Global study shows why clients need you
Almost a third of the world’s population are “always concerned about their safety and security” according to a new survey across 21 countries by Gfk.
In North America, more people than the 32 per cent global average agreed with the statement in the US (37 per cent) while fewer than the average agreed in Canada (27 per cent).
In Canada women are slightly more concerned than men while American men and women are equally concerned.
For clients with employees who travel abroad, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany rank highest among those who feel safe, although the poll was undertaken before recent violent attacks in Germany.
Following recent terror attacks, Turkey ranks highly for concern over safety and crucially, ahead of Rio 2016, 64 per cent agreed that they are “always concerned about safety and security” in Brazil.
Wisconsin weighs self-insurance
Wisconsin’s 250,000 public employees could be covered under a self-insurance model depending on the outcome of a request for proposal (RFP) by the state’s Department of Employee Trust Funds.
The state’s insurance board is considering whether to switch to self-insurance from the current model where coverage is provided by 17 HMOs.
While the state is weighing a report from consultants which shows a potential saving of $42 million a year by cutting out ACA fees, admin costs and insurance company profits; the Wisconsin Association of Health Plans has criticized the proposal process.
“There are serious considerations outside the scope of the RFP process that must be explored--real consequences, ranging from elimination of choice for consumers and greater financial risk for taxpayers to market instability and higher costs for other health care purchasers and local communities,” the association said in a statement.
The result of the RFP will be published in September.
Edward Snowden develops anti-hacking smartphone case
The former CIA whistleblower Edward Snowden has collaborated on the development of a device aimed at foiling cyber-attacks on smartphones.
Snowden and his co-inventor Andrew Huang say that the device is aimed at journalists, activists and others who may be vulnerable to hacking and tracking of their devices by their “enemies”.
They reveal that even in ‘airplane mode’ a hacked phone may be traceable and able to send sensitive data to hackers without the knowledge of the user.
The case being developed will detect any ‘broadcast’ of data from the phone and alert the user.
