Working from home is on the way out; An Obamacare replacement defeated

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Hours after VP Mike Pence had to break a Senate tie to kick off the health care debate, the Republicans’ latest health care plan failed to pass. There is no clear path to legislation that would repeal and replace Obamacare; a vote on the most comprehensive alternative failed by a wide margin and another that would essentially repeal it is even less popular. Senate leadership has set a deadline to pass something this week, but prospects are dimming as debate rages on. #GOPHealthCare

Working from home is on the way out. IBM, Aetna, Reddit, and Bank of America are among a growing list of companies slashing remote work policies. It’s not because employees working from home are less productive; rather, many companies think in-person collaboration just can’t be beat. IBM recently went so far as to spend $750 million to remodel workplaces to help “provoke creative tensions” in face-to-face meetings. The percentage of US workers conducting at least some work remotely dropped from 24% in 2015 to 22% last year. #RemoteWorkers

Uber wants a new CEO by early September, Bloomberg reports. The ride-hailing firm has whittled its shortlist to fewer than six candidates, including Hewlett Packard Enterprise chief Meg Whitman. Uber’s next leader will have a tough road: The company, which operates in some 80 countries and rakes in billions per quarter, needs to reshape its reputation and culture after a series of high-profile scandals, including sexual harassment allegations. #UberNewCEO

Ransomware victims have paid more than $25 million to cybercriminals in the past two years, according to a new study. This kind of cyber attack, which infects and locks computers until payment has been received, has become “an almost unavoidable threat,” with recent cases like WannaCry and NotPetya hitting thousands across the globe. One particularly pricey attack: Locky, which received over $7 million in payments from victims. #RansomwarePayout

The Federal Reserve isn’t expected to raise interest rates today after its monthly meeting, with some analysts predicting there won’t be another hike this year at all this year unless inflation picks up. The US economy currently doesn't have enough inflation, a situation that can reduce consumer spending. And with the nation near full employment, the next step is raising wages — something a little inflation can actually spur. #FedMeeting

Idea of the Day: Want to get ahead in your career? Take a behavioral science class. “I thought it would be a mushier subject,” says Chevron CEO and chairman John Watson. “Yet I probably learned more from that class than any other.” The class opened his eyes to human behavior, which in turn has helped him master negotiation — something Watson says is embedded into every aspect of your career:

“Negotiating is a core competency that you need to advance. You’re negotiating in everything you do. Even if it doesn’t feel like a commercial transaction, you’re always using those skills.”

What's your take? Join the conversations on today's stories: #GOPHealthCare | #RemoteWorkers | #UberNewCEO | #RansomwarePayout | #FedMeeting

— Lorraine K. Lee and Katie Carroll / Share this using #DailyRundown