New York State Retail Worker Safety Act is Now in Effect

On June 2, 2025, the amended New York State Retail Worker Safety Act officially took effect. Originally passed in 2024, the law requires employers to implement specific safety measures in retail workplaces. Under this new law, employers with 10 or more retail employees in New York State must implement a workplace violence prevention plan and training.

The New York State Department of Labor (NYDOL) offers a model policy and training materials that employers may customize. Use of the models are optional, but any employer-developed policy must cover the following topics.

Workplace Violence Prevention Policy Requirements:

• Risk factors for workplace violence, such as working late or alone, handling cash and uncontrolled access to the workplace. Luxury retailers may also cite high-value inventory as a risk.
• Prevention methods, including incident reporting procedures.
• Summary of applicable state, federal and local laws protecting retail workers.
• Statement prohibiting retaliation against employees who report violence or safety concerns.

Workplace Violence Prevention Training Requirements:

• Overview of the Retail Worker Safety Act requirements
• Safety and self-protection strategies for employees
• De-escalation techniques and active shooter response
• Emergency procedures and use of alarms/devices
• Site-specific emergency exits and meeting points
• Roles of supervisors and managers during emergencies

Although the model training is generally applicable to retail workplaces, it does not provide site-specific instruction. Employers should take care to provide customized emergency instructions for employees at each retail location.

Additionally, effective January 1, 2027, retail employers with 500 or more employees in New York State must provide employees with a silent response button (also known as a “panic button”) to request immediate assistance in the event of an emergency, as well as training on its use. 

For more information on the amended New York State Retail Worker Safety Act, and for links to NYDOL’s model policy and training materials, read our latest Client Alert below.