canal Port Licences 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Rio Tinto Shares Hit Record High After Ending Glencore Merger Talks 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Ford and Geely Explore Strategic Manufacturing Partnership in Europe 
Uber Ordered to Pay $8.5 Million in Bellwether Sexual Assault Lawsuit 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
SpaceX Pushes for Early Stock Index Inclusion Ahead of Potential Record-Breaking IPO 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Tencent Shares Slide After WeChat Restricts YuanBao AI Promotional Links 
Verizon Communications Inc., an American wireless carrier, announced on Monday, April 18, that it will be raising its new and existing customer service staff’s minimum wage. The retail and insider sales workers will also enjoy the new pay of $20 per hour despite the rising inflation.
According to Reuters, Verizon Communications is also offering a sign-on bonus to those who will be hired as retail specialists and assistant managers in some locations across the United States. The announcement comes some months after Walmart, Walgreen Boots Alliance Inc., and Chipotle Mexican Grill implemented hourly pay raise for their workers.
Most of the way, hikes in recent months were offered by major companies to attract more applicants as the labor shortage bites. They were also meant to lure people to get back to work, as many were sent home when the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
For Verizon Communications workers, that the company calls the V Teamers, the raising of the minimum wage is in recognition of their hard work and dedication. Aside from the $20 per hour rate for the mentioned group of workers, Verizon is also adding premium pay differentials for assistant managers who come to work on Sundays, holidays, and those who are bilingual.
“Our V Teamers give their best day in and day out to support our customers with all of their needs, which is why we want to make sure we support them as well,” Verizon Consumer Groups’ chief operating officer, Krista Bourne, said in a statement. “These changes are the direct result of employee feedback and will help us remain an attractive employer in this competitive environment.”
She added, “I am confident these changes will help us attract and retain the very best talent, and allow us to continue to improve our customer experience.”
Fortune reported that Verizon Communications Inc. is the latest wireless carrier company to increase its minimum hourly salary rate. The string of pay hikes in the U.S. is always associated with the unresolved labor shortage since it is one way of attracting people to come and work for a company that lacks the manpower to provide better services these days.
