**New York Enacts Law for Enhanced Retail Worker Safety Amid Rising Harassment Reports**

A new law aimed at improving the safety of retail workers in New York will take effect this week, responding to an increase in harassment cases reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Retail Worker Safety Act mandates that retail employers with at least 10 employees establish robust safety programs, including violence prevention plans and training on de-escalation techniques.

The law also requires employers to include active-shooter drills and evaluate the risk of workplace violence. For larger employers, those with a workforce of 500 or more statewide, the law goes a step further by mandating the installation of "silent response buttons" by 2027. These buttons, which can be workplace-installed or provided as wearable or phone-based options, will enable workers to discreetly alert security personnel or supervisors during emergencies. However, the law does not apply to restaurants and other food businesses primarily serving on-site diners, according to the state Department of Labor.

Governor Kathy Hochul signed the legislation around Labor Day last year, alongside seven other worker-focused bills. She remarked that these laws would bolster the state's "commitment to working families."

Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), which championed the legislation, highlighted its significance for enhancing worker safety. "Retail workers - and shoppers - across New York will be safer because of this law," Applebaum stated. "Retail workers should not have to go to work every day in fear, and this law goes a long way towards ending that."

An RWDSU survey underscored the urgent need for such measures, revealing that over 80% of retail workers were concerned about active-shooter situations. The majority of respondents reported experiencing harassment or intimidation from customers, managers, or coworkers.

The bill was crafted by Democratic state Senator Jessica Ramos of Queens and Assemblymember Karines Reyes of the Bronx. Their proposal was influenced by a rise in violence against retail workers since the pandemic, when enforcing mask and social-distancing rules often led to confrontational situations. The legislation's accompanying memo also referenced racially motivated mass shootings at locations like grocery stores, including the tragic 2022 mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket where 10 people lost their lives.

This law aims to provide retail workers with a safer working environment and reduce the instances of violence and harassment that have escalated in recent years.