The New York Retail Worker Safety Act, passed on September 4, 2024, is a new law aimed at enhancing the safety of retail workers and shoppers in response to the increasing threat of gun violence and other forms of violence in retail settings. Employers with locations in New York with ten or more retail employees in the state must comply with the law within 180 days of its enactment.
New York’s initiative is reflective of other workplace violence prevention laws. A prominent example includes California’s recent move, Senate Bill 553, the Workplace Violence Prevention Act, which made California the first state with a dedicated workplace violence prevention law. The New York Retail Worker Safety Act is among the first comprehensive state efforts to tackle the growing issue of workplace violence in the retail industry.
Key provisions of The New York Retail Worker Safety Act
So, what exactly do the new rules for retail stores include?
Workplace violence prevention policy
Retail companies must implement a workplace violence prevention policy by June, 2025. The New York State Department of Labor (NY DOL) will provide a model policy and training program that employers can use or adapt to meet compliance standards. The policy must address risk factors, prevention strategies, and relevant legal protections. It also needs to be provided in writing in both English and the twelve most common non-English languages spoken by limited-English proficient individuals in the state, based on the data in the most recent American Community Survey published by the United States Census Bureau and published online by the New York state office of language access.
Training requirements for the New York Retail Worker Safety Act
Employers must provide interactive workplace violence prevention training for all employees as well as a notice about the policy and the information presented in the training. This training must be conducted during onboarding and repeated annually by law for employers with more than 50 retail employees (every 2 years for less than 50), covering topics such as:
Information about the Retail Worker Safety Act
- De-escalation techniques of workplace violence
- Active shooter drills
- Emergency procedures
- Use of security alarms and panic buttons
- Site-specific emergency exits and meeting locations
- Silent Response Buttons
Employers with over 500 retail employees statewide must install silent response buttons in their New York workplaces by January 1, 2027. Every retail employee with a silent response button to request immediate assistance from a security officer, manager, or supervisor while the employee is working at the employee’s location in case of an emergency. Such silent response button may be a device that is installed in an easily accessible location in the workplace, or a wearable or mobile phone-based button. Mobile-based silent buttons must only be installed on employer-provided devices and cannot be used for employee tracking unless activated.
As New York and California spearhead efforts to legislate workplace violence prevention, other states are likely to follow suit. Retail employers nationwide should prepare for the growing trend toward enhanced safety regulations and consider proactive steps to align with these evolving standards.
Implementing the Retail Worker Safety Act highlights the importance of prioritizing employee safety in the retail industry. By setting clear guidelines and requiring mandatory training, the law aims to foster a safer and more secure working environment for retail employees. Employers are encouraged to stay informed on legislative changes and ensure compliance with new safety protocols to protect their workforce and promote a safety culture.
For more details on how NAVEX One can help your company comply with the New York Retail Safety Act, follow the link below to learn more about the platform.
