The Retail Worker Safety Act (“RWSA”) is in effect as of today (June 2, 2025). As anticipated, the New York Department of Labor (NY DOL) State has released comprehensive resources to support employers in fulfilling their obligations under the RWSA. By leveraging these state-provided compliance resources from the NY DOL, employers can efficiently implement robust workplace violence prevention measures, thereby ensuring full compliance with all applicable requirements and creating a safer environment for retail employees across the state.
NY DOL’s Essential Model Resources
The NY DOL’s commitment to assisting employers is evident in the crucial model resources they provide:
- Model Retail Workplace Violence Prevention Policy: The NY DOL has developed a model policy that employers can adopt directly or use as a minimum standard when creating their own. This model policy is intended to identify risk factors in retail settings, outline prevention methods, establish incident reporting systems, provide resources for victims, and include anti-retaliation provisions.
- Notably, employers who use the model policy will need to include business-specific information, such as any additional workplace violence risk factors based on their business and any further methods to prevent violence that have been implemented in their workplace(s).
- Retail Workplace Violence Training Template: Alongside the policy, the NY DOL offers a transcript-based training template to guide employers in developing and delivering their mandatory interactive training programs. This template, along with an accessible training video (available upon form completion), helps ensure employees receive consistent and effective instruction on crucial topics such as de-escalation tactics, emergency procedures, and site-specific safety measures.
- Employers who utilize the NY DOL’s training materials should also cover site-specific or company-specific information and procedures not included in the model materials.
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Document: To further clarify employer obligations and address common queries, the NY DOL also provides a comprehensive FAQ document regarding the Retail Worker Safety Act. These FAQs serve as a valuable resource for employers seeking detailed guidance on specific aspects of the law.
- Translated Resources: The NY DOL will also provide additional translations of these model policy and training documents, with any future updates, including translations, to be posted on their website. This is particularly important as employers must distribute their policies and training in English and, if available from the NY DOL, in an employee’s primary language. If an employer opts to establish their own policy and training, and the NY DOL has provided a translation for an employee’s primary language, the employer must also have their custom documents translated into that language.
Understanding the Act’s Core Requirements
For background, the RWSA applies to employers with 10 or more retail employees anywhere in New York State. Its overarching goal is to mandate strategies that reduce the risk of workplace violence. Beyond the state-provided resources, the Act requires covered employers to:
- Implement a written workplace violence prevention policy.
- Provide interactive workplace violence prevention training. Employers with 50 or more retail employees are required to provide interactive training to all retail employees upon hire and annually thereafter, and employers with 49 or fewer retail employees are required to provide training upon hire and every two years thereafter.
- Distribute a written notice of the policy and training to employees at hire, and at each training session.
- By January 1, 2027, employers with 500 or more retail employees statewide must provide a “silent response button” to request immediate assistance from internal staff. These can be physical devices, wearables, or mobile applications.
Next Steps for Employers
As most of the law’s provisions are now in effect, employers are strongly encouraged to utilize the valuable resources provided by the NY DOL and implement the following steps for immediate compliance:
- Utilize NY DOL Resources: Begin by accessing and reviewing the NY DOL’s model Retail Workplace Violence Prevention Policy, training materials, and FAQs. These resources are designed to simplify your compliance efforts.
- Implement and Customize: Adapt the model policy and training materials to fit your organization’s specific needs, ensuring they meet or exceed the Act’s requirements.
- Conduct Training: Develop and schedule interactive training for all retail employees, adhering to the required frequency based on your employee count.
- Ensure Proper Notice: Establish clear procedures for distributing the policy and training information to employees upon hire and at subsequent training sessions, in both English and any available translated languages.
- Plan for Silent Response Buttons: If applicable, begin planning for the provision of silent response buttons by the January 1, 2027, deadline.
- Stay Informed: Regularly check the NY DOL website for any updates, including additional guidance or newly translated materials.
- Seek Expert Advice: Consult with legal counsel to address any specific compliance questions or concerns.
How HR Works Can Help
HR Works will host a complimentary webinar on June 11 at noon to explore the key requirements of the RWSA. To register, click here.
Current clients may also contact their designated HR Consultant or the HR Works Virtual Helpline for more information.
Not an HR Works client? Visit our website or call us toll-free at 1-877-219-9062 to learn how we can assist with regulatory compliance, policy updates, and proactive HR strategies.
