Governor Hochul Signs Amendment Extending Key Effective Date for the New York Retail Worker Safety Act

Quick Hits

• On February 14, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law an amendment to the New York Retail Worker Safety Act, extending the effective date for workplace violence prevention policies, training, and notice provisions from March 4, 2025, to June 2, 2025.
• The amendment adjusts training requirements for employers with fewer than fifty employees and mandates state model templates in English and the twelve most common non-English languages spoken in New York.
• Effective January 1, 2027, employers with 500 or more retail employees statewide will be required to provide silent response buttons for internal alerts.

The amendment also modifies the following other provisions of the act:

• “Panic Buttons” that would alert law enforcement are now replaced with “silent response buttons” (SRBs) that alert internal staff (security officers, managers, or supervisors).
• SRBs are now required for employers with 500 or more retail employees statewide rather than nationwide. The amendment has not changed the effective date for the SRB requirement, which remains January 1, 2027.
• Employers with fewer than fifty retail employees now only need to provide workplace violence training to their retail employees upon hire, and then every other year, rather than annually.
• New York State model templates will now be issued in English and the twelve most common non-English languages spoken in New York (as determined by data published by the United States Census Bureau).

This amendment provides covered retail employers with an additional ninety days before they must comply with the requirements for a workplace violence prevention plan, training program, and notice to employees. It is anticipated that the state will issue additional guidance about the act’s requirements and potential enforcement as this deadline approaches. While the guidance may provide additional insight, covered employers may want to act now so that they can implement the requirements in compliance with the June 2, 2025, deadline.

Ogletree Deakins’ Workplace Violence Prevention Practice Group will continue to monitor developments and provide updates on the New York, Retail, and Workplace Violence Prevention blogs as additional information becomes available.

Additionally, the Ogletree Deakins Client Portal provides subscribers with timely updates on workplace violence prevention requirements, including those in New York. Premium-level subscribers have access to our New York Workplace Violence Prevention Plan Template Package, which includes a model policy, training, hazard assessment, notice, and more.

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