Retail Workers Protected under New Law
According to data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a division of the U.S. Department of Labor, more than 450 workers were killed in 2023 in acts of violence in the workplace. Furthermore, assaults in grocery and convenience stores both went up by more than 60%. In response to concerns about dramatically increased risks of violence in retail establishments, New York legislators enacted the New York Retail Workers Safety Act, which Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law on September 4, 2024. The new statute went into effect on March 3, 2025.
How Does the Retail Workers Safety Act Protect Retail Employees?
Under the provisions of the new law, an employer must have a written workplace violence prevention policy. Employers may adopt a model policy issued by the New York Department of Labor or may develop their own policy, provided it meets or exceeds the minimum standards of the model policy. The policy must:
- Identify factors or situations likely to place workers at risk of violence on the job, such as”
- Working alone or in small numbers
- Working in an environment without controlled access
- Working a job that involves collecting or exchanging money
- Working late night, overnight or early morning shifts
*Identify strategies for preventing or minimizing the possibility of workplace violence, including systems for reporting violence on the job
*Provide information about state and federal laws regarding violence toward retail workers, including the remedies available for workers who are injured as a consequence of acts of violence in the workplace
*State unequivocally that retaliation against any worker who reports incidents of workplace violence is contrary to New York law
In addition to the written policy, your employer must provide annual training regarding the prevention of workplace violence and must distribute to all employees written notice of both the workplace violence policy and the annual training.
Let the Romero Law Group Protect Your Rights as an Employee
At the Romero Law Group, PLLC, we handle a wide range of legal issues for employees in Westchester County, Rockland County and Orange County in New York; and across Northern New Jersey. We offer a free initial consultation to any employee with a potential employment law dispute. To schedule an appointment, contact our offices online or call us at (631)257-5588.