CITY WHISPERS: Stingy WeWork milks last drop from tenants

Just weeks ago shared office provider WeWork finally went bust in a truly stunning fall from grace.

It seems the firm has cranked up the penny-pinching to absurd levels since its bankruptcy filing.

A tenant at one of WeWork’s UK sites said the firm’s complimentary coffee machines have been restricted to dispensing black coffee only, seemingly in a bid to cut down on milk costs.

‘These coffee machines are in almost constant use,’ they pointed out.

This is ironic given WeWork’s initial selling point was to model itself on coffee shops to relieve the drudgery of the office.

Milking the situation: WeWork’s complimentary coffee machines have been restricted to dispensing black coffee only

Not that the company’s bosses were always experts in caffeinated beverages.

It’s only two years ago since a documentary revealed co-founder and former chief executive Adam Neumann kept mixing up hot drinks, leading staff to call cappuccinos ‘lattes’ to appease him.

Still, when it comes to cutting costs, it’s the little things that add up, right?

Handy short-term fix for Glen

One of John Glen’s last acts as chief secretary to the Treasury was to give an interview to the Financial Times. 

‘Serious people who run significant tranches of our economy in the City want serious people in the Treasury making long-term decisions rather than seeking to garner political support in the immediate term,’ Glen said. 

The ink was barely dry on those words before he was ‘reshuffled’. 

A handy short-term fix. 

Christmas advert appraisals already in full swing 

It might not be December yet, but the season for Christmas advert appraisals is already in full swing.

Safe to say there are some inventive offerings this year, with John Lewis featuring a giant Venus flytrap while Morrisons has a choir of singing oven gloves.

But the surprise winner of 2023’s festive ad bunfight, according to an expert panel drawn up by trade magazine The Grocer last weekend, is Boots.

The High Street chemist’s ad tells the rather moving tale of a mother and daughter travelling to the North Pole to deliver a present to Santa. It scooped the highest score in a crowded field despite a lack of musical kitchen handwear or carnivorous plants.

Sometimes tradition beats novelty.

Reabold’s ding-dong with activists  

Oil and gas tiddler Reabold Resources has been having a ding-dong with activists who want to oust its two chief executives and most of the board.

The firm claims this latest effort is led by banker Kamran Sattar, saying he tried a similar coup last year but was opposed by 75 per cent of investors.

Reabold seems less willing to entertain a fracas this time, saying a request for a general meeting to vote on the proposals was invalid, due partly to the oddly archaic technicality that the request be submitted in hard copy.

Given Reabold’s recent history, we doubt this is the end of the matter.

                                                                   Contributors: Patrick Tooher and Francesca Washtell 

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk