BILL NUMBER: S8358C
SPONSOR: RAMOS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to requiring retail worker
employers to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace
violence
 
PURPOSE:
To increase worker safety by requiring retail worker employers to imple-
ment policies and training programs to prevent workplace violence.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Titled "Retail Worker Safety Act."
Section 2. Adds a new section 27-e to Labor Law - Prevention of retail
workplace violence, which outlines definitions, the department mandate
to establish a written workplace violence prevention policy, employer
notice of such policy, panic button mandate, and an evaluation of such
policy.
Section 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day
after it shall have become a law; provided that subdivision 5 of section
27-e of the labor law, as added by section two this act, shall take
effect January 1, 2027. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION: Retail workers can be subject to verbal harassment,
threats of violence and physical violence. Recent polls have shown that
the majority of retail workers said they've been subject to intimidating
conduct or verbal harassment from another individual within the last
year. While many retail employers have established internal policies to
protect employees from harassment and violence, this bill seeks to
establish a model policy and training to expand and strengthen these
safety measures.
 
FISCAL IMPACT:
To Be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law; provided that subdivision 5 of section 27-e of
the labor law, as added by section two this act, shall take effect Janu-
ary 1, 2027. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
on or before such effective date.