Take it from me. I am one of these so-called boomerang employees, having taken a buyout a year ago from USA TODAY, where I worked as a reporter and editor for 24 years, and then returning this month as a part-timer.
Whether it’s for extra income, a chance to mingle with treasured colleagues, or to simply fill a significant void, some of those who left their jobs at the start of the pandemic are trickling back.
“It’s always easier to go back to somewhere where you were comfortable,” said Michelle Reisdorf, a senior regional director for recruiting firm Robert Half. “It’s such an easy transition back into the workplace.”
The tight job market is making it possible. Just as former workers may first think about their old jobs, employers know the benefits of tapping retirees and other past workers they trust. Boomerangs require less training compared to newbies, are familiar with company culture and, perhaps best of all, there may be a large pool of them.
1.5 jobs available for every unemployed American
Whether they can be convinced to rise from the sofa is another matter.
That works out to an average of 1.5 jobs available for each of the 7.4 million unemployed in October, the most unemployed Americans in at least two decades.
The same workers who might have felt burned out can now return fresh, hoping to write their own ticket. Full-timers might come back as part-timers, consultants, or freelancers. They may demand to work from home.
“The employee is focusing on areas most important to them,” – within limits, said Andres Lares, managing partner at the Shapiro Negotiations Institute.
Lares recommends not taking their old employer’s confidence in an ex-worker for granted. Those who hope to return should seriously prepare their pitches for getting back a job, thinking ahead of what they will say.
When it comes to negotiating pay, “you want to aim high but within reason,” Lares said. Employee prospects have the upper hand but shouldn’t get carried away. He recalls one former employee demanding a 70{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} raise, which wasn’t realistic.
Robert Half’s Reisdorf has firsthand experience in coming back to her employer. She left Robert Half during the Great Recession and returned two years later in 2012. Much was the same, though the culture had shifted a bit. “We were a softer, gentler company,” she said.
Now she gets to see the boomerang trend from both sides – employers and former employees.
Employers who seek out former workers can try to cherry-pick the top performers or seek out specialized skills as they reposition for a post-pandemic world.
Companies that meet worker demands for more time at home, fewer hours, or other perks may get increased flexibility in their workforce, Reisdorf said, “but they have to pay more for that.”
As for former employees, those who never intended to retire or leave the workforce may come to realize the danger of having extended gaps on their resumes in a hot job market that could make them look like damaged goods.
“More are anxious to return when they realize coming back is a great opportunity for them,” she said.
After a long career as a reporter and editor, the pandemic seemed like the perfect time to hang it up. Unlike many, I loved working from an office, but home confinement in the name of COVID-19 prevention started to come more naturally.
I had done my homework. I had a nest egg socked away and the requisite three “passions,” as retirement books recommended, to see me through. I could take daily bike rides, weekend boating outings, go see movies, tour museums and take trips at will. I took a volunteer post delivering boxes of blood to hospitals for the American Red Cross.
But there was what I came to think of as “the hole,” that empty place that used to be filled by significance in my life from producing articles and videos read by thousands. I had continued to write freelance but missed the excitement of a 24/7 national news operation.
So I came home to USA TODAY – little negotiation required.
Now the question for employers and their former workers alike is, will there be many others like me?
If you run a small business, you need insurance. There are various types of coverage available and the exact insurance you need will depend on your industry and precise circumstances.
However, some insurance policies are vital for every type of small business. Here are some of the most common types of insurance policies that small businesses could require.
General Liability Insurance
If someone makes a claim against your business because he or she has suffered a bodily injury while on your premises, such as slipping in a store, general liability insurance will protect you and help to pay for things like medical expenses. General liability insurance covers property damage too.
Also, if your business sells products, you should get general liability insurance that includes product liability insurance to help protect your business against property damage or injuries caused by the products you sell.
Professional Liability Insurance
Professional liability insurance protects your business against claims related to mistakes in your professional services.
For example, if a customer has to pay a penalty due to an accounting mistake that your business made, the person could sue your company.
By having professional liability insurance in place, legal costs for such lawsuits will be covered.
Cyber Liability Insurance
In today’s world, most businesses, both big and small, have some kind of digital infrastructure. While the digital world has enabled operations to become more efficient and productive in numerous ways, the drawback is your company can potentially be a victim of cybercrime.
Therefore, you should consider getting a business insurance policy known as cyber liability insurance. It can cover your business in the event of things like data breaches and theft or loss of customer data.
Commercial Property Insurance
Whether you own or rent a building, you should take out commercial property insurance. It covers the building and the equipment in the building should a thief break in and steal items.
So, if laptops are stolen, for example, commercial property insurance can help to cover the replacement cost.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Most states in the US require businesses to have workers’ compensation insurance. It provides employees with benefits to cover things like medical treatment should they experience work-related injuries or illnesses.
Employment Practices Liability Insurance
Also known as employers’ liability insurance, employment practices liability insurance helps to protect your small business from employment-related claims. That includes claims like sexual harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination.
Business Income Coverage
When your small business cannot operate due to property damage, you can help to replace your loss of income when you have business income coverage.
Also known as business interruption insurance, the coverage protects your loss of income when your property has been damaged by things like a fire, a storm, or theft.
Business Owner’s Policy
If you are planning on getting business income insurance in addition to general liability insurance and commercial property insurance, you should go with the umbrella business owner’s policy, which covers all three types of insurance policies.
Commercial Auto Insurance
Should you or an employee be involved in an accident that causes injuries or property damage while driving a company vehicle, damages can be paid for when you have commercial auto insurance in place.
That means you or the employee can gain financial compensation for things like repairing property and getting medical treatment.
Personal Accident Insurance
If you should experience an injury or illness that stops you from performing your regular work duties, your loss of income can be covered when you have a personal accident insurance policy.
As a small business owner, it makes sense to have personal accident insurance should the unexpected occur.
BEIJING (AP) — Financial markets can cope with the impact of a Chinese real estate developer that is struggling to avoid defaulting on $310 billion in debt, the central bank governor said Thursday, in a new effort to assure the public the economy can be shielded from fallout.
Yi Gang’s comments by video to a seminar in Hong Kong added to indications Beijing has no plans to bail out Evergrande Group. Fears of a default have rattled financial markets, but economists say the ruling Communist Party wants to avoid sending the wrong signal at a time when it is trying to force companies to cut high debt burdens.
“The short-term risks of individual real estate companies will not affect the normal financing function of the medium- and long-term market,” Yi said, according to a transcript released by the central bank.
“Evergrande’s hazard is a market event that will be properly handled in accordance with market principles and law,” Yi said. Investors’ interests “will be protected in accordance with the law,” he said.
Political Cartoons
Default is all but certain after Evergrande, the global real estate industry’s most indebted company, warned Friday it might run out of cash. The company says it has 2.3 trillion yuan ($350 billion) of assets but it is struggling to sell them fast enough to pay its debts.
Beijing can keep lending markets functioning if Evergrande defaults, and local officials can mobilize to contain turmoil in real estate markets, economists say. The central bank released 1.2 trillion yuan ($190 billion) from bank reserves for additional lending on Monday.
Evergrande and its creditors have yet to confirm news reports the company failed to make a payment due this week on a U.S.-dollar-denominated bond sold abroad.
Evergrande, headquartered in the southern city of Shenzhen, is the biggest company caught in a campaign launched by Beijing last year to force developers to reduce soaring debt that is seen as a threat to economic stability. Smaller developers have gone bankrupt, missed debt payments or warned they might default.
Total Chinese corporate, government and household debt has risen to about 300{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of annual economic output from 270{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in 2018, unusually high for a middle-income country.
Another developer, Kaisa Group Holdings Ltd., warned it might fail to pay off a $400 million bond due Tuesday. The company has yet to confirm news reports that it missed the payment, but Fitch Ratings on Thursday cut Kaisa’s credit rating to “restricted default” while it waited for confirmation.
The slowdown in real estate sales and construction caused by the debt campaign helped to depress China’s economic growth to an unexpectedly low 4.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} over a year earlier in the three months ending in September. Forecasters expect growth to decelerate further if the financing curbs stay in place.
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Do you struggle with saving? This method may help you prioritize your savings goals.
Saving money is an essential financial habit. Whether you’re saving for future expenses, emergencies, or retirement, having extra money set aside is beneficial. Creating a savings and investing plan is the best way to prepare for your future financial needs. Every month, I save money for various future needs, including retirement. Find out why I treat my savings and retirement contributions like a bill.
It’s easy to neglect savings
There were times in my life where I didn’t prioritize saving. Sometimes I planned to save and forgot, and other times I decided to spend my extra money instead of saving it. Because of this, I didn’t always have the money that I needed on hand. Whenever something unexpected happened, I often had to use a credit card.
While credit cards can be a helpful financial tool, they come with risks and should be used carefully. If you don’t pay the card balance in full, you’ll be charged interest. Credit card interest can be expensive, and it adds up quickly. If you have an emergency fund established for unexpected costs, it makes life a lot easier and less stressful. That way, you’ll have money on hand to pay for an unexpected expense rather than charging it to a credit card.
After neglecting my savings goals for some time, I knew that I needed to come up with a plan and force myself to save. I found a strategy that works for me, and now I worry about finances a lot less.
I treat my savings like a regular expense
I now treat my savings contributions like a regular expense. Every month, I have to pay for life expenses like my mortgage, electricity, cable and internet, and car insurance. I treat my savings and retirement contributions the same way.
I mark these bills on my calendar just like I do my other expenses. That way, I anticipate the cost coming up. I set up autonomic savings contributions so the money automatically comes out of my checking account. This way, I won’t forget.
When it comes to saving for retirement, this is especially important for me as a freelancer. I don’t have an employer-sponsored retirement account, and I need to make sure I’m planning for my future. This savings method is also helpful because I pay my self-employment taxes quarterly. With my automatic savings withdrawals, the money is there when I need it.
Give this method a try
If you keep making excuses or find that you forget to save money, it may be time to try following a similar strategy. If you act like your savings contributions are a regular bill, it becomes something you must do instead of something you might do.
Contributing money bi-weekly or monthly is an excellent way to ensure you meet your savings goals. You can open a new savings account and automate your savings. Having a separate bank account can make it easier for you to avoid spending the money.
Planning for your retirement years is also essential. Whether there comes a time when you’re no longer able to work or you choose not to, you want to make sure that you can continue to live comfortably without financial worry. If you’re not yet saving for your retirement years and want to research options, here are some of the best IRA accounts.
Saving money doesn’t have to be a chore. Treat your savings and retirement contributions like a bill and automate your savings so you have less to worry about each month. If you’d like to learn other ways to improve your financial situation, check out our personal finance resources.
Markets closed mostly lower on Thursday, ending a mixed trading session that followed record-low initial jobless claims.
The S&P 500 posted a loss of -0.72{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in afternoon trading, erasing gains from a recent rally that brought it near a record. The Nasdaq Composite also lost steam, falling 1.72{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, or 269.62 points, to 15,517.37 as tech stocks took a hit, while the Dow remained flat after choppy trading this week.
The stock moves on Thursday followed the release of fresh data from the U.S. labor department that showed the number of Americans filing initial jobless claims fell to the lowest level since September 1969. Weekly jobless claims fell to 184,000, below the pre-pandemic average of about 220,000 per week, pointing to a tightening labor market as employers seek to retain workers.
“I think what we’ve learned from the jobless claims is that it’s another affirmation that the labor market is increasingly tight,” Principal Global Investors Chief Strategist Seema Shah told Yahoo Finance Live. “We can see clearly that there’s very strong demand for employment. The area which is holding back the full recovery is from the supply side.”
“It looks like employers need to do more,” Shah added. “Wage increases are probably on the agenda for next year, and that’s part of the broadening of inflation pressures that we’ve already started to see come through in CPI data.”
Shah told Yahoo Finance, however, that her firm expects other parts of the inflation picture to fade and the 6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}-7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} consumer price figures likely to be seen in tomorrow’s report release should fall back to 3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}-4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} by the end of next year.
“If COVID gradually improves rather than a major resurgence in 2022, we expect to see a continued recovery in the U.S. economy — continued recovery in services spending,”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization of Pfizer Inc and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine booster shot for those aged 16 and 17 as the CDC strengthens its recommendations for those who are eligible to get a third dose.
Shares of Pfizer (PFE) were up 0.67{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} on Thursday, trading at $52.07 per share.
Electric vehicle companies slumped Thursday, led by a selloff of shares of Lucid Group (LCID).
The company erased $11 billion in market value following a proposal to offer $1.75 billion of convertible senior notes expected to be sold to institutional buyers in a private offering. The decline also marked the second nosedive this week for shares of Lucid, which hovered around bear market territory Monday following disclosure of an investigation by the SEC of a recent SPAC merger.
Other electric vehicle companies extended losses following a three-day rally along with a broader market slump. Rivian (RIVN) was down by 7.26{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $114.89 per share, Tesla (TSLA) fell 4.94{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $1,016.12, and Workhorse Group (WKHS) slid 5.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $5.18. Nikola (NKLA) was down 0.44{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $9.92, Lordstown (RIDE) fell 5.93{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $4.20, and Canoo (GOEV) dropped 7.18{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $9.44 in intraday trading.
4:01 p.m. ET: Stocks end lower after three days of gains
Here were the main moves in markets as of 4:01 p.m. ET:
S&P 500 (^GSPC): -33.68 (-0.72{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,667.53
Dow (^DJI): +0.53 (+0.00{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 35,755.28
Nasdaq (^IXIC): -269.62 (-1.71{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 15,517.37
Crude (CL=F): -$1.75 (-2.42{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $70.61 a barrel
Gold (GC=F): -$8.90 (-0.50{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,776.60 per ounce
10-year Treasury (^TNX): -2.2 bps to yield 1.4870{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}
Shares of electric vehicle maker Lucid Group (LCID) wiped out $11 billion in market value following a proposal by the company to offer $1.75 billion of convertible senior notes expected to be sold to institutional buyers in a private offering.
The decline marks the second nosedive this week for shares of Lucid, which hovered around bear market territory Monday following disclosure of an investigation by the SEC of a recent SPAC merger.
Other electric vehicle companies extended losses following a three-day rally along with a broader market slump. Rivian (RIVN) was down by 7.26{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $114.89 per share, Tesla (TSLA) fell 4.94{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $1,016.12, and Workhorse Group (WKHS) slid 5.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $5.18. Nikola (NKLA) was down 0.44{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $9.92, Lordstown (RIDE) fell 5.93{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $4.20, and Canoo (GOEV) dropped 7.18{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $9.44 in intraday trading.
2:09 p.m. Nasdaq extends decline to 1.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}
The tech-focused Nasdaq composite extended its decline on Thursday, falling as much as 1.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in afternoon trading to 15,611.08 after a volatile week for U.S. stocks as they climbed in a three-day recovery rally.
Markets were mostly lower in the second half of the day, with the S&P 500 also down 13.08 points to 4,688.47. The Dow gained 87.34 points, turning positive earlier in the day after a dip in morning hours.
1:49 p.m. Brazil’s Nubank debuts on Wall Street
Shares of Nu Holdings (NU), the Warren Buffet-backed Brazilian financial technology that does business as NuBank, jumped as much as 36{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} on its inaugural trading day Thursday.
Nubank’s U.S. initial public offering makes it the most valuable financial institution in Latin America, surpassing Itau Unibanco Holding SA, with a $38 billion market value. The company’s IPO follows a record wave of Brazilian listings, adding to nearly 50 companies that raised more than 65 billion reais ($12 billion) this year.
The company’s backers include Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway, which is reported to have taken a $500m stake in NuBank in June, valuing the company at $30 billion at the time.
Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Citigroup Inc. led the IPO. Shares began trading midday Thursday under the ticker NU.
12:42 p.m. ET: Dow rebounds after opening dip
The Dow Jones Industrial Average bounced back in midday trading on Thursday following a slide by all three major U.S. indexes at the open.
The Dow was up slightly by 13.08 points, while the S&P 500 continued to edge lower, down 10.95 points to 4,690.26. The Nasdaq composite also remained in the red, falling by as much as 0.75{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}.
Markets shrugged off data from the U.S. Labor Department released Thursday morning that showed the number of Americans filing initial jobless claims fell to the lowest level in half a century, opening lower in early trading and concluding a recovery rally that spanned three trading sessions.
US wholesale inventories climbed above estimates in October as companies stock up for holiday season demand.
Latest figures from the Commerce Department released Thursday showed wholesale inventories rose 2.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, slightly more than the 2.2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} estimated last month and 14.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} up from a year earlier.
The rise in inventories at wholesalers suggests restocking of warehouses could support economic growth this quarter. U.S. businesses recently struggled to hold inventories on hand due to supply chain delays and strong sales.
10:45 a.m. ET: Gamestop trades lower following disappointing earnings
Shares of Gamestop (GME) dropped in early trading after the video game retailer posted Q3 earnings Wednesday reflecting widening quarterly losses that disappointed investors. The stock was down by as much as 6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} after markets opened on Thursday.
Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter cut his price target from $45 to $50, attributing the downgrade to lack of clarity from management on a digital transformation plan for the company promised in the past that “has yet to crystalize.”
“Another quarter, still no turnaround strategy in sight,” Pachter wrote in a note to clients.
The video game company and meme-stock darling reported a quarterly loss of $1.39 per share, higher than consensus estimates.
9:36 a.m. ET: Stocks open lower
Here were the main moves in markets as of 9:36 a.m. ET:
S&P 500 (^GSPC): -10.44 (-0.22{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,690.77
Dow (^DJI): -134.51 (-0.38{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 35,620.24
Nasdaq (^IXIC): -19.58 (-0.12{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 15,767.41
Crude (CL=F): -$0.54 (-0.75{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $71.82 a barrel
Gold (GC=F): -$2.80 (-0.16{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,782.70 per ounce
10-year Treasury (^TNX): -1.7 bps to yield 1.4920{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}
8:30 a.m. ET: Jobless claims hit new record low
New weekly jobless claims came in well below expectations and reached its lowest level since September 1969. The Labor Department reported that 184,000 claims were filed for the week ending Dec. 4. Claims are hovering below their pre-pandemic levels.
Continuing claims, which represent the number of individuals still receiving unemployment benefits via regular state programs, have also come down and held below 2 million last week. For the week ended Nov. 27, continuing claims was 1.992 million.
8:30 a.m. ET Thursday: Stock futures slip
Here were the main moves in markets in early trading Thursday:
S&P 500 futures (ES=F): -19.25 points (-0.41{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,679.75
Dow futures (YM=F): -157 points (-0.44{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 35,589
Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): -67.50 points (-0.41{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 16,324.75
6:57 p.m. ET Wednesday: Stock futures open flat
Here were the main moves in markets in late trading on Wednesday:
S&P 500futures (ES=F): -1.75 points (-0.04{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,697.25
Dow futures (YM=F): + -8 points (-0.02{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 35,728
Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): -16.50 points (-0.10{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 16,375.75
—
Alexandra Semenova is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @alexandraandnyc
Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
This week, health officials identified the first cases of the omicron variant in Florida. What that means going forward is still unknown, but it puts future plans at risk all over again.
The uncertainty over more coronavirus outbreaks and closures is leading travelers to buy travel insurance at record rates, according to Megan Moncrief, the chief marketing officer at St. Petersburg-based Squaremouth. The travel insurance agency saw sales increase by 53 percent following the arrival of omicron.
Concerns about canceled travel plans are higher now, compared to the 20 percent spike Squaremouth saw following the delta variant, Moncrief said. Even with delta, the travel industry was still fairly optimistic as borders reopened to foreign travelers.
Related: Tampa International Airport plans to restore routes as U.S. border opens to vaccinated travelers
“Going into the holidays, there was quite a bit of confidence with a lot of destinations open,” Moncrief said. “Then the new variant made everyone a little bit shell shocked.”
Moncrief spoke with the Tampa Bay Times about what’s driving traveler concerns and what travel insurance can cover. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
How could the omicron variant impact travel plans?
We spoke to a lot of our customers to gauge concerns. They seem to be shifting more toward travelers worried if they’ll contract COVID-19 or have to quarantine. With the variant, we immediately saw three countries close their borders, one of which is Israel, currently our fourth top international destination, so a very popular country as far as U.S. tourism. We all know those border closings happened last year and caused this huge drop in travel altogether. Travelers had trips booked and then were immediately nervous that the border was once again going to close.
Megan Moncrief, the chief marketing officer at St. Petersburg-based Squaremouth. [ ASHLEE HAMON PHOTOGRAPHY, INC | Ashlee Hamon Photography, INC ]
How is the omicron variant affecting expectations that international travel would rebound after the U.S. border reopened to foreign travelers last month?
It’s kind of a wait-and-see pattern right now. We’re seeing a lot of chatter about additional restrictions: more negative tests, vaccines and quarantine requirements potentially upon a return or even arrival. We haven’t seen widespread closures like we did in early 2020. But it’s still pretty early.
Obviously the holidays are a busy travel season. Our sales are up as far as insurance, but that doesn’t mean travel is up. It could just be more scared travelers. Or it could mean more people booking trips and therefore booking insurance.
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Related: Tampa International Airport sees record travelers for Thanksgiving
How should travelers prepare if they want to go out of the country right now?
There’s so much out there and it can be hard to find one place that has the most current information. We’re urging our customers before they even book a travel insurance policy to find out everything that you can from their destination, airlines and hotel. Understand what policies are in place, what requirements there are of you, when do you need to have your negative test, do you need to be vaccinated at your destination?
Don’t spend more money on a policy than you have to on what could already be an expensive trip. Look into a travel insurance policy for any gaps there might be.
What does travel insurance not cover?
The big gap right now is a border closure. Travel insurance policies don’t have the term ‘border closure’ or anything related to a border closure included under a standard trip cancellation policy.
Now, there are a few that will provide coverage for a government-issued travel warning, like a CDC level 4 alert or higher. So that can potentially be helpful in this scenario as long as the policy is purchased before that alert is issued.
Unfortunately, prior to 2020 this was never a main concern. So it’s going to take time for the travel insurance providers to adjust their coverage and adhere to these new and evolving kinds of traveler concerns. So if that is your No. 1 concern — the border closed and you can’t go, or you’re scared of this new variant, maybe you’re high risk or just not comfortable traveling anymore — that’s also not going to be covered under a standard travel insurance policy.
What most policies will cover is contracting COVID-19, whether it was before or during your trip. There are additional types of policies that you can purchase to have more coverage.
Related: Tampa Bay holiday travelers, be wary of flight delays and cancellations
How much has travel insurance changed in the past two years?
We’ve seen a lot of providers already come to the market with quarantine coverage. There’s a focus on coverage for domestic trips or what additional benefits will be applicable to domestic travelers in 2020. And then quite a few have added or increased benefit limits for travel delay to cover quarantine.
We’re also seeing new providers come to the market with ‘cancel for any reason’ coverage. Like it says, you can cancel for any reason. It was hugely popular last year. Our percentage of sales on these policies went from less than 4 percent up to about 30 percent.
A lot of providers are trying to find ways to cover border closures or airline disruptions, but it just takes time. It has to be approved in every state. It has to be rated.
What else should travelers know right now?
If you have a trip booked, months in advance or even just a month in advance, reach out to your travel suppliers and understand your options. The more recently your trip was booked, the more likely you are to have additional benefits that can cover basically anything that can impact your trip. But if you booked your trip months in advance — like we’re seeing from most of our travelers when everyone was pretty confident prior to Thanksgiving weekend — reach out and see what your options are.
Don’t just jump to buy a travel insurance policy. We don’t want you to spend money if it’s not going to have the coverage that you need.
![Megan Moncrief, the chief marketing officer at St. Petersburg-based Squaremouth.](data:image/svg+xml,{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 2625 3500"/{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}3E "Megan Moncrief, the chief marketing officer at St. Petersburg-based Squaremouth.")
