Safety, Confidence, Creativity Key to Restoring Paychecks

Retailers Press Congress to Help Get Americans Back to Work

Today the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to pass bipartisan legislation that restores confidence, rebuilds the U.S. economy, and helps over two million retail employees get back to work.

“Retailers understand the path to an economic recovery begins with ensuring the safety, security, and confidence of workers and customers,” said Michael Hanson, RILA senior executive vice president, public affairs. “While leading retailers focus on safety, Congress should focus on building confidence and liquidity in the economy. Congress should continue temporary aid to keep families financially secure and help stabilize the balance sheets of businesses so that they can put people back to work and deliver private-sector paychecks again.”

In addition to recommendations that will build confidence and promote a safe reopening of the economy, retailers are also urging Congress to think outside the box when it comes to transitioning furloughed and unemployed workers back into the economy.

“This is why we are pressing Congress to consider mandating that any state that receives continued and expanded UI funds allows individuals to accept part time shifts without a reduction in current unemployment benefits.”

As leading retailers forge forward and bring people back to work, it is also critical that they are protected against unwarranted and frivolous lawsuits. RILA supports the enactment of commonsense liability protections that shield retailers from baseless claims while allowing legitimate claims of actual misconduct to move forward. rila.org
 

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A New Refreshing Perspective
Some Reflections on Retail Loss Prevention in a Time of COVID-19
 
From the author of 'Total Retail Loss', Adrian Beck, Emeritus Professor at the University of Leicester, has written a new paper that offers his perspective on how the COVID-19 Pandemic might be impacting upon the world of Loss Prevention.

He starts by identifying what he sees as the four phases of the Pandemic – from the initial Panic Buying period, through the lockdown phase when most retail was shuttered, on to the current social distancing period, and finally the post-pandemic phase. At each stage he offers his insights on how retail losses and their management might be impacted, both negatively and positively.

Professor Beck’s paper offers a refreshing counterbalance to some of the more doom-laden commentaries on the likely consequences of the Pandemic on retail losses, noting that the unprecedented nature of the event requires a much more considered and cautious approach to be adopted.

An incredibly instinctive read, well worth your investment. Just our thoughts Gus Downing

For those who haven't, make sure you also read Total Retail Loss.

 

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Helping Retailers Re-Open Safely
LP Solution Providers Respond to the Call

Here's a NEW Collection of COVID-19 Resources & Technology
Developed & Delivered by Your Industry Partners
The retail loss prevention industry's solution providers continue to answer the call during this historic and challenging time in history. The past several weeks, we at the D&D Daily have received countless submissions from vendors wanting to share their ideas, white papers, new products, solutions, and resources aimed at helping retailers respond to the COVID-19 crisis.

Going beyond the Daily's weekly public service email, Thursday's LP Newswire, we've compiled some recent LP solution provider announcements below focused on helping retailers reopen safely.

Vendors, have a new COVID-19 solution or announcement for retailers you'd like to share? Let us know.

Sensormatic Solutions launches new offerings in response to COVID-19 to help retailers protect employees and customers

Vector Security Networks Provides Re-Entry Solutions for Businesses Preparing to Return After COVID-19

Checkpoint unveils new system that tracks real-time in-store occupancy

CONTROLTEK’s New CMatch AI Health for Temperature Detection, Occupancy Verification and Mask Compliance

Genetec helps organizations monitor occupancy levels and ensure compliance with physical distancing regulations

Intellicheck Offers Free Fraud Protection to Financial Institutions and Retailers as Online Fraud Soars During Nationwide Stay-At-Home

S-TRON Responds to Temperature Detection with Option Offering

DTiQ Announces New COVID-19 Video Based SmartAudits

G4S Announces Return to Work Assurance Program to Assist Organizations as Reopenings Begin

Motorola Solutions Helps Enterprises Return Safely to the Workplace

FifthTheory Introduces Biosafety Assessment to Bolster COVID-19 Workplace Safety Strategies

Dahua Provides Retail Epidemic Safety Protection Solution For And Post COVID-19

ISS Employs Advanced Analytics to Launch Innovative “Plan for a Safe Return to work” Solution

RetailNext announces additional COVID-19 support for retailers, restaurants and other venues

Morse Watchmans Introduces Touchless and Anti-Microbial Coated Key Control Solutions

 

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ADT Delivers Safety and Peace of Mind to Instacart Shoppers
With ADT Mobile Solution
ADT (NYSE: ADT), a leading security and automation provider serving residential and business customers, today announced a partnership with Instacart to provide its mobile safety solution, Safe by ADT, to the delivery company’s 500,000 shoppers through an in-app safety feature beginning this month. The Safe by ADT platform will power Instacart’s new safety and emergency response feature, allowing shoppers to quickly and discreetly contact emergency services anytime they may feel unsafe.

Safe by ADT is a data-driven, customizable mobile safety solution that seamlessly integrates into third-party apps, providing on-the-go users with access to ADT’s 24/7 professional monitoring centers to help provide emergency assistance. adt.com

 

Coronavirus Tracker: May 22

US: Over 1.6M Cases - 97K Dead - 385K Recovered
Worldwide: Over 5.2M Cases - 335K Dead - 2.1M Recovered

U.S. Law Enforcement Deaths | NYPD Deaths: 41
Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 110+




 

COVID-19 FRAUD |
HSI's Operation Stolen Promise targets COVID-19 fraud
As part of Operation Stolen Promise, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents have opened investigations nationwide, seized millions of dollars in illicit proceeds; made multiple arrests; and shutdown thousands of fraudulent websites. HSI continues to work with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to seize shipments of mislabeled, fraudulent, unauthorized or prohibited COVID-19 test kits, treatment kits, homeopathic remedies, and purported anti-viral products and personal protective equipment. Learn more

"It's the Wild, Wild West."
Repost: When store workers are forced to turn sheriff
Across the United States, store workers are having to help enforce the rules designed to keep their workplaces operating through the coronavirus pandemic -- occasionally with violent results.

"It's chaos out there," said Marc Perrone, international president of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. "It's the Wild, Wild West."

Now, more and more states are reopening their economies after weeks of shutdowns, with new safety protocols in place. But just exactly who has the authority to enforce those measures is often unclear -- meaning the onus of ensuring that stores stay safe from defiant customers is increasingly falling on these already vulnerable frontline workers.

A spokesperson for Sam's Club, which is owned by Walmart, said that the company has implemented changes that allow employees to use emergency leave if they feel uncomfortable coming to work. Other changes include requiring associates to wear masks and installing social distancing floor decals.

"Maintaining customer and associate safety remains our top priority," the spokesperson said in a statement to CNN. "We encourage customers to be especially mindful of one another during this unprecedented time and adhere to recommendations that we all use face coverings while in public spaces."

Managers have had to step in - Some feel like their hands are tied - This is the new normal

Continue reading

States, companies set up their own COVID-19 legal shields
States and some companies aren’t waiting for Congress and the White House to work out a possible liability shield and are instead taking steps to insulate businesses on their own from lawsuits in the coronavirus era.

Many states have granted some form of liability immunity to health care workers and facilities. Utah and North Carolina have gone the farthest, passing laws that offer the strongest immunities yet for a range of industries as stay-at-home orders and business closures are eased.

One U.S. law firm suggested coronavirus litigation could be “the new asbestos,” referring to a wave of personal injury litigation in the 1970s and 80s.

To date, nearly 1,300 covid-related lawsuits of all varieties have been filed. Additionally, more than 14,000 pandemic-era complaints and referrals have been filed nationwide to the OSHA.

Advocates for liability laws argue that the lawsuits could force a number of businesses to close.

“If you just let it all go now, it would be a disaster,” said David Rivkin, a partner at Baker Hostetler, who supports Congress granting businesses temporary immunity. “It would be a tsunami of lawsuits. Hundreds have already been filed.” thehill.com

Between 20,000 and 25,000 retail stores may close this year
Retail Store Closures in 2020 Seen Doubling Over Last Year
Twice the number as last year, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to have an impact on consumer behavior.

That was the message delivered by John Harmon, senior analyst of Coresight Research. Harmon was a presenter on a webinar hosted by Planalytics on Wednesday afternoon.

Harmon said he’s expecting there will be a U-shaped recovery as retailers navigate government-dictated staged reopenings across the country, but business is not expected to immediately return to post-pandemic levels. Although Coresight is predicting a “return to relative stability,” he said, many retailers are preparing for a holiday season that will find consumer demand to be down 20 percent from 2019.

He predicted that post-lockdown consumer demand will be changed dramatically. More than 48 percent of consumers say the first thing they’ll do is meet with friends, 37 percent will get a haircut, 28 percent will go to a restaurant, and only 18.6 percent will buy apparel, footwear or accessories. And when they do go back to a fashion store, they’ll need to accept the “new normal,” of wearing masks, gloves, social distancing and having their temperature checked before shopping. wwd.com

Leaders Brace for Post-COVID-19 Shocks
Forrester Research has concluded that if companies don't take the necessary actions to prepare for four major shocks this decade, they'll have a difficult time managing in the post-coronavirus era.

The four shocks are:

• Systemic risk that makes every company a globally exposed enterprise.
• Robots and automation that will assist or replace workers.
• A tsunami of employee data that promises to drown companies in obligations as well as possibilities.
• Growing employee power that will redefine workforce strategy.

The good news is that many companies are already speeding up preparations to shock-proof their organizations. One step is allowing employees to work from home indefinitely to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and help head off a resurgence of the virus in the fall.

Another step is investing in artificial intelligence technology that will improve the way data is captured and analyzed.

But they need to do more in other areas. For example, employers will need to prepare responses to workers who use social media to publicize complaints. After Amazon workers began protesting working conditions during the pandemic, a group of state attorneys general asked the company to provide data on coronavirus infections and deaths among its workforce. shrm.org

The Grab-and-Go Future
How the pandemic is changing shopping

Retailers reimagining their stores to make shopping faster, easier and safer

Across the country, stores are reopening to a changed reality. Retailers that have spent years trying to get customers to linger, in hopes they’ll buy more than they need, are reimagining their stores for a grab-and-go future filled with deliberate purchases. Gone, they say, are the days of trying on makeup or playing with toys in the aisles. The focus now is on making shopping faster, easier and safer to accommodate long-term shifts in consumer expectations and habits.

Retailers have spent years adding interactive displays, sample stations, even rock-climbing walls and full-service bars to their stores in hopes of offering shoppers an experience they can’t get online. But analysts say many of those efforts are now impractical or unsafe, requiring an overhaul that could ultimately make the shopping experience less enjoyable and further cut into an already weak retail environment.

Many of the changes, they say, are as much about being overtly reassuring as they are pragmatic: If someone asks for a fitting room at American Eagle, for example, employees must disinfect door handles and fixtures in clear view of the shopper before allowing them in.

“Retailers are starting to consider more than just the cleanliness of their stores,” said Wendy Liebmann, chief executive of WSL Strategic Retail, a New York-based consulting firm. “They’re thinking about merchandising, about where things go. How can they make it easier for people to shop? This pandemic isn’t going to level off. It’s going to be a long roller coaster."

It could be years, he says, before customers feel comfortable spending hours browsing aisles with their children.

Data show a steady increase in foot traffic since malls began reopening this month. An analysis of eight shopping centers that opened May 1, including in Oklahoma, Tennessee and Georgia, shows that it went from a trickle — about one-fifth the number of shoppers a year earlier — to a quick acceleration that in some cases exceeded average daily rates a year earlier.

“This has been a two-month process of figuring out what it’s going to take to make people feel secure,” Schottenstein said. “It’s a new reality: Customers want to come back in, but they want to come back where they feel safe.” washingtonpost.com
 

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30% of Workers Staying Remote
74% of organizations plan to shift some employees to remote work permanently
Consulting company Global Workplace Analytics estimates that when the pandemic is over, 30 percent of the entire workforce will work from home at least a couple times a week. Before the pandemic, that number was in the low single digits.

As this shift continues, technology plays an increasingly important role now that more knowledge workers have familiarized themselves with its benefits. That means video apps like Zoom and chat software like Slack should carry over into their regular day-to-day life after the pandemic. The way people meet — the medium as well as the length and purpose of meetings — could also evolve. On a very human note, the experience of living through a crisis together could lead to a greater sense of empathy and even a permanent softening of workplace decorum. recode.com

A Social Media Platform for Cops
How Social Media Platform Nextdoor Courts Police and Public Officials
Pursuing relationships with local governments, especially police departments, has become a key part of many tech companies’ playbooks.

Unlike other platforms, though, Nextdoor allows agencies to geo-target their posts to reach particular residents who have verified they live in the area.

Nextdoor is following this lead of Amazon Ring and Clearview AI: Robbie Turner, a senior city strategist with Nextdoor, wrote to Husted that when expanding Nextdoor’s reach to Canada, the company was using “the same strategy we used when we first launched in the U.S. — recruit the major Police Departments and have them help us grow membership and engagement quickly.” citylab.com

Coresight Research
Retail Store Databank
2020 YTD Closures 3,389
2020 YTD Store Openings 2,990


Quarterly Results
BJ's Wholesale Club Q1 comp's up 27%, net sales up 21.1%
Best Buy Q1 comp's down 5.3%, sales down 6.3%
TJX Q1 total sales down 52.4%
Ross Stores Q1 sales down 52.6%
 

The Daily will not be publishing on May 25.
We will resume publishing on Tuesday, May 26.