💻 REMOTE WORK

Seattle workers suing employers over WFH costs

Several Seattle-based companies, including Getty Images and Expedia, are facing lawsuits from workers who claim that their companies violated the city's “wage theft law” during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The lawsuits allege that the companies required employees to provide remote work setups, internet, equipment, and utilities at their own expense.

These cases are unusual applications of Seattle's wage theft law, but they reflect a growing trend of lawsuits across the country concerning unreimbursed remote work expenses and could set a precedent for the future of remote work in the US.

🗺️ TRAVEL

Boeing, NASA, and Alaska Airlines team up to test new eco-friendly X-66A aircraft

Back in June, the US Airforce unveiled the designs of the new X-66A airplane which they designed in collaboration with Boeing And NASA.

Now Boeing and NASA are teaming up with Alaska Airlines and 4 other major airlines to test the new airplane in 2028 & 2029.

The X-66A makes use of a concept known as Transonic Truss-Braced Wing which uses super long & thin wings to reduce drag & increase efficiency. These wings are then supported by diagonal struts, you know, so they don’t break 😬

In theory, this new design, in addition to new propulsion technology, should be able to reduce fuel requirements & carbon emissions by to 30% and is the first plane designed specifically to help the US achieve the net-zero goal for aviation greenhouse gas emissions, set out in the White House’s US Aviation Climate Action Plan.

💾 TECH

SaaS 2.0: How AI will help create bespoke apps for all

Since 2010 SaaS has taken over the world and today there is software for just about anything, but its reign could be coming to an end…

“Malleable Source” is a new AI-powered type of software that allows any user to tweak, remix, or customize an app without a single line of code. Imagine taking your favorite project management app and easily adjusting features to make it perfect for your specific case.

It’s still the early days and Malleable Source is far from becoming the norm. For one thing, AI is still unreliable and there are tons of bugs, but the writing is on the wall. In a couple of years, we could all have our own custom software for areas of our work & life.

🚨 WORD ON THE WEB

• 🇵🇹 Lisbon housing crisis continues. The Portuguese capital has seen unprecedented levels of tourism & digital nomad interest and a new government elected last year has already made the housing crisis a top priority, but will it be enough?

• 🇨🇳 Young Chinese are leaving & becoming digital nomads. In an attempt to escape an ultra-competitive work culture, family pressures, and limited opportunities, many Chinese are moving to Thailand for a nomadic lifestyle.

• 🏔️ Calgary, Canada ranked as the $1 North American city for digital nomads. The Canadian city surprising took the top spot, however importantly, the study only considered two factors - affordability & internet access.

• 🌇 The rise of the human-first city - why cities around the world are banning cars (video)

📆 UPCOMING EVENTS:

Aug 28-31: NomadEire [📍Tralee, Kerry County, Ireland] - Wide-ranging discussion on all things related to nomadic life along with skill sharing, business coaching, and celebration of what Ireland can offer digital nomads.

Sept 28 - Oct 1: Nomadness Fest [📍Louisville, Kentucky, US] - A festival for travelers of color and their allies. 30+ speakers covering topics such as branding, business, domestic travel, effects of over-tourism, and much more.

Sept 30: DNCH [📍Bern, Switzerland + Virtual] - Learn about location-independent life and meet like-minded people interested in the digital nomad lifestyle.

Oct 9-15: The Nomad World [📍Albufeira, Portugal] - Transformative experience for digital nomads and remote workers from across the globe. A mix of expert talks, hands-on workshops, and beach-side fun, aimed at celebrating freedom, connection, and personal growth.

Dec 7-13: Nomad Island Fest [📍 Madeira, Portugal] - Learn from world-class industry experts on topics like mindset, marketing, tech, wealth & health.

Special thanks to Curtis Duggan, Andrew Jernigan, and the Insured Nomads team on Twitter (X??) for helping me put these together!

🌍 WFA JOBS:

Looking for a job that’s not just remote, but that you can work from anywhere in the world? We’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Check out these awesome WFA positions 👇

⭐️ Marketing Project Manager @ Coaching.com

⭐️ Social Media & Content Marketing Specialist @ PipDecks

⭐️ Product Marketing Manager @ Castr

⭐️ Product Manager (fluent French required) @ Smily

⭐️ Operations Lead @ MightyDigits