Hudson’s Bay sells Lord & Taylor, condo costs are creeping up, and more top news

The news Canadian professionals are talking about now, curated by LinkedIn’s editors. Join the conversation by clicking the hashtags below.

Hudson’s Bay has reached an agreement to sell Lord & Taylor to clothing rental subscription service Le Tote for $100 million. The deal will allow the department-store chain to continue operating its 38 stores — at least for now. Hudson's Bay will receive $99.5 million when the deal closes and a secured $25 million promissory note after two years, reports CNBC. Department stores have suffered as mall traffic dwindles, while the apparel-rental market is expected to grow more than 20% a year. ? Here’s what people are saying.

If you think buying a condominium may be more affordable than buying a house, think again. The price per square foot of condo space is on the rise across Canada, unless you're in Vancouver or Calgary, according to a recent study. The median price per square foot of a condo is more than that of a single family detached home, excluding Vancouver. The Greater Ottawa condo price per square foot went up the most dramatically — rising 17.9% year-over-year to $395, reports The Financial Post. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Apple says it's no longer keeping audio recordings of customer interactions with voice assistant Siri and has apologized for the practice. The tech giant used contractors to listen to the conversations but suspended the program a few weeks ago following complaints. Apple plans to reinstate the practice after some software updates this fall, but will give users more control over their privacy, Bloomberg reports. Amazon still "audits" interactions with its virtual assistant, Alexa, but is letting users opt out of human review. ? Here’s what people are saying.

The grounding of Boeing’s 737 MAX jets has led to a demand for replacement planes, and Canada is happy to oblige — the only problem is, there’s no-one to fly the planes, reports The Globe and Mail. An industry-wide shortage of pilots and mechanics has seen charter companies forced to turn down orders, despite having available aircraft. The labour-shortage issue is particularly acute in Quebec, where the job vacancy rate of 3.2% is one of the highest in the nation.? Here’s what people are saying.

The last decade or so has seen an explosion in office perks from coffee bars to game rooms to kombucha on tap (LinkedIn is guilty as charged). They've mostly been found at tech companies but the advent of coworking spaces like WeWork has exposed a whole new range of workers to a certain aesthetic and workspace. The Financial Times' Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson argues that WeWork's IPO, along with an economic downturn, will test the staying power of these expensive fringe benefits, which some workers have come to expect. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: Don’t hold back on your enthusiasm during job interviews in an effort to play hard to get with a prospective employer, says Gary Burnison, Chief Executive Officer at Korn Ferry.

“If you’re genuinely interested, say so by explaining why you think you’d be a good fit for the role and organization. If you don’t finish strong, the interviewer will conclude: ‘You don’t want the job.'”

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

— Riva Gold