New York Hotel Panic Buttons Union Initiative

In early 2012, The New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council, AFL-CIO, (Hotel Trades Council, abbreviated) for New York City fought in contract negotiations to have hotel workers who work in guest rooms, to be equipped with panic buttons.   The Hotel Association of New York approved the panic button devices in February of 2012.

This came about after two incidents in which housekeepers were assaulted by prominent guests in NYC.  In the Sofitel Hotel, a housekeeper reported that she was assaulted by former IMF Chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn.  Two weeks after at the Pierre Hotel, an Egyptian businessman sexually abused a hotel employee.

After meeting with union officials at both hotels, hotel management agreed to provide housekeepers with panic buttons to ensure a safer work environment.

State Assemblyman Rory Lancman introduced a hotel panic button bill in the New York State Legislature in 2011 that called for panic buttons to be provided for hotel employees, this bill was not passed.  However, Lancman was satisfied with the inclusion of panic buttons in the new hotel contracts, “It’s an important but simple step to protect housekeepers from assault,” said Lancman.

Panic Buttons – What to look for:

Brand Approved:

Marriott International Hotels

Marriott International, plans to provide employees in the U.S. and Canada with safety devices/panic buttons, with the goal to fully install and integrate by 2020.

 

Hilton

Hilton has already implemented employee safety devices at numerous hotel locations and plan to deploy devices for all employees working in guestrooms at Hilton-managed properties in the U.S. by 2020.  In addition, Hilton plans to include anti-harassment and anti-trafficking policies and training at all their properties.

 

Hyatt

Hyatt became one of the first hotel brands to issue safety devices to employee who work in guestrooms.  This is a brand standard for Hyatt-managed full-service hotels in the U.S., and more than half of full-service franchise Hyatt hotels will implement safety devices to staff.

 

IHG

IHG has deployed safety devices to employees at numerous hotel locations within the U.S. and plan to fully implement safety devices at their managed hotels in the U.S. by 2020.  As well as mandatory and enhanced workplace training for corporate and hotel employees in the U.S.

 

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts plan to deploy employee safety devices to all employees in the U.S. who are assigned to work alone in guestrooms.  These devices will be provided to the employee at no cost.  Wyndham also plans to roll out mandatory, annual anti-sexual harassment, discrimination, and human trafficking training for all employees.

 

AccorHotels

Accor plans to equip employees who enter guestrooms and restrooms unaccompanied with safety devices by 2020.  Accor also has a strict policy against sexual harassment and will also provide mandatory trainings to employees.

 

Best Western Hotels

Best Western branded hotels in the U.S. are required by the end of 2020 to provide employees with safety devices, at no cost to hotel employees who are assigned to work alone in hotel guestrooms or hotel areas.  In addition, employees will be provided with training to identify and report sexual harassment.

 

Radisson Hotel Group

Radisson will deploy employee safety devices for hotel employees who work alone in guestrooms by 2020. Mandatory anti-sexual harassment policies and trainings will be provided to all employees.