Employee protections are focus of new NY workplace laws

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Several bills aimed at protecting the workforce were signed into law last week by Gov. Kathy Hochul, providing new compliance requirements for employers.

The Retail Worker Safety Act will require retail employers to provide training and information to employees on the prevention of workplace violence. The training program will be created by the state Department of Labor, or employers can create their own programs that meet DOL standards.

The bill also will require retailers with more than 500 workers statewide to provide all employees with access to a silent alarm to trigger emergency assistance, either through a wearable device or smartphone.

The Business Council of New York agreed with the premise but opposed the bill because of the financial burden it will create for employers. The Business Council also said panic buttons don’t provide details about the emergency, “which could lead to a potentially much more aggressive response than the situation may require,” according to the organization’s website.

But the union representing workers said the bill will provide protections to employees and customers.

“Retail workers and shoppers across New York will be safer because of this law,” said Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.

The bill becomes law in March.

Other new laws:

•  Contractors and subcontractors working on covered public projects must submit payrolls or transcripts to a publicly accessible, certified electronic database to be developed by the DOL.

“As Assembly labor chair, my priority is to ensure that every worker is paid fully and there is transparency when public money is invested in projects,” Assemblymember Harry Bronson (D-Rochester) said in a news release.

•  Auto manufacturers will be required to reimburse dealerships according to retail labor time guides, rather than manufacturer-produced time guides that often underestimate labor time for warranty repairs.

•  Changes to civil service guidelines include allowing applicants to take relevant competitive civil service exams within 12 months of reaching the required age or educational requirements for a position, and that the Department of Civil Service review and update exam questions at least every five years.

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