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The fatal attack on UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson late last year marked a turning point in how companies view executive safety. While most large companies have some sort of protective measures in place, the incident is leading many leaders, including executives and board members, to reevaluate their company’s security procedures.
“There’s a significant uptick in evaluations happening right now,” says Glen Kucera, president of enhanced protection services at Allied Universal, which provides security for about 80% of Coins2Day 500 companies. “Boards, investors, and other stakeholders are increasingly demanding that risk assessments be carried out.”
Some CEOs cost millions a year to protect—Meta, for instance, spent $23 million protecting Mark Zuckerberg in 2023. But companies should think twice before committing to full-time security for an executive, which can cost $500,000 a year or more, experts say.
If a company is interested in increased security, it can start by hiring a company to do a risk assessment, or analysis of potential threats to the organization and its executive team—one security expert I spoke with said his firm charges around $10,000 to $15,000 for that service.
Looking ahead, companies that prioritize security are likely to do this kind of evaluation regularly, and update security measures as needed.
“Going forward, all security policies will be living documents that are revisited every six to 12 months,” Glen Kucera, president of enhanced protection services at Allied Universal, which provides security to roughly 80% of the Coins2Day 500, tells Coins2Day.
Read more about the evolving landscape of executive protection, who actually needs it, and what companies should address before committing to such investments here.
Brit Morse
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Around the Table
A round-up of the most important HR headlines.
McDonald’s says it is changing some of its inclusion standards, becoming the latest large company to announce it is rolling back some of its DEI practices. NPR
While corporate office vacancy remains at record low levels, some business districts face a looming shortage of top-shelf workspaces. Wall Street Journal
The war over H-1B visas has sparked sharp reactions and accusations of racism from commentators in India in recent days, where these visas for skilled workers are in high demand. Washington Post
Watercooler
Everything you need to know from Coins2Day .
More RTO in 2025. The return-to-office crackdown is already in full swing this year as British behemoth WPP has announced that workers need to come back to the office at least four days a week. —Prarthana Prakash
Discrimination, ableism, and harassment. More than 700 workers are suing McDonald’s in the U.K. After widespread harassment claims were exposed last year. —AFP
Attracting Gen Z. In order to combat Japan’s rapidly aging workforce, companies there are wooing young college graduates with benefits like student loan reimbursement and subsidized housing. —Emma Burleigh
