Gender wage gap widens; CVS completes Aetna acquisition, and more top news

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The typical earnings for U.S. women equal 51% of what men make over a 15 year period, according to a Women’s Policy Research study, creating a much larger wage gap than the 20% usually cited. That measure takes into account all men and women, including those — of which there were many more than men — who were unemployed for at least a year. While the long-term gender gap has narrowed since 1968, progress has slowed in this century. ? Here’s what people are saying.

CVS has completed its acquisition of the health insurance giant Aetna. The deal, worth $69 billion, creates an industry behemoth with a diverse group of businesses. The company now includes CVS’s vast network of retail pharmacies and its pharmacy-benefit manager business and Aetna’s employer insurance, Medicare and Medicaid managed-care businesses. The company says it hopes to book savings of more than $750 millionby the second year of the deal. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Ikea’s profits have fallen by more than a third. Ingka, the holding company that runs the vast majority of Ikea stores, reported pre-tax profits of close to $2.4 billion, down 36%, in the year to August 31. Last week, the world’s biggest furniture retailer announced it was cutting 7,500 office jobs worldwide. Ingka’s head Juvencio Maeztu said the company’s results were affected by its investments in its online offering and smaller city-centre stores as Ikea moves to “transform” its business. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Between 10% and 14% of nurses who began their careers between 2006 and 2016 have second jobs, according to new research from NYU. Nurses say they’re moonlighting due to stagnant wages, student-loan debt, heavy patient loads and long hours. While some nurses are picking up extra hours, others are driving for Uber, selling crafts on Etsy or consulting. Many nurses find their side gigs essential, but studies have found that those with side jobs collaborate less with clinicians and patient satisfaction suffers. ? Here’s what people are saying.

New Zealand’s intelligence agency has banned Huawei from providing gear to a local carrier’s 5G mobile network. Spark, one of the country’s largest wireless carriers, had wanted to use the Chinese company’s equipment for the upcoming rollout of the network. New Zealand authorities said Huawei’s participation raised “significant national security risks.” Last August, the Australian government implemented a similar ban following a warning by U.S. authorities. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: The only way to improve female representation in male-dominated industries like construction is for successful women to speak out, says Roni Savage, managing director of engineering firm Jomas Associates.

“I have managed to run a successful business where I am working on these projects, I have an incredible company that is continuing to scale up. It can be done by a woman.”

What's your take on today’s stories? Share your thoughts in the comments. 

— Carmel Melouney