New York Moves to Soften Retail Job Violence, Panic Button Law

New York will ease its upcoming requirements for retailers to protect employees from workplace violence, including softening the mandate to provide panic buttons, under legislation heading to Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) for her signature.

The legislation (S740 / A1678) is a revision to the retail workplace violence law that New York enacted in 2024. Hochul signed last year’s bill after negotiating with bill sponsors to return in the 2025 session with revisions to satisfy concerns from the industry about difficulties complying with the broad mandates.

The 2025 measure, which the Assembly passed Tuesday after it won approval Monday ...