New York’s Retail Worker Safety Act introduces obligations for worker retail worker employers to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence. Ensuring compliance with this legislation is essential for maintaining safe working environments and avoiding penalties.
New York’s Retail Worker Safety Act is designed to ensure retail employees’ and customers’ safety and security, mandating stricter measures for workplace safety and theft prevention. Two critical pieces of legislation tied to this initiative are Assembly Bill A8947C and Senate Bill S8358C. These bills create a framework to address increasing theft, harassment and safety risks in retail environments.
Navigating the compliance landscape for New York’s Retail Worker Safety Act raises many important questions:
As New York’s Retail Worker Safety Act introduces new requirements, businesses face significant challenges in implementing and maintaining compliance. From developing comprehensive violence prevention policies to implementing reporting systems and providing annual employee training, preparation is key to successfully meeting these mandates.
Early and proactive preparation is crucial at NAVEX. By addressing these challenges head-on, businesses can protect their employees and reputation.
How to meet the requirements of New York’s Retail Worker Safety Act
New York’s Retail Worker Safety Act mandates that all retail businesses in New York State with 10 or more retail employees develop and implement comprehensive workplace violence prevention policies. Here’s what you can do to meet compliance requirements and protect your people.
Training and education
Empower your people with comprehensive training and ongoing education to ensure a safe, responsive and compliant workplace.
Prevention policies
Retail businesses must establish and implement written prevention policies to minimize workplace violence risks. Key elements include:
Whistleblower protections
Robust whistleblower protections that encourage anonymous reporting and prohibit retaliation can help to provide a safe, comfortable environment for everyone. You’ll need:
3 Oct 2024 NAVEX Editorial Team
Learn more
Learn more
Learn more
Your team deserves to feel confident working for a company that prioritizes safety, compliance, and ethical practices. With NAVEX One, you can equip your organization and employees with the tools needed to meet the requirements of New York’s Retail Worker Safety Act, ensuring a safer workplace and maintaining compliance with legal standards.
Educate and engage your people with online training that speaks in their language, to their experiences.
Learn more
Centrally manage your entire policy and procedure lifecycle.
Learn more
Ensure regulatory compliance, engage your people and build trust in your reputation with NAVEX reporting and whistleblowing solutions.
Learn more
Transform your ethical code into an accessible day-to-day reference.
Learn more
Easily identify third parties that share your vision and safeguard your most valuable partnerships with NAVEX One.
Learn more
Quick to launch, quick to deliver – NAVEX IRM out-of-the-box is your express route to mastering vendor risk management.
Learn more
The Act requires retail businesses in New York to develop workplace violence prevention policies and provide employees with safety protocol training. To comply, companies should assess risks, implement prevention measures, and ensure ongoing training. This helps prepare staff for potential threats and creates a safer environment.
Retail businesses with 10 or more employees in New York State must comply. This includes large retail chains headquartered worldwide and smaller stores meeting the employee threshold for their New York locations.
The Act requires businesses to create written policies for violence prevention, conduct regular risk assessments, offer whistleblower protections and provide ongoing employee training to ensure workers are prepared to handle violent situations.
Part of this requires companies to meet or exceed a model policy and training program that will be published by the New York State Department of Labor. This model has not been published yet, but more updates are forthcoming. Check back with us for the latest developments on this regulation.
The Act goes into effect on March 3 2025, giving businesses time to prepare by implementing required policies and training programs.
While the OSH Act addresses general workplace safety, the New York Retail Worker Safety Act specifically focuses on preventing violence in retail settings, requiring tailored policies, training and employee protections.
Noncompliance can result in fines, lawsuits, or increased liability for workplace violence incidents, making it essential for businesses to follow the Act’s requirements closely.