Domino's Rewards Las Vegas PD for Making Arrest of Individual Who Shot Delivery Driver
The Las Vegas Metro Police Department recently assisted the Domino’s Safety, Security and Loss Prevention team in apprehending an individual that was a suspect in an incident regarding one of our TUSA stores. In appreciation of their efforts, the TUSA Vegas market organized a Feed the Need event to support the hard working police officers and detectives involved in the investigation. #FeedTheNeed #TVP

Thanks to Van Carney, National Director, Safety and Loss Prevention for Domino's, for submitting this story.

Coronavirus Tracker: May 8

US: Over 1.3M Cases - 77K Dead - 220K Recovered
Worldwide: Over 4M Cases - 274K Dead - 1.3M Recovered

U.S. Law Enforcement Deaths | NYPD Deaths: 38
Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 89


NY Times: Most States That Are Reopening Fail to Meet White House Guidelines

Teens Becoming 'Store Sheriffs' With Little or No Training

Store Workers Become Enforcers of Social Distancing Rules, Amid Rising Violence

Sandy Jensen's customer-service job at a Sam's Club in Fullerton, California, normally involves checking member ID cards at the door and answering questions. But the coronavirus has turned her into a kind of store sheriff. Now she must confront shoppers who aren't wearing masks and enforce social distancing measures such as limits on the number of people allowed inside. The efforts sometimes provoke testy customers.

"They are behaving worse now," Jensen said. "Everybody is on edge. I have hostile members in my face."

Her frustration is shared by store workers across the country, who are suddenly being asked to enforce the rules that govern shopping during the pandemic, a tension-filled role for which most of them have received little or no training. The burden is sure to become greater as more businesses in nearly a dozen states start to reopen.

Even if a security guard is posted at the store, employees complain they are often left to stand up to defiant shoppers.

Store tensions recently resulted in violence in at least two states. A Michigan security officer was fatally shot last week after telling a customer to wear a mask at a Family Dollar store. Two McDonald's employees in Oklahoma City were shot Wednesday by a customer who was angry that the restaurant's dining area was closed, police said.

Also in Oklahoma, one city abandoned its mask rule after store clerks were threatened. And at a southern California grocery store called Vons, a man showed up in what looked like a Ku Klux Klan hood. He ignored requests from workers to remove it until he got to the register, according to the supermarket.

Masks are required in some states. Some major retailers including Costco Wholesale Club have made masks mandatory regardless of government policies. But even at stores that post signs about mask recommendations, workers often have to approach unmasked visitors.

Walmart, the nation's largest retailer and largest private employer, said it works with law enforcement in communities where face coverings are required.

Jeff Reid, who works at the meat counter at a Giant store in Silver Spring, Maryland, which mandates masks, said the greeter at his store is the one confronting shoppers, not the security guard posted outside.

"We are going on the front lines on a daily basis. If it's against the law without your mask, why are you having cashiers and teenagers trying to enforce this when this is the law?" asked Zeid, who often has to reprimand customers to keep 6 feet apart.

Jason Brewer, a spokesman at the Retail Industry Leaders Association, said it's not a retail employee's role to enforce a local law or an executive order on face coverings or any other protocol. He said law enforcement should get involved and that shoppers can do their part. apnews.com
 

6 Tips for Protecting Retailers, Employees from Safety, Legal Risks of COVID-19
Grocery retailers and their employees have fast become some of the most essential service providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. As with many other businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, grocery retailers were forced to develop new guidelines and virus protection protocols on the fly while also navigating rapidly changing national, state and local directives. Now, many are finding themselves on the legal or media firing line for not doing enough to protect workers out of the gate.

According to supermarket analysts, one of the biggest mistakes some grocery retailers made early on was not allowing employees to wear masks or gloves in the way they requested. This and similar decisions, combined with confusion about corporate and government policies, led to some illnesses and grocery store workers publicly lashing out at their employers. Some employees staged walk-offs, protesting lack of protective gear, while others went to the media to share their fears about health and safety in their workplace. Some grocery retailers are even facing wrongful death lawsuits from the estates of employees who died of COVID-19 complications.

With two-thirds of U.S. states beginning to partially lift stay-at-home orders, here are the top six things retail employers can do to help essential workers feel and stay safe on the job as well as protect themselves against potential legal backlash:

1. Identify exposures and risks specific to the business and employees.
2. Verify all state, city or local COVID-19 related restrictions.
3. Outline the specific measures to be implemented.
4. Be sensitive to and mindful of employee's individual needs and risk factors.
5. Establish a policy around identifying and isolating potentially infectious employees.
6. Lastly, keep employees informed about what you are doing to keep them safe. chainstoreage.com

COVID Safety Concerns Impacting September ASIS GSX Show
ASIS: Organizers Reviewing Whether to Move GSX 2020 Online
ASIS International announced it is currently exploring options for Global Security Exchange (GSX) 2020, scheduled to take place Sept. 22-23 in Atlanta, Ga., amidst health concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is our plan at present to confirm whether GSX 2020 will take place live on or before 22 June. gsx.org

NYC Hires 10,000 For Tracing
New York City will hire 10,000 people for an unprecedented contract-tracing effort as the governor said the state is "finally ahead of the virus." bloomberg.com

Arrests Down 60% - Domestic Violence A Global Crime Epidemic
How Coronavirus Has Stifled the Criminal Justice System

Coronavirus Has Changed Law Enforcement

There are more than 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States with more than 800,000 law enforcement personnel.

The coronavirus has significantly affected the way officers do their job. Social distancing recommendations to prevent COVID-19 transmissions causes officers to keep their distance from citizens and make less face-to-face contact with the public. This, in turn, has resulted in a sharp decline in arrests.

Although serious crime rates have remained nearly identical, arrests from January through April 2020 are down 60 percent compared with the same period in 2019.

Despite general crime rates staying the same, domestic violence incidents have risen sharply over the past few months. Incidents have risen so sharply, however, that the United Nations has warned that the coronavirus lockdown could lead to 31 million new cases of domestic violence.

Effects of the Coronavirus on the Court System - From the Supreme Court to Local Courts - Stopped in their tracks; Changes to Corrections - COVID-19 Breeding Grounds & No PPE; Research Needed to Understand the Total Impact of Coronavirus on the Criminal Justice System
inhomelandsecurity.com

An Anarchic Gray Market Controls Vital PPE
Fly-By-Night Brokers & Opportunists Jump in PPE Supply Chain
New entrants have flocked to the market of selling masks, gloves, gowns, ventilators and virus tests to fulfill the need of U.S. front-line workers-and it is a chaotic scene.

A look inside this vital but anarchic market reveals legitimate vendors and traders, fly-by-night brokers and opportunists who look to make a fast buck while operating in an arena with little transparency and fast-changing rules. Some brokers estimate the market has swelled to $50 billion.

What began as a bonanza has grown perilous. The gray market is where many will continue to turn for the goods-mostly made in China-forcing brokers, states and others to reinvent a supply chain on the fly.

China tightens customs - Prices change constantly - Policing the brokers - Seized shipments wsj.com

'Dialing For Dollars'
Levi's CFO Picks Up the Phone to Remind Retailers to Pay Their Bills
The strategy to call up customers in arrears appears to be working, as 'even the most distressed retailers are paying,' according to finance chief Harmit Singh

"I'm the chief debt collector," said Harmit Singh. "I am calling the big retailers, saying, 'You are owing me money; when are you paying me?'"

The San Francisco-based jeans maker is zeroing in on collecting cash owed by its business customers to help boost liquidity.

"My feedback to all of them is I need a little bit of money every week."

Hackett Group recommends companies have a clear hierarchy for the debt-collection process and set out timelines to make sure payments arrive in time, Mr. Bailey said. "You have to have a very clear sequence of escalation," he said. wsj.com
 

The U.S. is Waking Up
Opening & Shutting Their Doors
Hope it isn't a little too early - Shutting down again won't be pretty!

COVID-19 Lockdown: U.S. Public Opposes Reopening Most Businesses
The poll specifically asked Americans about whether their states should open eight different types of business.

This is Your Retail's Evolution On Speed
And the malls come tumbling down

This was inevitable

Much of this push to open may be wishful thinking. Not only are stay-at-home orders still in place in many areas, but most shoppers (89%) also remain anxious about shopping in physical spaces. The top worry for 63% of survey respondents is being too close to other people, 40% are most concerned about store cleanliness, with 34% leery of touching point-of-sale terminals and 32% of handling cash.

More than 60% of Americans are worried about lifting restrictions too quickly, with only 29% concerned about not reopening quickly enough, according to a May 5 Monmouth University poll. A third want to move to ensure the economy "does not go into a deep and lengthy downturn​," but 56% say public health concerns are more important in deciding when to end the current limits, according to that report.

"The medical drives everything - there will be no return to normalcy, whatever normalcy means, until there's a solution to the virus," he told Retail Dive in an interview.

Even if the main portion of a mall does open, there are going to be many stores - both anchor department stores and specialty retailers - that won't, ever.

In fact, a little more than half of all mall-based department stores could close for good by the end of next year, setting off a spiral "knockdown" effect, as in-line mall tenants would be allowed to lower rents or exit leases. That was already a reality, but the pandemic has sped up a scenario that was set to unfold over the next five to 10 years to instead happen over the next couple of years, according to Green Street's Tibone.

As stores close up indefinitely, all shopping center types face risk, but traditional enclosed malls face the most.

The old, traditional style of shopping mall, where you had two anchor department stores at either end and a bunch of in-line clothing stores in between - anyone who sticks with that model is going to be dead." retaildive.com


'What If I Get Coronavirus?' - Fear, Plain & Simple
Why Fear Is the Greatest Obstacle to Returning to Work
Anticipation is growing for the U.S. to restart the economy and for businesses to reopen. Despite Americans' overwhelming desire to get back to work, however, there is one major obstacle to getting back to normal-fear.

A recent CBS News poll showed that only 44% of workers are comfortable going to a workplace outside of their own homes. That means more than half of all employees lack the confidence to return to their offices or worksites. Employers and their HR teams need to be proactive, strategic and thoughtful in their approach in order to create cultures of certainty, confidence and safety amidst all this uncertainty and fear.

As part of their return-to-work plans, many companies are initially focusing on the physical aspects of the workplace by reconfiguring workspaces to allow more distance between employees. Temperature screenings will likely become the norm, especially for larger companies. Sneeze guards and other protective "barriers" are being installed to additionally protect employees from customers and vendors. Sanitizer dispensers will be located throughout the workplace, along with signs reminding employees to regularly wash their hands and avoid touching their faces. shrm.org


RILA: Is your space ready for relaxed emergency mandates?
Environmental health considerations for the commercial space

This is a guest blog post from UL's Engineering Manager Mike Carpenter, Principal Scientist Elliot Horner, and Senior Sales Manager Sean McCrady.

It's been almost nine weeks since the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced the first U.S. COVID-19 case of unknown origin on February 28. While subsequent reports dispute the CDC's original timeline, the fallout from COVID-19, the disease caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2, is indisputable.

While not every state or region has seen a large number of COVID-19 cases, the crisis has greatly affected us all due to the closure of numerous businesses around the country. However, with the planned relaxing of emergency mandates in some areas, it's time for businesses to review their plans to safely unshutter office and retail spaces. rila.org

Professional Group Endorsed by Mark Cuban
Occupational Health and Safety Experts Announce 'Back to Work Safely'
Guidelines and Resources

AIHA Develops Industry Specific Guidelines for Re-entry into the Workplace

AIHA, Professional Association For Occupational Health & Safety Science Professionals, Introduced the "Back to Work Safely

The "Back to Work Safely" initiative to help employers and employees get back to work safely with industry sector specific guidelines and resources.

Yesterday Mark Cuban posted on his Twitter account (@mcuban): "Before you go back to work, this is one site you should review. The @AIHA, an organization that specializes in corporate and industrial hygiene has put together an amazing safety guide for almost every type of business.

These free guidelines include recommendations on ventilation, personal hygiene, physical distancing and enhanced cleaning. Guidelines are available for the following industries:

• General Office Setting
• Gyms and Workout Facilities
• Hair and Nail Salon
• Retail
• Restaurant

All resources are available to download on www.backtoworksafely.org. CDC will feature a link to these guidance documents on their website. businesswire.com

J.C. Penney & Sephora Make Up, Drop Divorce
JCPenney and Sephora Reaffirm Partnership
J. C. Penney and Sephora today announced they have reaffirmed their long-standing partnership to operate Sephora (inside 650 stores) inside JCPenney (SiJCP). Both companies worked constructively to resolve outstanding legal matters and have agreed to mutually beneficial revisions to their joint enterprise operating agreement. JCPenney and Sephora have worked together over the past 14 years to serve our customers and be relevant in an evolving retail landscape.

In separate news, Penney said it will skip payment of $17 million on interest owed on its senior secured term loan. jcpenney.com dallasnews.com

Safety Takes #1 Priority For Best Buy CEO Best Buy CEO discusses appointment-only model for in-store visits - Opened 200 Monday Hear their safe customer approach

Airlines Make Safety Their #1 Concern
U.S. Travel Industry Releases Guidance for Future Business Travel
The U.S. travel industry submitted to the White House and governors a document containing detailed guidance for travel-related businesses to help keep their customers and employees safe from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Entitled "Travel in the New Normal," the document describes vigorous measures the travel industry will follow to reduce the risk of COVID-19 and help to communicate across each and every step of a traveler's journey. The goal: to allow travel to safely resume as states and municipalities relax physical distancing guidance. securitymagazine.com

Macy's says it plans to have all of its stores reopened in 6 weeks

Macy's delays first-quarter results to July 1, citing COVID-19 disruption

Court Upholds Strict Noncompete Tied to Incentive Payments

Kroger to end 'hero pay' for workers on May 17

A record 20.5 million jobs were lost in April as unemployment rate jumps to 14.7%

Albuquerque, NM: Teen finds $135K next to ATM. Instead of walking away with it, he called police


Quarterly Results
Ingles Markets Q1 comp's up 17.5%, net sales up 14%
Natural Gorcers Q1 comp's up 17%, net sales up 20.4%
Ahold Delhaize USA Q1 comp's up 13.4%, net sales up 13.7%
Papa John's Q1 North America comp's up 5.3%. International comp's up 2.3%, sales up 4.3%
Carvana Q1 Units Sold up 43%,. revenue up 45%
Rent-A-Center Q1 comp's up 1.7%, revenue up 0.8%
Sally Beauty Q2 comp's down 7.1%, sales down 7.9%