Understanding New York’s Retail Worker Safety Act: What’s changing in 2027?

If you are a retail worker working in New York, whether on the floor or stockroom, chances are you've heard about the Retail Worker Safety Act (RWSA) at some point in your career. But what you're yet to hear is that there's change coming on January 1, 2027.

Let's talk about it. Firstly, what is the Retail Worker Safety Act?

It’s a New York State law that requires retail employers with 10 or more employees to take concrete steps to reduce workplace violence risks and improve worker safety. This can range from implementing prevention policies, training employees, assessing risks, and putting safety hazard controls in place to reduce violence in stores. Safety training is to be held annually if the company has 50+ employees,and every 2 years if under 50 employees.

With that in mind, here’s a look at what’s changing in 2027 and what it means for retail employers and workers across New York.

What’s changing in 2027?

So, what’s the biggest change? Let us introduce you to the silent response button.

It’s a newly introduced way for a retail worker to quietly call for immediate help if:

1. they feel unsafe and uncomfortable with a customer;

2. there’s a potential or actual emergency; or

3. they're working alone and need support.

The button doesn’t have to be a traditional “button” exactly. It can appear as a physical button easily accessible on the floor, it can be a wearable device in which employees can put in their person, or a mobile app installed on employer‑provided equipment only. To avoid breaching employees’ private times, these devices can only track the employee’s movements and location when the button is triggered.

For a while, the New York State law debated “panic buttons” to contact 911 directly, but later agreed on silent response buttons that notify an internal responder tailored by the employer. These buttons can discreetly alert designated security personnel, manager, or supervisor who can quickly assess the situation and coordinate an appropriate response.

Now, who is affected? The 2027 changes don't hit every retailer in the state of New York. It only applies to retail employers with 500+ employees across all their New York retail locations combined, not per store.

What this looks like in practice

Make sure your teams know what to do before an incident happens. Policies alone are not enough, there can be other considerations to be aware of in practice.

To prepare your employees, they should be trained on:

Where the button is and how to use it

• If it’s physical: where it’s mounted and what it looks like

• If it’s wearable or app‑based: how to wear it, log in or sign up into it, and trigger it

What situations justify pressing it

(These examples are up for discussions between employer and employees)

• Threats or aggressive behavior from customers

• Stalking or doxing

• Feeling unsafe when working alone

What happens after pressing it

• Who is supposed to respond (security, manager, supervisor, 911)?

• What is the expected response time?

• What should they expect once support arrives?

Since these situations are often unpredictable and subjective, a safety net must be put in place to ensure workers are not disciplined or penalized for accidentally triggering the button in situations they reasonably believed were emergencies.

Under the new changes, employees must not be punished for raising safety concerns or using the policy, training, or buttons in good faith. Retaliation is illegal under the Act. This includes being transferred, disciplined, or fired for reporting violence risks or exercising your rights.

What this means for managers and owners

By January 1, 2027, all retail employees with 500+ employees in the state of New York must provide covered retail workers access to a silent response button at the workplace and train employees on how, when, and where to use the button. For retailers with multiple sites and branches, this may require coordination across operations, HR, IT, and security teams to ensure consistency and documentation.

Of course, some smaller employers who don’t hit the 500 employee threshold can voluntarily adopt the silent response button or similar tools. The law doesn’t require them to do so, but it encourages proactive steps to strengthen workplace safety regardless of company size.

What 2027 and beyond can look like

January 1, 2027 marks a big shift in the retail industry in New York State.

Whether it’s a tense customer interaction late at night, working a solo shift in the stockroom, or a situation that simply doesn’t feel right, the message is clear: retail workers should never have to choose between doing their job and protecting their safety.

And these upcoming changes reinforce that workplace safety isn't just about reacting to violence, it's about prevention and preparedness.

Now is the time to review:

• Current workplace violence prevention policies

• Training frequency and documentation

• Incident reporting and escalation processes

• Technology options that meet the new requirements

Because at the end of the day, it’s not just compliance that keeps employees safe, it’s also good leadership.