Allianz Partners USA’s 15th Annual Vacation Confidence Index, released Wednesday, has revealed that about 30% of Americans will choose to work remotely from a vacation destination in 2023.

The new work-from-a-vacation-destination travel trend, which Allianz Partners is calling a “pay-cation,” has been encouraged by flexible remote work policies developed during the pandemic and is especially popular among young working Americans.

The survey found that respondents in the 18- to 34-year-old demographic are more likely (42%) to travel to a vacation destination to work remotely, compared with 26% of those ages 35 to 54, and 12% who are 55 years and older.

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Officers have found 6,301 firearms so far this year, up from the previous record of 5,972 found in 2021.

The TSA said Friday it’s raising the maximum fine to $14,950. Previously it was $13,910.

TSA officers have found 6,301 firearms in carry-on bags so far this year, surpassing the previous record of 5,972 detected in 2021. The numbers have been increasing steadily over the last decade; in 2012, 1,549 firearms were detected at security checkpoints.

Eighty-eight percent of the guns found this year were loaded, the TSA said.

Firearm possession laws vary by location, but guns are never allowed in carry-on bags at any airport security checkpoint, even if a passenger has a concealed-weapon permit. Passengers transporting firearms must do so in a locked case in checked baggage. They also must declare them to the airline, the TSA said.

At a congressional hearing earlier this year, some lawmakers and airport administrators called for higher fines, gun-safety classes for violators and other measures. They said the maximum fines were rarely imposed and clearly weren’t working as a deterrent.

But other lawmakers said most of the passengers who get caught simply forgot they were carrying a gun, and higher fines won’t stop that problem.

When the TSA finds a gun, it generally checks to see if it was stolen or involved in a previous crime. The agency might also confiscate the gun.

In addition to the fine — an amount determined by the TSA based on the circumstances of each case — the TSA will revoke PreCheck eligibility for at least five years for anyone caught with a gun at a security checkpoint. Passengers might also be arrested for a firearms violation, depending on the state or local laws in the airport’s location.

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Members may use and/or edit this document as they deem prudent.  

Thanks to Pioneer Equipment Dealers Association for below draft text.

[Insert Company Letterhead]

Essential Critical Infrastructure Worker Designation

[Insert Date]

The employee identified within this document is an Essential Critical Infrastructure Worker as defined by the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security within their March 19, 2020 “Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce: Ensuring Community and National Resilience in COVID-19 Response” (CISA Guidance). The CISA Guidance identifies farm equipment and construction equipment maintenance and repair facilities as essential to America’s “critical infrastructure industry.”

This document certifies that our company is an essential business and that our employee is an critical worker providing essential support within a sector that has been designated as critical infrastructure, the continued operation of which is vital for “public health, and safety, as well as economic and national security.”

As such, the employee identified in this letter is a “critical infrastructure industry employee” within the farm equipment or construction equipment industry and should be considered exempt from local restrictions such as curfews, shelter-in place orders, and other mobility restrictions when reporting to, returning from, or performing his or her work functions.

Pursuant to the above, the employee is authorized to travel to and from my workplace and to and from locations pursuant to their job duties which support critical infrastructure sectors.

[Insert Employee’s FULL Name] is an employee of [Insert Company Name], and is categorized as a critical infrastructure worker per the Guidance.

For verification or inquiries regarding our designation, please contact me at [Insert Phone #]

Issued by:

_______________________________                        ______________

[Insert CEO/Owner Name]                                           Date
[Insert Company Name]
[Insert Company Address]
[Insert Company Phone #]