The Retail Worker Safety Act (RWSA), enacted in 2024, mandates that retailers with at least ten employees in New York State implement a retail workplace violence prevention policy. This can be either their own policy meeting the law’s requirements or the New York State Department of Labor’s (NYSDOL) Model Retail Workplace Violence Prevention Policy. The model policy is accessible on the NYSDOL website for employers to use and customize.
In addition, employers with ten or more retail employees must provide workplace violence prevention training to all current employees and new hires. Employers with 50 or more retail employees are required to conduct this training annually after the initial session. Those with fewer than 50 employees must offer it every two years. Employees should also receive a written version of the training.
The deadline for implementing these policies and training programs is June 2, 2025. However, due to the late dissemination of information, the Department of Labor will prioritize education over enforcement for the remainder of this year.
For further information on New York State Department of Labor’s Model Training and Policy, visit: https://dol.ny.gov/retail-worker-safety
