US: 42.4M Cases - 685K Dead - 32.2M Recovered
Worldwide: 227.3M Cases - 4.6M Dead - 204M Recovered

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Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 310  
Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 404
*Red indicates change in total deaths

Leading Cause of Police Officer Deaths? COVID
COVID Now the Leading Cause of U.S. Law Enforcement Deaths
According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 182 law enforcement officers died of COVID-19 last year. Add the 71 officers who have died in the first half of this year from the virus, and COVID is now the leading cause of law enforcement officer line-of-duty fatalities.

The 71 deaths reported in the first six months of this year represent a slight decrease from the 76 COVID deaths reported during the same time period in 2020. In all, 132 members of U.S. law enforcement agencies are known to have died from COVID in 2021.

Despite the alarming rate of deaths, police officers and other first responders are some of the most hesitant Americans to get vaccinated for the coronavirus, and the number of their cases continues to rise, reports the Associated Press.

Although there aren’t any statistics on the vaccination rate for all U.S. first responders, individual police and fire departments across the nation say the rate of inoculation among their employees is much lower than the national rate of nearly 74% of adults who have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. For example, the Austin, Texas Police Department estimates about 50% of its force is vaccinated, reports KXAN. The Charleston, West Virginia Police Department says more than 50% of its employees have been vaccinated for COVID-19, reports WCHS.

Despite the high rate of deaths among law enforcement officers, national and local police unions are fighting vaccine mandates, reports KTLA.

When the vaccines received emergency authorization by the FDA, first responders were among the first to be authorized to receive the shot. privateofficerbreakingnews.blogspot.com

The Pandemic's Impact on Grocery Chains
From COVID to Product Shortages to Labor Supply, Grocery Stores Adapt To String of Challenges
In an interview with PYMNTS, IGA President and CEO John Ross admitted grocery stores have been lucky to an extent with the ability to stay open during the pandemic, compared to so many other ‘non-essential’ businesses around the world that were forced to shut down or curtail operations.”

A World of Challenges

One of the toughest challenges IGA has faced has been recruiting enough workers to keep its stores open at a time when employees are increasingly worried for their safety.

Ross said IGA’s own research came up with some surprising reasons why people no longer want to work in grocery stores. While the issue of safety ranked fairly high, he said the number one reason people are avoiding grocery stores is because they are looking for a better job.

Grocery stores can be excused for that lapse given the mountain of problems on their plate. Hogging the headlines for months on end is the ongoing supply challenges that has affected almost every kind of business.

That’s not to say it’s entirely bad news. The shortage of goods has actually increased demand at most IGA stores, and the company has seen “spectacular growth” in its bottom line over the last two years. But Ross believes the company’s growth could have been even stronger if not for the impact of supply challenges.

Being independent does have some advantages though. One of the ways IGA has learned how to compete is by stepping up its investment in consumer-facing technology, digitizing the customer experience to offer a more personalized service to its customers than larger rivals can do.

“This combination of rethinking our value proposition and the investment of digital technology, we call it forming a digital relationship with the consumer,” Ross explained. “If we can connect to them in that powerful way online, the total loyalty proposition is so much better and that preps us to compete in the long run, whether it’s against Kroger, Safeway or Amazon.” pymnts.com

Kroger is back at Full Go on COVID Safety Protocols
Kroger again requires employees to wear masks, regardless of vaccination
Kroger is again requiring all employees to wear face coverings. The Cincinnati-based grocer announced Wednesday that it will again update its masking policy, requiring all associates and contractors to wear a mask when in our stores, offices and other facilities, regardless of vaccination status.

Previously, employees were required to wear masks only if they were unvaccinated. Masks will remain optional for customers, but are strongly encouraged, company officials said. Where there are local and state mandates, company officials said they continue to abide by those.

"Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, The Kroger Family of Companies’ most urgent priority has been the safety of our associates and customers. We have adhered to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and our Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marc Watkins and listened to our associates and customers to guide our policies," a statement from the company said in part.

Stores will continue to implement enhanced cleaning, and promote physical distancing across all facilities. Additionally, the grocer will offer associates a $100 one-time payment for receiving the recommended doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. wlwt.com

Kroger Division Impact: Worker shortages in the pandemic
Harris Teeter grocery stores will be closing early ‘until further notice.’
Harris Teeter will temporarily shorten all store operating hours from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. starting Wednesday, according to the company website. The change is in place until further notice.

The service counter, and meat and fish counters will close at 8 p.m., according to the company. Other amenities will close at 7 p.m.

The Matthews-based grocery chain cited the labor shortage affecting the country nationwide during the coronavirus pandemic, as first reported by Grocerying. Some stores had been open until 10 p.m. or 11 p.m.

Harris Teeter, a Kroger Co. subsidiary, has about 35,000 workers in more than 250 stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, Florida and the District of Columbia.

The worker shortage has affected industries from Amazon to Lowe’s, as well as restaurants, which have offered sign-on bonuses, wage increases and other benefits as incentives to appeal to job seekers. pilotonline.com

New York's Hero Act - Clock is Ticking
New York employers must implement coronavirus safety plans
● Employers in New York state must implement the coronavirus safety plans they were required to devise earlier in the year, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Sept. 6.

● The state’s HERO Act, signed into law in May, obligated businesses to plan for employee health screenings, masking and social distancing requirements, workplace hygiene stations, workplace cleaning protocol, quarantine protocol and building airflow technology, according to the governor’s office. Alternatively, employers may adopt the state’s model plan.

● The law requires employers to implement those plans when the governor designates COVID-19 a highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health, which Hochul did last week.

While the state didn’t make a deadline clear, attorneys from law firm Lowenstein Sandler wrote in a client alert that "the Act’s standard advises employers to ‘promptly activate’ their safety plans." Additionally, unless extended, the designation of COVID-19 as a highly contagious communicable disease will expire Sept. 30, the attorneys said. hrdive.com

‘Cautiously optimistic’: COVID hospitalizations appear to plateau, DFW Hospital Council leader says
There have consistently been about 3,500 patients hospitalized daily with COVID-19 in the 19-county area that covers Dallas-Fort Worth, the council leader, Steve Love, said in an update with the Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce. “It does appear that the cases may begin to come down in Dallas County, which means hospitalizations will hopefully come down in the short term,” Love said. “I define short term as probably 10 days to two weeks.” dallasnews.com

Viewpoint: Should Your Company Implement an Employee Vaccination Mandate?
So an increasing number of organizations have been mandating that their workers get vaccinated, and many others are trying to decide whether to follow suit. (President Joe Biden announced Sept. 9 a series of proposals to combat the COVID-19 pandemic more aggressively, including plans for a new rule requiring employers with 100 or more employees to mandate that their workers be vaccinated or undergo weekly testing. Read SHRM Online's coverage here.)

Those still deliberating their options should realize that their decision could have a significant impact on their short-term productivity and profits as well as on their long-term ability to attract and retain needed talent. With that in mind, we recommend that they take the following actions: Continue Reading

25% of Americans Unvaccinated - Not High Enough to Curb It
Pandemic frustrations zero in on unvaccinated Americans
As cases approach winter levels, the U.S. has been left to decide how to deal with and treat the millions who still haven’t received their shots, months after they became widely available.

In response, some have resorted to mocking and joking about the unvaccinated, an approach public health and psychology experts say is unlikely to change the minds of both hard-line activists or the vaccine hesitant.

Federal public health officials have repeatedly labeled the surge a “pandemic of the unvaccinated” as a vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths occur among those who never got a shot. thehill.com

A glimmer of hope in Washington state
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations appear to be flattening as vaccinations rise. But unfortunately, the numbers are plateauing at their highest levels yet.

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required at indoor bars, wineries, breweries, nightclubs and lounges in Los Angeles County

Moderna says COVID-19 vaccine protection wanes, makes case for booster

Commit to Compliance & Embrace Best Practices & Training
Hotlines & Reward Programs Play a Vital Role in Compliance

SEC Issues $114 Million to Two Whistleblowers

SEC whistleblower program has provided more than $1 billion in awards

With the latest awards, the SEC whistleblower program has paid out more than $1 billion to 207 whistleblowers since issuing its first award in 2012, the agency said. That marks a milestone for the SEC whistleblower program created by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act.

The SEC announced the awards Wednesday but didn’t name the cases involving two companies that the awards are connected to and didn’t identify the tipsters, in keeping with its policy.

Under the program, a whistleblower can receive an award totaling between 10% and 30% of the fines levied in SEC civil enforcement actions or a related agency’s actions stemming from a tip, assuming the fines total more than $1 million.

“Today’s announcement underscores the important role that whistleblowers play in helping the SEC detect, investigate and prosecute potential violations of the securities laws,” SEC Chairman Gary Gensler said in a statement.

Reaching the $1 billion mark is significant for a whistleblower award program that was only implemented in 2011, said Erika Kelton, a partner at law firm Phillips & Cohen LLP who represents whistleblowers. “Because it is that kind of headline-grabbing number, I do think that would generate and encourage more people to step forward,” she said.

The awards and the milestone are another reminder that companies need to commit to compliance and ensure they address issues raised internally, according to Gregory Keating, a whistleblower defense attorney for employers at law firm Epstein Becker & Green PC. “For employers, this is a clarion call that you need to embrace best practices and training,” he said. wsj.com

Department Stores - E-Comm - Grocery & Furniture Drove August Sales
America’s Spending Wave Is Yet to Hit

Retail sales were strong last month despite the Delta variant. What happens if the Delta threat fades?

The Commerce Department on Thursday reported that retail sales rose 0.7% in August from a month earlier. Even after taking account of downward revisions to July sales, that was far better than the 0.8% decline that economists expected to see.

The gains were fairly broad-based. The three retailing categories that registered a sales drop were car dealers, electronics and appliance stores, and a group that includes stores such as sporting goods retailers. Those declines were due to supply-chain problems rather than a Covid-19-inspired damping of consumers’ willingness to spend.

The one place where the Delta variant did appear to leave a mark was at eating and drinking establishments, which were even in August with a month earlier. Travel-related services categories aren’t included in the retail sales report, but private data show that spending on flights and hotels also slipped last month.

What Thursday’s report suggests is that rather than clamping down on their spending, many people may have merely shifted it. Department stores, nonstore retailers (a category dominated by Amazon.com ), furniture stores and grocery stores were among those registering significant sales gains.

But if sales can stay solid despite Delta, one can only imagine what might happen when the virus threat really fades. wsj.com

The Shipping Crisis Continues
An all-time high of 61 cargo ships are stuck waiting off the California coast, as shipping ports hit their 4th record backup in three weeks

61 container ships are stuck outside California ports, worsening shipping delays and costs.

Key ports in Southern California have hit a fourth record in less than three weeks, as shipping delays surge past early pandemic levels.

On Wednesday, 61 cargo ships were stuck at anchor or in drift areas off of Los Angeles and Long Beach ports. The ports are currently dealing with 140 total ship in the ports, including 87 freighters, according to the Marine Exchange of Southern California.

In late August, the ports hit an all-time high not seen since February, when the onset of the pandemic and panic-buying wreaked havoc on global supply chains.

The queue is a result of COVID-19-related disruptions, and holiday-buying surges, paired with a national labor shortage. Port of Los Angeles data indicates that ships' average wait times have increased to 8.5 days. freightwaves.com

‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ becoming the norm at retail