New York state mandates panic buttons at big retailers under new law By Reuters

Written by Siddharth Cavale

NEW YORK (Reuters) – New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday signed a new law requiring retailers to beef up the safety of store workers, including requiring large chains to add panic buttons in all New York State locations.

Unions representing retail workers have been calling for a new law, known as the Retail Worker Safety Act (RWSA), after a spate of shootings in the state and as some retail officials recently cited an increase in retail crime – a claim that has been disputed. .

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT

The requirement to add panic buttons specifically to retail workplaces is the first of its kind in US states. While California adopted similar but broader workplace requirements earlier this year, it did not mandate panic buttons.

Walmart (NYSE: ), the National Retail Federation (NRF) and the Food Industry Alliance of New York State (FIA) have previously opposed the RWSA. Walmart has opposed the idea of ​​a panic button, citing concerns about the possibility of false alarms. Others expressed concern about the associated costs.

Walmart and the FIA ​​declined to comment. NRF deferred comment to the New York State Board of Trade, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In the past, marketing groups have sent letters to the New York State Senate opposing panic buttons.

CONTEXT

The RWSA takes effect after 180 days. It requires, among other things, retailers with 10 or more employees to implement a violence prevention program and keep records of incidents of violence for at least three years.

It also requires retailers with 500 or more employees nationwide to install panic buttons in easily accessible locations or provide wearable panic buttons or cell phone-based alarm devices to alert emergency officials.

This provision of the law will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2027.

BY NUMBERS

In New York City there have been at least 40,900 complaints related to shoplifting so far this year, a 2.7% increase from last year, according to the New York Police Department.

US retailer Target also closed nine locations, including one in East Harlem, citing violence against employees and retail theft as the main reasons.