Free office snacks could be scrapped; Open AI’s new agent; and the RTO gender gap widens

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Here are this week’s can’t-miss stories and trending topics. Join the conversation by answering the prompts below and include the hashtag #TheInsider for a chance to be featured by the LinkedIn editorial team. 

Tax bill threatens office snacks

An overlooked aspect of tax policy may leave a bad taste in some workers' mouths. The U.S. government's latest spending bill fails to renew a corporate tax deduction for employee meals and snacks. After Dec. 31, companies will no longer be able to write off some expenses related to feeding employees. It remains to be seen what will happen to cafeterias and break rooms once the carveout expires, but the change comes at a time when employers are already struggling to lure staff back into offices. ✏️ Melissa Cantor

Read more perspectives here and share your thoughts using #WorkPerks: How do perks like free snacks and meals define a company’s culture? 

OpenAI introduces ChatGPT agent

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT agent, a powerful AI tool that can perform complex, multi-step tasks using "its own virtual computer." Built on a custom model combining the company's Operator and Deep Research tools, the new agent is capable of things such as creating slide decks and generating spreadsheets. It's designed to work in the background and request confirmation before taking "actions of consequence," like sending an email.✏️ Kara Reinhardt

Keep reading here and weigh in using #AgenticAI: What are the pros and cons of agentic AI? 

•  Subscribe to TechStack for more AI news

Topics on the rise

• Retro-style discounts are popping up at restaurants nationwide, as consumers clamor for more dining deals.
• Blackstone has withdrawn from a consortium of investors looking to purchase TikTok's U.S. business.
• President Donald Trump signed the Genius Act into law on Friday, making it the first federal law to regulate stablecoins.

Your weekly dose of a newsmaker’s perspective on significant timely developments, shared first or - only on - LinkedIn.

Business leaders and executives turned to LinkedIn last week to share the following newsworthy announcements:

• Recent results and outlooks from Pepsi, American Express and more earnings
• C-suite changes at L.L.Bean, Estée Lauder and more executive moves
• New AI investments, Uber's tie-up with Lucid and more deals and partnerships

We’re all experts in something, and we all have knowledge and experiences to share. Lean into exchanging information with like minds on the platform around a different topic each week.

This week’s topic: Post-COVID RTO gender gap widens

More men than women have returned to the office post-pandemic, creating a growing gender gap, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing a new Labor Department survey. While remote work has allowed many women to stay in the workforce amid the demands of home and family, the flexibility can limit career advancement and mentorship opportunities. Companies increasingly reward presence in the office, raising concern that women working remotely may be left behind. Economists warn that these trends may further entrench gender inequality in the workplace. ✏️ Kara Reinhardt

Comment below: What steps can organizations take now to prevent remote work from becoming a new driver of gender inequality?

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