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Some six years ago, a great experiment began in workplaces across the globe. Office workers did their jobs from home before the pandemic, of course, but never so many and for so long.

Now, after six years, it’s time to ask a fundamental question: Does remote work make people happy?

The short answer: Academic research shows that although working from home a couple of days a week boosts job satisfaction and makes employees less likely to quit, full-time remote work is more likely to make people anxious and lonely.

“There seems to be a Goldilocks effect with remote work and happiness,” says Adolfo Cuevas, associate professor of social and behavioral sciences at New York University. “Working from home some of the time provides flexibility and work-life balance benefits, without the social isolation that can accompany being fully remote.”

Northern Trust Asset Management is a global investment manager that helps investors navigate changing market environments in efforts to realize their long-term objectives.

Entrusted with $1.2 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2024, we understand that investing ultimately serves a greater purpose and believe investors should be compensated for the risks they take — in all market environments and any investment strategy. That’s why we combine robust capital markets research, expert portfolio construction and comprehensive risk management in an effort to craft innovative and efficient solutions that seek to deliver targeted investment outcomes.

As engaged contributors to our communities, we consider it a great privilege to serve our investors and our communities with integrity, respect and transparency.

Northern Trust Asset Management is composed of Northern Trust Investments, Inc., Northern Trust Global Investments Limited, Northern Trust Fund Managers (Ireland) Limited, Northern Trust Global Investments Japan, K.K., NT Global Advisors, Inc., 50 South Capital Advisors, LLC, Northern Trust Asset Management Australia Pty Ltd, and investment personnel of The Northern Trust Company of Hong Kong Limited and The Northern Trust Company. Note: This account is not managed or monitored by Northern Trust Asset Management, and any messages sent via Seeking Alpha will not receive a response. For inquiries or communication, please use Northern Trust Asset Management’s official channels.

Get ahead of the market by subscribing to Seeking Alpha’s Wall Street Week Ahead, a preview of key events scheduled for the coming week. The newsletter keeps you informed of the biggest stories set to make headlines, including upcoming IPOs, investor days, earnings reports, and conference presentations.

Wall Street’s major market averages are higher on Friday as traders gear up for the highly anticipated SpaceX (SPCX) initial public offering. SpaceX priced its IPO at $135 per share, raising roughly $75 billion in what is set to become the largest IPO ever, with a valuation of about $1.77 trillion.

The economic calendar is relatively lighter for the holiday-shortened week, with markets closed on June 19 in observance of the Juneteenth National Independence Day. The Federal Reserve’s June 16–17 meeting will take center stage in an otherwise quiet week.

Import and export price indexes along with housing starts for May are due on Tuesday. The Fed’s interest rate decision is expected on Wednesday alongside the retail sales data for May. The FOMC will hold its press conference on Thursday, with the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index for Jun and initial jobless claims numbers also expected on the same day.

As the earnings season draws to a close, only a few companies are expected to report their results in the coming week, including Canopy Growth (CGC), Accenture (ACN), and Kroger (KR).

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Earnings spotlight: Monday: Canopy Growth (CGC). See the full earnings calendar.

Earnings spotlight: Thursday: Accenture (ACN) and Kroger (KR). See the full earnings calendar.

Volatility watch: Sandisk (SNDK) and AST Spacemobile (ASTS) have seen options volatility increase over the last week. The most overbought stocks per their 14-day relative strength index include Inno Holdings (INHD), STAK (STAK), and AmeriTrust Financial Tec (AMTFF

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana lottery players who believed they had scratched their way to life-changing prizes in a new $5 game were left stunned and empty-handed after a printing error caused tickets to display inflated winnings that did not match official records, prompting the Hoosier Lottery to pull the entire game from shelves.

The Space Invaders Cash Invasion scratch-off, launched recently, featured space-themed symbols including a rocket ship that appeared to trigger instant big prizes. At least two players, forklift driver Mike Fields and Glendon Jones, drove to claim what they thought were $100,000 and $2,500 jackpots respectively, only to learn the tickets were worth far less — or nothing at all.

Fields purchased four tickets and scratched one revealing what looked like a $100,000 prize under the rocket symbol. Scanning it at a retailer showed only a $20 win, confirmed by lottery officials. “They never told us ‘no,’ they just said that we wouldn’t be paid today, and no other information really except that we would be informed by mail within 30 days,” Fields told local media.

Jones, excited about his apparent $2,500 victory, traveled to Hoosier Lottery headquarters in Indianapolis expecting payment. Instead, officials informed him of a misprint, leaving him with no winnings. “They said to come down here to headquarters and they would pay the ticket. I get here and they say it’s a mess up, misprint and that I’m pretty much out of luck on it,” Jones said.

The issues stem from a technical glitch where some tickets printed prize amounts that differed from the lottery commission’s official validation records. The Hoosier Lottery became aware of the problem last Tuesday and immediately halted sales of the game.

In a statement, Jared Bond, Director of External Affairs for the Hoosier Lottery, explained: “Last Tuesday, we became aware of a technical issue with our recently launched $5 Space Invaders Cash Invasion Scratch-off. The issue involved a printing error where some tickets appeared to show a prize different from what was recorded on the lottery commission’s official validation record. The lottery is reviewing all applicable rules and procedures to determine the proper remedy.”

Affected players are encouraged to submit a Space Invaders Protest Form available on the Hoosier Lottery website, along with the physical ticket. Submissions must be completed thoroughly and mailed by November 30, 2026. Players can also contact the lottery at 1-800-955-6886 or Info@HoosierLottery.com.

The incident has sparked frustration among players and raised questions about quality control in lottery ticket production. Scratch-off games rely on secure printing processes with multiple layers of validation to prevent exactly these kinds of mismatches between visual prizes and backend data.

This is not the first time printing or validation errors have affected lotteries, though the scale here appears limited to specific batches. State lotteries across the U.S. generate billions in revenue annually for education, infrastructure and other public programs, with strict oversight intended to maintain public trust.

Hoosier Lottery officials have not disclosed how many tickets were impacted or the total number of complaints received. The game, which featured alien invasion themes and multiple ways to win, was pulled to prevent further issues while an internal review proceeds. Other related games like Space Invaders Fast Play remain available.

For players like Fields, a working forklift driver, the brief excitement followed by disappointment was particularly jarring. Many lottery participants dream of sudden windfalls to pay debts, buy homes or secure retirement, making such glitches emotionally taxing even if the financial stakes for individuals vary.

Consumer advocates recommend that anyone purchasing scratch-offs verify wins through official channels immediately and retain tickets carefully. In cases of disputes, documentation and prompt filing of protests are essential, as lotteries operate under specific rules that prioritize validated records over printed appearances.

The Hoosier Lottery, like others, uses third-party printers and rigorous security measures. Investigations into the root cause — whether a design flaw, production error or scanning mismatch — are ongoing. Outcomes could range from small consolations for affected players to full adherence to validation data, depending on state regulations and legal precedents.

This episode highlights the intersection of technology, manufacturing precision and human hopes in the lottery industry. While most tickets function as designed, rare errors like this underscore the need for continuous improvements in quality assurance.

Broader lottery trends in Indiana and nationally show steady participation, with scratch-offs popular for their instant gratification compared to draw games. The Space Invaders title tapped into nostalgic video game appeal, likely boosting initial sales before the problems surfaced.

As the review continues, affected players await mail notifications or updates from the lottery. In the meantime, the incident serves as a cautionary tale for enthusiasts: even apparent big wins require official confirmation before celebrations begin.

Public reaction on social media has mixed sympathy for the players with calls for clearer communication from the lottery. Some express understanding for technical hiccups in complex printing, while others demand greater transparency and potential compensation.

Lottery officials emphasize that the vast majority of games operate without issue and urge continued responsible play. For those with valid winning tickets in other games, redemption processes remain unchanged.

The resolution of these specific claims could set precedents for similar future disputes. Legal experts note that lottery rules typically bind players to the terms printed on tickets and official validation systems, limiting payouts to confirmed amounts.

In Indianapolis and surrounding areas, the story has drawn local media attention, amplifying awareness of the protest process. Players who purchased the game recently are advised to check their tickets against official validation rather than relying solely on printed symbols.

As summer progresses, the Hoosier Lottery will likely introduce replacement games to maintain revenue streams while rebuilding confidence. For now, the focus remains on fairly addressing the impacted tickets through the established review procedures.

This technical mishap, though disappointing for a handful of hopeful winners, represents a small fraction of overall lottery operations. It nonetheless reminds both operators and players of the importance of accuracy in a system built on chance and trust.