New York mandates panic buttons for large retailers

New York has enacted the Retail Worker Safety Act, requiring large retailers to install panic buttons in stores to enhance worker safety. The law will take effect in stages, with panic buttons required by January 1, 2027.

Sources (7)

Open Article

9/8/2024

[0]CNY Central

Governor Hochul signs eight new laws to boost safety and fairness for NY workers

[1]The US Sun

Walmart-opposed new law that would track employees gets green light

9/7/2024

[2]CNY Central

Governor Hochul signs eight new laws to boost safety and fairness for NY workers

9/6/2024

[3]The Hill

Hochul signs law requiring panic buttons at large retailers in NY

[4]Washington Times

New York state retailers required to have panic buttons that call 911 starting in 2027

9/5/2024

[5]Reuters

New York state mandates panic buttons for large retailers under new law

[6]Democrat and Chronicle

NY enacts panic button law despite retailer pushback

Score	Value
Scale	7
Novelty	8
Positivity	6
Reliability	8
Actionability	7
Society	8
Journalism	5

Highlights

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Retail Worker Safety Act, requiring large retailers to install panic buttons in stores across the state.
The law mandates that retailers with 500 or more employees nationwide must have panic buttons that call 911, effective January 1, 2027.
Retailers with 10 or more employees must develop violence prevention plans and provide training on these programs.
The law was enacted in response to rising concerns over retail crime and high-profile shootings in New York.
In New York City, there have been at least 40,900 complaints related to retail theft in 2023, a 2.7% increase from the previous year.

Perspectives

Labor unions support the Retail Worker Safety Act, arguing it will help protect workers from violence and harassment, especially in light of recent shootings in retail settings. They emphasize the need for safety measures to assist workers in emergencies. [5][7]
Retailers, including Walmart, express concerns that panic buttons may lead to false alarms and question the effectiveness of the law in addressing retail crime. They argue that the costs associated with implementing these measures could be burdensome. [5][6][7]