NEW YORK, Sept 5 (Reuters) - New York Governor Kathy

Hochul on Thursday signed a new law requiring retailers to boost

safety protections for store workers, including requiring major

chains to add panic buttons in all New York State locations.

Unions representing retail workers had pushed for the new

law, known as the Retail Worker Safety Act (RWSA), after

high-profile shootings in the state and as some retail

executives recently have cited a rise in retail crime - a claim

that has been disputed.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

The requirement to add panic buttons specifically at retail

workplaces is the first of its kind among U.S. states. While

California adopted similar but broader workplace requirements

earlier this year, it did not mandate panic buttons.

Walmart ( WMT ), the National Retail Federation (NRF) and

the Food Industry Alliance of New York State (FIA) have

previously opposed the RWSA. Walmart ( WMT ) argued against the panic

button idea, citing concerns about the likelihood of false

alarms. Others expressed worries about the associated costs.

Walmart ( WMT ) and the FIA declined to comment. The NRF deferred

comment to the Retail Council of New York State, which did not

immediately respond to requests for comment. In the past, the

retail groups have sent letters to the New York State Senate

opposing panic buttons.

CONTEXT

The RWSA goes into effect after 180 days. It requires, among

other things, retailers with 10 or more employees to adopt a

violence prevention plan and maintain records of violent

incidents for at least three years.

It also requires retailers with 500 or more employees

nationwide to install panic buttons in easily accessible

locations or provide wearable panic buttons or

mobile-phone-based alarm devices to alert emergency officials.

This provision of the law will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.

BY THE NUMBERS

In New York City there have been at least 40,900 complaints

related to retail theft so far this year, a 2.7% increase since

last year, according to the New York Police Department.

U.S. retailer Target ( TGT ) also closed nine locations, including

one in East Harlem, citing violence against employees and retail

theft as primary reasons.