LP/AP Leaders: Take Part in NRF's 2020 LP Risk Survey

Help Support the Industry - Receive $10 Dunkin' Donuts Gift Card

The NRF LP Council is asking for LP & AP leaders' participation in NRF's 2020 LP Risk Survey. The results are critical to help NRF produce our annual National Retail Security Survey (NRSS), along with additional content regarding our Organized Retail Crime Survey including cyber issues. In light of world events, we have also added a few question on retailer preparation on Pandemics like the Coronavirus.

(A PDF copy of the 2020 survey is available here for your convenient use prior to clicking on the active link below)

3 reasons to contribute besides the need for our LP Council to drive this research:

1. Your participation is important: Without you, we're missing an important piece of the retail industry. This data has proven to be an invaluable benchmarking tool to the retail community and law enforcement partners for many years. Your answers will be completely anonymous and analyzed in combination with other responses - your participation ensures benchmarks are representative of the retail industry.

2. It's easy: The survey should take only 20 minutes to complete.

3. What's in it for you: In addition to receiving benchmarking data specific to the retail industry, we'll send you a $10 Dunkin' Donuts gift card as a thank you for completing the survey in full.

Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NRFRiskSurvey2020
 

ADT Provides Update on Maintaining the Safety of Our Customers and Employees During the COVID-19 Health Crisis
ADT Inc. (NYSE: ADT), a leading provider of security, automation, and smart home solutions serving consumer and business customers in the United States, today provided an update on the measures it is taking to respond to the COVID-19 health crisis.

"As COVID-19 is testing our nation's resolve, it's also bringing out the best in many people and businesses, and this is especially true at ADT. Since we began preparing for the potential impact of COVID-19, I've seen a tremendous outpouring of compassion and commitment from our team members to support each other and help keep our customers safe," said Jim DeVries, President and CEO at ADT. "With the hard work of the ADT team and the support of state and local governments, we remain open for business and continue to secure our more than 6 million residential and commercial customers throughout the country." adt.com

Mission 500 Names ADT Winner of 2020 Corporate Social Responsibility Award
Mission 500, a charitable non-profit organization engaging security professionals to assist families in crisis across the USA, has announced the winners of its annual Humanitarian and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) awards. This year's recipients are George Fletcher, President of DMF Consulting and ADT, respectively.

With a dedicated Week of Service and many events throughout the course of the year including Seasons of Service events around the holidays, ADT provides numerous opportunities for its employees to participate in community service. During the 2019 Week of Service, thousands of ADT employees and their families donated over 22,000 volunteer hours, impacting nearly 200 communities nationwide. In 2019, the company presented LifeSaver awards to 46 ADT employees who helped rescue customers from near-death experiences involving fires, carbon monoxide poisoning and other emergencies in the home. ADT also awarded $105,000 in grants in 2019 to more than a dozen police and fire departments that were involved in these events.

At ADT's Corporate Headquarters in Boca Raton, FL, employees assembled 1,000 Care Kits for veterans and donated over 15,000 pounds of food as part of a food drive in November. Also, in 2019, ADT contributed $40,000 to the National Volunteer Fire Council and several volunteer departments to raise awareness and recruit more volunteer firefighters across America. mission500.com
 

Coronavirus Update: March 26

US: 75K+ Cases, 1,069 Dead -- Globally: 489K+ Cases, 22K+ Dead

Retailers Win In Stimulus Bill

Retail came up as a big, but very subtle, winner in the economic stimulus package passed by the Senate last night (March 25) in response to the coronavirus pandemic. While most of the focus has been on the $1,200 payout to consumers, retailers will also gain from the bill's revision of two key points from the 2017 tax bill.

The first change prevented retailers and restaurants from depreciating building improvements within a tax year. It was meant to be the opposite in the 2017 bill, but was never fixed until last night. Now retailers can depreciate business improvements within a year, instead of waiting for 39 years, which is how the bill read.

The second fix concerns deductions for net operating losses. In the 2017 law, the intention was to limit the ability of firms to claim tax breaks that occur when deductions exceed income. But they didn't mean to apply that limitation retroactively. The fix will allow loss carrybacks for up to five prior years. When retailers now use losses to offset prior taxes paid, they can still file revenue from when they were profitable without forfeiting refund checks.

The economic stimulus bill will also make it easier to keep employees. It includes an employee retention tax credit on wages up to $10,000 per employee per quarter. Retailers must have fully or partially suspended operations and suffered a significant decline in revenues to qualify. pymnts.com

Unemployment Claims Skyrocket to New Historic Record
Weekly claims for unemployment insurance rose to 3,283,000 between March 15 and 22, spiking from the 281,000 applications for jobless benefits filed between March 8 and 14.

The flood of jobless claims has overwhelmed state unemployment application systems across the U.S. and threatened to crush municipal budgets facing stark revenue shortfalls. The one-week rise in jobless claims shattered the record of 695,000 applications set in October 1982.

"This morning's jobless claims confirm that the United States is in the thralls of a catastrophic unemployment crisis, the likes of which we haven't seen since the Great Depression," said Andrew Stettner, senior fellow at The Century Foundation, a left-leaning think tank. "This represents the single worst one-day piece of labor market news in America's history." thehill.com


America's First Responders Testing Positive for COVID-19

Coronavirus Continue to Hit NYPD: Over 300 NYPD cops test positive
More than 300 cops have tested positive for the coronavirus - with many more are awaiting test results for the pandemic COVID-19 as the illness continues to spread through the NYPD, officials said Thursday. nypost.com

12 LAPD officers test positive for coronavirus

At least 9 Chicago officers have now tested positive for coronavirus

Five New Orleans PD cops contract coronavirus, more quarantined

At least 2 San Francisco PD officers test positive for COVID-19; SFPD responds

2nd cop in Miami-Dade County tests positive for coronavirus

'Unspecified Number' Of Members Of Philadelphia PD Test Positive For COVID-19


Retail Layoffs & Furloughs

Tailored Brands Cuts Senior-Manager Pay, Furloughs Staff and Extends Store Closures

Nordstrom Will Furlough Some Corporate Employees

Designer Brands furloughs over 80% of employees

CVS tapping furloughed hotel workers to fill jobs

US Foods responds to COVID-19 with hiring freeze, furloughs, and shift to retail

Restaurants turn to retail during pandemic shutdown
As the clampdown on commerce spreads due to the coronavirus pandemic, restaurants have gotten creative in an effort to replace dine-in revenue. Many have simply transitioned to takeout-only models, serving their usual menu (or a slightly abbreviated version) through delivery services or direct pickup from customers. Quite a few have begun to sell alcohol on a takeout basis as well. And some restaurants are going so far as to change their entire business model by transitioning to retail. ajc.com

4th Avenue & Fresh Value in Alabama Installed Sneeze Guards & Floor Decals
At the company's 4th Avenue Supermarket & Fresh Value banners in Alabama, six-foot social distancing floor decals and sneeze guards were installed weeks ago in preparation for the COVID-19 outbreak now unfolding across the country, according to a company loss prevention executive. These locations were "way ahead" of other chains across the U.S. in implementing the measures, the executive noted.

As the coronavirus outbreak has become more widespread in the U.S., other big retailers, including Walmart, Kroger and Albertsons, have followed suit and enacted similar social distancing measures to protect store employees and customers.

  
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New York's coronavirus death toll jumps 100 in just one day to 385

NYC outlines street closures to promote 'social distancing' during coronavirus shutdown

Coronavirus is a Waffle House 'Index Red': Restaurant chain shutters 418 stores

Hanover Township, PA: Gerrity's Supermarket has to throw out $35K of produce and meat after woman coughs on it

Stores banning reusable bags, putting up shields to keep workers safe

'Total disregard for people's lives': Hundreds of thousands of fake masks flooding markets as coronavirus depletes world supplies

Iowa Attorney General calls major companies to step up to prevent price-gouging

Real ID license deadline pushed back one year to Oct. 1, 2021
 

Industry Associations' Coronavirus Response

ASA, RILA Address Need for Retail Workers During COVID-19
The American Staffing Association and the Retail Industry Leaders Association are joining forces to offer an innovative solution to address the immediate, acute need to fill openings for retail workers at essential businesses like grocery stores and pharmacies that provide critical services during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. ASA now provides an online, searchable directory to connect RILA member retailers to ASA member staffing agencies that can fill high-demand roles like warehouse workers; store clerks for unloading, stocking, cleaning, and sanitizing; cashiers and greeters; forklift selectors and pickers; and delivery drivers. The directory is also available on the RILA COVID-19 resources for retailers website. rila.org

SIA & ASIS International Develop COVID-19 Webinar Programs;
Seeking Speakers/Experts
The Security Industry Association (SIA) and ASIS International are co-developing a webinar series to provide essential training and informational content on COVID-19 responses for security practitioners, systems integrators and employees of companies providing solutions and services within the security industry. Webinar program content will be delivered in the near future and will be freely available to SIA and ASIS members. sdmmag.com

Electronic Security & Life Safety Industry Associations call on state leadership to ensure essential emergency services are not suspended or impacted by the COVID-19 crisis

'Hotels For Hope': 6,500+ Hotels Nationwide Sign Up to Support First Responders; Provide Housing

The Psychology Of Leading In Uncertain Times

Stepping up in the coronavirus era

From global boardrooms to small start-ups, right now there is a demand across all workplaces for level-headedness, empathy, and effective leadership. Are there causes for concern? Absolutely. From hitting numbers, to juggling family responsibilities, and the economic outlook, more burning questions keep emerging every day.

As we know, unpredictability is bad for business and team morale, and coronavirus is causing tremendous uncertainty in our work and private lives. Yet, adding to the confusion is not going to solve any of these problems. Nor is it going to contribute to the recovery of our businesses, economy, or our health and happiness.

In unsettled times, leaders must take a closer look at their own behavior and ask if they are contributing to the panic. Or are we leading our teams and our communities into a more productive conversation?

Now more than ever, most leaders understand the importance of stepping up and demonstrating responsibility. But, where to start?  oliverwyman.com

Kentucky Senate Committee approves raising felony threshold for theft charges; $500 to $1,000
A bill that would increase the monetary threshold on felony theft charges passed a Senate committee Thursday, although the bill faced opposition from the Fraternal Order to Police. House Bill 424 is sponsored by Rep. C. Ed Massey, a Hebron Republican. Currently, a charge of theft by unlawful taking becomes a felony when the value of the stolen items exceeds $500. Massey's bill would increase the amount to $1,000.
Massey, an attorney, told the Senate Judiciary Committee the majority of cases he has worked with clients who are charged with theft over $500 "were always resolved" with plea agreements and the charge was amended to a misdemeanor.

Cases of theft by unlawful taking over $500 take "a lot of time on the docket, a lot of time in court, and (they were) being resolved as misdemeanors anyway," Massey said. The idea behind the bill is to keep people who are not career criminals who had a single theft over $500 from being saddled with a felony record for the rest of their lives, he said. Drew Fox, government affairs director for the Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police, said the bill would give a "pay raise" to people who commit theft by allowing them to steal larger dollar amounts without fear of a felony charge. messenger-inquirer.com

Target comp sales up over 20%, but expects more than $300M million in added Q1 costs

The UK Jewellery Awards 2020 moves from July 2 to September 3, 2020

Business Schools Are Offering One-Year MBAs for Those in a Rush
 

Featured LP Job: Manager, Asset Protection Solutions Supply Chain job posted for Walgreens in Windsor, WI
Develops, recommends and implements programs, procedures, techniques, and equipment, which will ensure the safety and security of DC and Central Pharmacy facility employees. Proactively identifies, investigates and reports potential and actual exposure to loss of Company assets. Develops means to minimize risk, ensure compliance to Company policy and provide guidance to DC store/personnel on detecting and preventing loss.

Establishes and maintains communication avenues with Distribution Center Management, Store and District Management, the Loss Prevention Department, and other Company and outside agencies to ensure that established Asset Protection goals and objectives are met to minimize loss of profits. jobs.walgreens.com
 

COVID-19: Getting Ready for the Next Business Continuity Challenge

What comes after you've empowered your remote workforce in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic? Dealing with a large portion of that workforce getting sick at the same time.

Business continuity planning (or resiliency) consists of preparing for how to operate if we lose our technology, facilities, or people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, so far, we are mostly dealing with losing our facility and having to have employees work remotely. What could come next? How do we prepare to deal with a large portion of our workforce getting sick at the same time and requiring isolation?

Generally, the solution for the loss of personnel is cross-training and documentation, but many companies function on tribal knowledge and relationships. This can work fine when everything is normal, but when we start to lose key resources (those human routers that know how to connect to critical institutional knowledge), we need documented processes to reference.

Once you identify the folks who are the only ones who know how to keep a key technology or process running, you need to determine if you can get someone cross-trained and then use that training to document the function. If cross-training will not work, then the individual will have to automate or document everything needed to ensure continuity of operations. I have found this to be one of the hardest challenges but, considering the current pandemic, would say now is the time to pull your critical human and technology resources off of current operations, before you have to develop a crisis management plan instead.

Support phone trees for key functions are vital. It is important to know who the experts are for different key functions. This could include third parties and vendors. darkreading.com

NIST Updates and Expands Its Flagship Catalog of Information System Safeguards
Revision to SP 800-53 includes more useful safeguards for protecting system security and privacy

After your organization forms a general plan for tackling its cybersecurity and privacy risk management issues, it needs particular state-of-the-art tools to make that plan a reality. Computer security and privacy experts at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have the answer with an updated toolbox of safeguards for protecting an organization's operations and assets, as well as the personal privacy of individuals.

NIST Draft Special Publication (SP) 800-53 Revision 5, Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations, is a collection of hundreds of specific measures for strengthening the systems, component products and services that underlie the nation's businesses, government and critical infrastructure. One of NIST's flagship risk management publications, the document is undergoing its first update in seven years, and the agency is accepting public comments on the draft until May 15, 2020. nist.gov

How CSOs Can Strategically Keep Security on the Map, Part 2
This series is focused on a step-by-step approach for security leaders to design, implement and measure a physical security program that supports organizational priorities and operates with buy-in from organization's leadership team. The first installment covered the key steps of understanding the organization's business drivers and quantifying risk.

Establish Relationships with Key Business Leaders
It is crucial to understand the political dynamics in the organization and establish strategic relationships. In most organizations, the most influential roles are those which own Profit and Loss and through their responsibilities drive revenue and create shareholder value. These include business unit leaders, division presidents, the CEO and other executives.

Physical security provides an internal service to the organization; the key business leaders (and their teams) are your "customers." You should meet with these business leaders to discuss your mandate. Some of them might not even know what physical security is, how much funding it receives, and how it helps or impacts their group. These internal customers need to understand and concur with a yearly Service Level Agreement (SLA), which details what programs and/or services your team will provide on a yearly basis.

Your ultimate objective is to build relationships with these individuals and determine the best way to articulate the value of your security programs - the indispensable ways in which the security team serves and protects their key functions and operations.

Suggested Topics and Questions to Discuss with Key Business Leaders

• What are their goals, business drivers, observations and KPIs?

• What are their priorities?

• What are the costs of operational downtime?

• What kind of events/incidents have been disruptive in the past? What type of disruptions did they cause (e.g., costs, delays, injuries, etc.)?

• What factors determine when a new supplier is engaged? To what extent are suppliers replaceable, and what kind of lead time is needed? Who and how are suppliers vetted? Are any suppliers/facilities single-sourced (e.g., component made only in one place) or mission-critical?

Formulate Your Short-Term, Intermediate and Long-Term Objectives into a Plan
As you create and document your security programs, it is crucial to relate your objectives to the organization's strategic objectives. Include timelines, associated costs, potential delays or pitfalls, projected benefits and ROI and the KPIs that will be used to measure success. Focus most on the short-term aspects but relate them to the longer-term components - for example, ongoing intelligence-gathering activities as a foundation for future business continuity and crisis management planning.

Click here to read Part 1. securitymagazine.com