Apply Now for Vector Security, Inc.
2020 Loss Prevention Foundation (LPF) Scholarships

Loss prevention professionals as well as those who aspire to work in loss prevention in the United States and Canada can apply for Vector Security's annual Loss Prevention Foundation (LPF) scholarship program now through March 31, 2020.

Applications can be submitted via the Vector Security website at www.vectorsecurity.com/lpfscholarship.

The scholarships provide financial support to loss prevention professionals - or those who have an interest in loss prevention - seeking to obtain LPQ and LPC certifications. Vector Security began awarding the scholarships in 2009 in support of career development and continuing education for professionals in this important and rapidly-growing industry.

More than 260 scholarships totaling $262,460 have been awarded since the program began. The scholarships cover all course and examination fees for retail loss prevention professionals who wish to obtain LPF's Loss Prevention Qualified (LPQ) or Loss Prevention Certified (LPC) certifications.

Read more in today's Vendor Spotlight below.
 

Walmart's First-Ever Super Bowl Ad

The 60-second "Famous Visitors" commercial will showcase Walmart's pickup service. It will feature an assortment of iconic characters from TV shows and movies and their "creative" transportation methods, showing them touching down on Earth to pick up their goods curbside at Walmart.  The featured characters will range from Buzz Lightyear of "Toy Story" to Bill Preston of "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure." 

Before the game, Walmart will tease the ad across a variety of media, including radio stations across the country, the TV walls in its stores and social media channels. chainstoreage.com
 

2020 - Biggest Year Ever for Workplace Absences
'Super Bowl Fever': 17.5 Million Employees Ditching Work Monday

1.5M - Plan to "Ghost" Their Employer - Just Not Show Up
11.1M - Pre-Approved Time Off
4.7M - Calling Out Sick

"Super Bowl fever" is expected to result in 17.5 million employees missing work on Monday, according to a survey by the Workforce Institute at Kronos Inc. It's the largest amount ever since the institute began tracking in 2005. 

But it's not just the Super Bowl, as 2020 is anticipated to be one of the biggest years for workplace absences. The survey found 48% of employees say they expect to miss work, call in late or even be distracted on the job due to major events and pop culture moments. usatoday.com
 

Coronavirus Update

7,700 Cases - Death Toll Stands at 170, According to Chinese Officials
The spread of China's coronavirus, which closed a city of 11 million, leaped across continents and raised pandemic fears, may have started with something simple - a person buying food for dinner at an outdoor market. usatoday.com

CDC records coronavirus case that spread within US
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday confirmed the first case of the coronavirus spreading from one person to another within the United States.

All of the U.S. cases recorded so far had been from travelers returning to the U.S. from China, where the virus originated. "We understand this may be concerning but based on what we know now our assessment remains that the immediate risk to the American public is low," said CDC Director Robert Redfield. thehill.com

Published in Government Technology: Emergency Management
Coronavirus Not Likely to Become a Big Problem for U.S., Infectious Disease Expert Says

While a lot of attention and concern is being paid to a new virus spreading rapidly in China, the public health infrastructure in North America and Europe means it will probably not have the same impact here or there, an infectious disease expert at Augusta University said Monday.

Much is still unknown about the novel coronavirus that emerged in China at the end of the last year and now has spread to 15 other countries, including the United States.

"Right now, we have a handful of patients with this new virus here in the United States," said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC. "However, at this time in the U.S., this virus is not spreading in the community. For that reason, we continue to believe that the immediate health risk from the new virus to the general American public is low at this time."

"I think here we're ready for it," he said. "Everything is in place. It has been in place since SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) and then later on since Ebola. I don't think it will be that big of a deal here, I really don't. I'd hate for people to start freaking out and changing trips here. I think we are ready for a pre-emptive management," said Dr. Jose Vazquez, the chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Augusta University.

One big difference is that public health systems here and in Canada and Europe are much stronger than where the virus is currently spreading. Vazquez said.

"I don't foresee seeing a lot of cases in North America and in Europe," he said.

It is much more likely that seasonal flu will cause more infections and deaths than the new virus, Vazquez said. govtech.com

Coronavirus hits cruise lines: 'Every lost voyage' could cost $4 million in revenue

Coronavirus Updates From the CDC
 

House Approves Ban on Most Employment Credit Checks
U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 29 passed legislation that prohibits employers from using credit reports for employment decisions, except when required by law or for a national security clearance.

The bill also prohibits hiring managers from asking questions about applicants' financial past during job interviews or including questions about credit history on job applications.

Employer groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) oppose the bill, arguing that the information in a credit report is an indicator of a person's judgment and potential risk to an organization, especially for certain positions involving finances and accounting.

Republicans opposed to the bill characterized it as an overreaching approach that could yield unintended consequences and put consumers at risk.

Several states and cities including California, Illinois, New York City and Philadelphia have passed laws restricting the use of credit reports used by employers for employment purposes, with several more jurisdictions poised to join the trend, Devata said. shrm.org

Tight Budgets - Surging Incarceration Rates - Rising Prison Costs

Kentucky Gov. Urging Lawmakers to take up Criminal-Justice Reform

Familiar Song - Here We Go Again - Retailers Will Feel the Pain

A House committee chairman says Kentucky lawmakers will grapple with a criminal justice system he says is "out of kilter." House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jason Petrie said Wednesday that bills to be considered will likely deal with the bail system, persistent felony offender status, felony thresholds for theft offenses, and probation. The upcoming discussions come amid surging incarceration rates in Kentucky. Gov. Andy Beshear points to rising prison costs as a growing burden on the state budget, sapping money for education and health care. He has urged lawmakers to take up criminal-justice reform. fox19.com

Security Industry Association Applauds the Signing of USMCA
The Security Industry Association (SIA) commends Congress and the administration on the signing of the much-anticipated United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

The trilateral trade agreement will benefit the North American security industry immensely, open new opportunities to stimulate job growth and expand business operations into existing and emerging markets.

Specifically, U.S. companies seeking to expand operations into Mexico or Canada can rely on robust intellectual property (IP) protections that curb IP theft and copyright infringements; removal of data localization requirements which forced U.S. companies to store collected data in the host country versus the United States; and efficient procurement policies that streamline and digitize communications, acquisition timelines and important transactional information.

"The signing of the USMCA will bring significant benefits for the security industry and allow SIA's members to invest in new opportunities internationally," said SIA CEO Don Erickson.

In September 2019, SIA was proud to partner with the Latin American Security Association (ALAS) and the Canadian Security Association (CANASA) in publishing a joint statement supporting the ratification of USMCA. SIA, ALAS and CANASA - the leading representation of the security industry in North America - collectively represent more than 2,500 companies with business operations located in the United States, Mexico and Canada. securityindustry.org

Interior Department adopts restrictions aimed at Chinese drones
The new policy is the formal adoption of a no-fly rule for drones made in China or with Chinese parts, the WSJ reports. It follows the temporary grounding of the department's drone fleet last year amid rising concerns that the devices could be used for espionage. Interior officials have acknowledged that all of the department's roughly 800 drones are made in China or with Chinese parts.

The department order doesn't mention China by name but directs department officials to favor U.S-made drones out of concerns information collected by aerial drones could be "valuable to foreign entities, organizations and governments." wsj.com

Be Aware:
LinkedIn Social Engineering Hack Using Your Connections to Get You to Click

Hackers Gaining Control of Your Account?

In the last two days I've received two LinkedIn messages from two different senior LP executives trying to get me to click on a link. Both of which have been confirmed to be a hacker that's using connections and trying to get me to click on their malware. Merely want to call it out to everyone. Should you get an email from one of yours that seems out of left field. Just a helpful tip. Gus Downing

NRF Predicts 32% Increase in Valentine's Day Spending

UPS testing self-driving delivery vehicles