US: Over 29.7M Cases - 538.6K Dead - 20.4M Recovered
Worldwide: 118M Cases - 2.6M Dead - 93.5M Recovered

Former Senior Loss Prevention Executive
Know of any fallen LP exec? Let's remember & recognize.

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 279  
Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 266
*Red indicates change in total deaths

CDC Says Keep Up Mitigation Measures After Vaccination
CDC Says Fully Vaccinated People Can Gather Privately Without Masks

New guidelines direct fully inoculated people to wear masks and observe
social distancing in public

People who are fully vaccinated against the new coronavirus can gather privately in small groups without masks or physical distancing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, relaxing safety guidelines for inoculated individuals under some circumstances.

The CDC said Monday that fully vaccinated people should continue to take precautions in most circumstances to prevent the spread of the virus that causes Covid-19. People who are fully immunized should continue to wear masks and keep their distance from others in public or while visiting unvaccinated people at higher risk for severe cases of Covid-19, the CDC said. The agency, leaving its travel guidance unchanged, said vaccinated people should continue to hold off on long trips.

In its guidance, the CDC said people who are fully vaccinated against the virus can visit with unvaccinated members of a single household without wearing masks or maintaining social distancing as long as everyone in that household is at low risk for severe cases of Covid-19.

A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the second dose of the two-shot vaccines made by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE as well as by Moderna Inc., or two weeks after getting the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, according to the CDC. wsj.com

CDC: Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People


During Lockdown: 100% Of Essential Workers Verbally Abused & 2/3rds Report Increase in Physical Violence
UK: Retailers write to PM over pandemic-fuelled increase in store violence
More than 65 leading retailers and industry bodies have written to prime minister Boris Johnson calling on him to take urgent action to tackle violence and abuse towards retail workers.

The letter calls for the government “to treat the issue with the seriousness it deserves and improve protection for our employees by creating a new statutory offence of assaulting, threatening or abusing a retail worker”. This legislation would toughen sentences for those who are violent or abusive towards shopworkers, deter future perpetrators, and ensure shopworkers feel safer at work.

The letter comes in response to a recent survey conducted by the BRC, which found that of “essential” retailers, who are currently allowed to be open, 100% of respondents have seen an increase in verbal abuse.

In addition, two-thirds of respondents reported an increase in the number of incidents of physical violence against staff during the current lockdown. All retailers who reported a rise in verbal or violent attacks said that the enforcement of Covid restrictions was the key factor.

One leading retailer reported 990 incidents of violence or abuse in the first week after face coverings became compulsory in shops in including incidents of coughing and spitting. talkingretail.com

Compliance Officers Stretched Thin As Remote Work Goes On
In the COVID-19 era, compliance professionals have all but lost this essential tool, and they continue to operate largely without an on-site presence one year into the declaration of the pandemic as a national emergency.

The lack of face-to-face interactions amid the pandemic is reducing the ability of compliance professionals to uncover potential misconduct and adequately monitor employees.

The shift to remote work has also led to a heavy reliance on technological tools to help with the rising cybersecurity threats and employee oversight needs, but this has only placed additional strain on compliance officers who may lack the skills or guidance to implement them, they said.

While video conferencing has largely replaced in-person meetings and investigations, it isn't as effective as the real thing.

Investigative interviews are incredibly challenging over video conference, particularly when the aim is to extract sensitive information, he added. "As an investigator or an FBI agent, you can't work a case from behind a computer screen," he said. "So if you're looking at doing compliance investigations, it's much more difficult now to interview people remotely." law360.com

CA is Opening Up More
Within 48 Hours LA County & Other Counties Could Open Up More
L.A., O.C. close to wider reopening of economy as COVID vaccinations climb
Some of California’s largest counties — including Los Angeles — could be poised to unlock parts of their economies as soon as this week if certain state-set benchmarks are met.

The potentially accelerated opening in places like L.A., Orange and San Bernardino counties is possible thanks to a rewrite of California’s coronavirus reopening blueprint that state officials announced last week.

It works like this: 40% of the state’s available COVID-19 vaccines will now be dedicated to residents in California’s most disadvantaged areas — a massive commitment officials say will help address glaring inequities in vaccine administration.

“Our understanding is that within 48 hours of the state announcing the vaccine trigger has been met, L.A. County — along with other counties with qualifying case rates — would be moved into the red tier and permitted to reopen for additional activities,” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said during a briefing Monday.

Counties in the red tier can allow indoor restaurant dining and movie theaters to reopen at 25% capacity or up to 100 people, whichever is fewer. In-person classes also would be allowed to resume for students in grades seven through 12. latimes.com

A year into remote work, Upwork findings show the experiment is working
We now have enough empirical evidence to support the benefits of working remotely, according to Upwork’s new The Future of Remote Work report.

Although the pandemic is far from over, there is enough empirical evidence to support the argument that remote work has actually worked well despite the ad hoc way many of us were forced to take it on.

Upwork just released key findings and trends from polling hiring managers over the past year. Among the noteworthy observations:

● Productivity is still higher than it was in the office.
● More work for freelancers.
● Relocation, relocation, relocation. 23 Million moving to more affordable places.
● Time and money saved.
● Ranks of remote workers will still dwindle. Over next five years 20% to 25% will work remote fastcompany.com

The Power of Going Viral
Trader Joe’s reinstates NYC employee after highly publicized firing
Ben Bonnema, the NYC Trader Joe’s employee who was fired last week after raising concerns with the grocer’s CEO over workplace COVID-19 safety protocols, is headed back to work on Monday. Trader Joe’s offered to reinstate Bonnema to his former position at its Upper West Side location on Wednesday night, the Daily Beast reports.

Bonnema was first fired from Trader Joe’s on February 26 after sending a letter to company CEO Dan Bane outlining steps that the company should take to upgrade store safety during the pandemic, according to several tweets that Bonnema posted following the incident. The firing attracted national media attention, and public figures, including the former head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, called for Bonnema to be reinstated. nyeater.com

City Of Los Angeles Imposes “Hero Pay” Requirement – Risks And Ramifications
Starting Monday, grocery stores, drug stores and big box retailers in the City of Los Angeles will be required to pay “Premium Hazard Pay” – an additional $5.00 per hour — to non-exempt employees. The ordinance mandating the pay hike is the latest in a wave of local measures adopted throughout California meant to acknowledge customer-facing employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Los Angeles ordinance brings legal risks and unanswered questions for covered employers. jdsupra.com

News Outlets & Trade Publications Are All Concerned with Mental Health Issues Now
So much so that we at the Daily have to mention it to this community  - It's a Major Concern Out There

7 Red Flags You're Experiencing Trauma From The COVID-19 Pandemic

Here's how to spot coronavirus-related post-traumatic stress disorder, plus advice on how to address it.

According to Vaile Wright, senior director of health care innovation at the American Psychological Association, many people are experiencing trauma right now, which, clinically speaking, involves being personally exposed to or witnessing a traumatic event that threatens your life or your physical integrity.

Some people will develop anxiety and depression. A smaller group will face PTSD ― although it’s important to remember that not all traumatic events will lead to PTSD, she said. huffpost.com

Editor's Note: From "rampant loneliness in America", to alcohol and drug abuse increasing, to suicides, depression, fatigue, overeating, the entire gambit of human reactions to life in quarantine. Every executive has to be aware of the signs and sensitive to our friends and colleagues that may need help or just encouraging words. Just a thought -Gus Downing

OSHA Increasing Enforcement Efforts
Especially after the blistering WSJ OSHA article Friday

Take Steps to Fight Pandemic Fatigue
Some workers are growing tired of ongoing pandemic-related restrictions and becoming lax in their compliance with COVID-19-related protocols such as mask wearing. Their "pandemic fatigue" is creating challenges and legal risks that employers need to address.

David Barron, an attorney with Cozen O'Connor in Houston, said a lack of diligence in following safety protocols "is especially problematic right now because OSHA [the Occupational Safety and Health Administration] and several state safety agencies are increasing enforcement efforts through new standards and regulations, which raises the stakes for noncompliance."

There are many causes for pandemic fatigue, including the inconvenience of measures like masks and growing complacency as news improves and vaccinations increase, Barron said.

But employers risk undermining their entire safety programs if they pick and choose which rules to enforce, he cautioned. For example, Barron asked, if an employee can ignore a mask requirement, why not ignore a hard hat or safety glasses requirement? shrm.org

Editor's Note: This might be a time to refocus or reinvent some programs in the stores. As Friday's WSJ investigative OSHA report will absolutely cause a resurrgence of activity there. Expect OSHA auditors! See the article in Friday's Daily "OSHA Failure"

Robbing Delivery Workers Epidemic
‘My Turn to Get Robbed’: Delivery Workers Are Targets in the Pandemic
Armed robbers are targeting delivery workers in New York, stealing the expensive electric bikes that are the key to their livelihood.

A growing number of delivery workers who have been victims of robberies and other violent assaults as their numbers have swelled since the pandemic first swept through the nation’s largest city a year ago.

On any given day thousands of men, and a growing number of women, can be seen crisscrossing city arteries, transporting takeout, groceries and medicine in plastic bags on top of their well-worn bikes. But their visibility has also made them targets for opportunistic criminals looking for a quick profit through robbery.

Investigators said robbers often use fraudulent credit cards to call in bogus orders and lure delivery workers to secluded locations. The delivery workers then are faced with two dire options: let go of the pricey bikes they need to remain employed or risk injury and even death. nytimes.com
 

It's All About Your Solution Providers
Uncovering the legality and security of radio frequency based drone detection systems

5 questions to ask technology providers

Last August, the Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued an advisory guidance document to help non-federal public and private entities navigate the laws and regulations related to Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones, mitigation and detection technology. The advisory references various federal provisions and laws that could render such technology illegal to use but does not cover state and local laws that might also be relevant.

American Security Drone Act of 2021

The American Security Drone Act of 2021, formerly introduced as the American Security Drone Act of 2019, was given new life in January 2021 with bipartisan support and now incorporates drone detection and mitigation systems, not just drones. It would ban federal entities from purchasing drones and detection/mitigation systems developed by “covered foreign entities” which includes entities who pose a national security risk or are influenced by or located in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

Get to The Bottom of System Legality and Security

The federal advisory cautions against relying solely on vendors’ representations of their systems’ legality or functionality. Here are five questions you can ask RF-based technology vendors to determine if they are in compliance with the federal advisory or could be banned by the American Security Drone Act of 2021 for security and cybersecurity reasons.

1. Does the system include any mitigation capabilities?
2. What information is the technology collecting (e.g., UAS type, manufacturer, model, protocol, unique identifier, telemetry)?
3. Is any of the information extracted DRAS information?
4. Are electronic communications being acquired? If so, are any portions of the communications acquired by the technology “content?”
5. What is the equipment and software country of origin? securitymagazine.com

IoT could be the key to ending food spoilage in grocery stores
Connected devices are emerging as a new way for grocers to reduce losses due to food spoilage and energy waste. With bottom line benefits like these, it’s not surprising to see some of the biggest in the business already putting Internet of Things (IoT) technology to work to improve their operating results.

Walmart has been using IoT tech for such tasks as monitoring food temperature and equipment energy output, according to Talk Business. One IoT application monitors refrigeration units that house products like ice cream frozen and milk cold. It also reports back to a maintenance team if sensors indicate equipment problems so they can be fixed early with minimal downtime and without serious malfunctions. IoT solutions are used so broadly throughout Walmart’s massive store footprint that its connected devices send a total of 1.5 billion messages per day.

Throughout grocery, IoT is being leveraged to improve food safety and reduce excessive energy consumption, according to the World Economic Forum. IoT solutions have allowed food retailers to reduce food loss by 40 percent and experience a net energy savings of 30 percent.

In 2018, it was estimated that grocers were losing on average $70 million per year to food spoilage, with the largest chains losing in the hundreds of millions. retailwire.com

Kroger Issues Open Call To Startups With Ideas To Prevent Food Waste
The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation has announced its second Innovation Fund open call, inviting eligible innovators with ideas and solutions to prevent food waste to submit an application by April 1 for business support and funding totaling $2.5 million in collective grants.

“Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation, our stores and associates are on a mission to end hunger and food waste in the places we call home,” said Felix Turner, manager of corporate affairs for Kroger’s Atlanta Division, which includes Georgia, Eastern Alabama and South Carolina. “The Innovation Fund open call focuses on startups that are finding solutions for upcycled food, which is the next frontier in recovering and repurposing food that may otherwise go to landfills, promoting the reintroduction and reuse of these food items into the supply chain. We encourage startups that are interested and meet the criteria to submit an application.”

To learn more about the foundation’s open call and apply, visit ZeroHungerZeroWasteFoundation.org.

Ross Stores to Open 60 Stores in 2021

Lidl to enact $15 starting hourly wage in Philadelphia


Quarterly Results
Dick's Sporting Goods Q4 comp's up 19.3%, digital sales up 57%, net sales up 19.8%
Dick's Sporting Goods FY 2020 comp's up 9.9%, digital sales up 100%, net sales up 9.5%

Del Taco Q4 comp's up 3.8%, total revenue down 0.2%, FY 2020 comp's down 0.9%, total revenue down 4.1%

Casey's General Stores Q3 inside comp's up 2.1, digital up 95%, total revenue down 10.6%