A breakdown of hotel panic button laws by state, cities, union contracts and pending legislation.
Why are Panic Buttons a Necessity?
9 out of 10 Hospitality workers suffered some type of abuse during their dealings with guests, employees who work in guest rooms are especially vulnerable, as they are often required to work alone. A 2016 report conducted by United Here found that hotel employees are often subjected to harassment and inappropriate behaviors by guests. Panic buttons can offer employees who are in threatening or emergency situations assistance within minutes. With the press of a button, panic button devices will provide precise location details of employees who are in distress, allowing security personnel to immediately respond.
Hotel Panic Button Legislation and Initiatives
Many states and cities have passed legislation that require hotels to provide their employees with safety devices as a protective measure. Each city/state has a different timeframe and differing requirements that hotels must adhere to in order to comply with employee safety devices/panic button legislation.
In addition to hotel legislation, major hotel brands have also developed their own panic button initiatives as a part of the AHLA’s 5-Star promise. Hotel brands like Marriott require their properties to become compliant with panic button requirements by 2023. Hotel unions have also negotiated contracts that require their members to be provided with employee safety devices to create a safer work environment.
Panic buttons are employee safety devices that can be carried or worn by employees. Panic button technology allows employees to summon immediate assistance from a security guard, coworker or designated personnel. Below is a detailed breakdown of passed panic button legislation, union negotiated panic button contracts and pending panic button laws.
Passed Hotel Panic Button Legislation by State
New Jersey
Date of compliance
Effective as of January 1, 2020.
The Panic Button Law requires hotels, inns, boarding houses, motels or other similar establishments with at least 100 guestrooms to provide panic buttons to hotel employees assigned to work in a guestroom without any other employee present. Panic buttons must be provided at no cost to the employees. Hotel employees who are covered under the law and who under reasonable circumstances believe they are in the presence of an ongoing crime, an emergency or immediate threat of assault or harassment may stop working, may leave the immediate area and wait for help to arrive. The hotel may not take any unfavorable action against employees who exercise their right to use panic buttons.
Additional Requirements
Hotels that violate any provision of the act, which includes failure to provide panic buttons or failure to follow any requirement may result in a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for the first violation. Hotels can expect up to $10,000 in civil penalties for each subsequent violation.
What are New Jersey Panic Button Requirements?
A two-way radio or other electronic device which is carried by or kept on the employee when employee is working in guest rooms. The device must permit employee to communicate with or otherwise effectively summon immediate on-scene assistance from a security officer, manager or supervisor, or designated hotel personnel.
Washington State
Date of Compliance
Hotels and motels with 60 or more rooms must become compliant by January 1st, 2020, with all other businesses meeting the requirement by January 1st, 2021.
All hotels, motels, retail, or property services contractor, who employs an employee must provide a panic button to each employee. Hotels are also required to adopt a sexual harassment policy and to provide mandatory training to managers, supervisors and employees. A list of resources must be provided to employees and must include contact information of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Washington state Human Rights Commission, and local advocacy groups focused on preventing sexual harassment and sexual assault. ·
What are Washington State’s Panic Button Requirements?
Panic button devices should be easily activated by a single action like a push, pull or tap. They must provide a sustained signal without delays caused by entering passwords or waiting for the system to turn on.
When panic buttons are activated, the signal is effective for the circumstances (e.g., designated personnel will be able to detect it regardless of their location and distinguish it from other audible or visual alarms and noise from vacuum cleaners and other sources.)
Panic button devices should be designed to summon immediate assistance and enable responders to accurately provide reliable locations down to room-level accuracy of where the distress signal originated.
Devices should consistently work in all locations, on all shifts and the activation of one device should not obscure the activation of other devices.
The device should minimize unintentional activation and resist possible disabling by attackers.
Illinois State
Date of Compliance
Effective as of March 1, 2021.
Hotels and casinos are responsible for equipping employees who are assigned to work in guestrooms, restrooms, or casino floors, where no other employee is present in the room or area, with a safety device or a notification device. The ordinance also prohibits retaliation against employees for the use of panic buttons, for making use of the protections afforded by the anti- sexual harassment policy, or for disclosing, reporting, or testifying about violations of the Act.
Additional Requirements
An employee or representative of employees that successfully brings a claim under this Act shall be awarded reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. An award of economic damages shall not exceed $350 for each violation. Each day that a violation continues constitutes a separate violation.
What are Illinois Panic Button Requirements?
Hotel employee or casino employer must provide employee with a portable emergency contact device, that utilizes technology that the hotel employer or casino employer deem appropriate for the hotel’s or casino’s size, physical layout, and technological capabilities. Device must be designed to be quickly and easily activated and must alert a hotel or casino security officer, manager, or other designated hotel or casino personnel. Emergency contact device must be able to effectively summon immediate assistance to the employee’s location.
Passed Hotel Panic Button Legislation by Cities
Chicago, Illinois
Date of Compliance
Effective on July 1, 2018
The Chicago Municipal Code4-6-180(e) Hotel Workers Sexual Harassment Ordinance became effect on July 1, 2018. The ordinance requires all hotels in Chicago to provide employees who are assigned to clean or to inventory, inspect or restock supplies in a guest room or restroom, where no other employee is present, with a panic button or notification device. The measure is designed to provide protection for more than 15,000 hospitality workers, most of which are women and minorities.
What are Chicago Panic Button Requirements?
Panic button devices must be portable, and easily carried and activated by the employee. When activated, devices must summon immediate assistance from hotel designated personnel. Panic buttons must not require continued activation by the employee to sustain the alert (e.g. simple whistles, walkie-talkies, mugger buttons or other non-GPS supported notification devices are not panic buttons within the meaning of Chicago’s Ordinance). Panic button devices must have GPS capabilities and be able to identify the precise location of the employee in real time.
Seattle, Washington
Date of Compliance
Effective on July 1, 2022
The Ordinance SMC 14.26, The Hotel Employees Safety Ordinance, became effective on July 1, 2022, and requires employers of a Seattle hotel or motel of 60 or more rooms or an ancillary hotel business of any size to take measures to prevent, address, and respond to guest conduct that is “violent or harassing,” which is defined as assault, harassment, non-consensual sexual contact, and indecent exposure. The measure includes equipping employees with panic button devices who are assigned to work in guest rooms or employees who make deliveries to guest rooms.
What are Seattle Panic Button Requirements?
Panic button devices should be easily activated by a single action like a push, pull or tap. They must provide a sustained signal without delays caused by entering passwords or waiting for the system to turn on.
When panic buttons are activated, the signal is effective for the circumstances (e.g., designated personnel will be able to detect it regardless of their location and distinguish it from other audible or visual alarms and noise from vacuum cleaners and other sources.)
Panic button devices should be designed to summon immediate assistance and enable responders to accurately provide reliable locations down to room-level accuracy of where the distress signal originated.
Devices should consistently work in all locations, on all shifts and the activation of one device should not obscure the activation of other devices.
The device should minimize unintentional activation and resist possible disabling by attackers.
Glendale, CA
Date of Compliance
Effective July 27, 2022
The City of Glendale passed new measures to amend the “Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance,” hotel employers are required to protect employees from violent or threatening conduct and are required to provide them with a personal security device/panic button. In addition, employees must be provided with panic buttons and training on its use at no cost. Hotel employees are also guaranteed paid time off to report a serious incident or to attend counseling.
What are Glendale Panic Button Requirements?
Employees should be provided with a portable emergency contact device, including but not limited to a panic button. Devices must be designed to be quickly and easily activated by employee and must directly contact a hotel security officer, manager, or supervisory hotel staff member designated by a hotel employer to respond to violent or threatening conduct and promptly summon them to the hotel worker’s location.
Long Beach, CA
Date of Compliance
Effective date of November 13, 2018
Any hotel containing 50 or more guestrooms must become compliant no later than 6 months following the effective date of November 13, 2018. All other hotels containing less than 50 guest rooms are required to become compliant no later than 1 year following the effective date of November 13, 2018.
Hotels must provide employees who work in guest rooms with panic buttons to report threatening behavior by hotel guests and other emergencies. Hotels are required to post a notice on doors of each guestroom, that displays the heading “The Law Protects Hotel Housekeepers and Hotel Employees From Threatening Behavior,” and a notice that the hotel is providing panic buttons to specific employees.
What are Long Beach Panic Button Requirements?
An emergency electronic contact device that can be carried by employees that allows them to summon immediate on-scene assistance from a security guard or a designated hotel personnel.
Los Angeles, CA
Date of Compliance
Effective on August 12, 2022
Los Angeles’s Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance became effective on August 12, 2022 and require hotels to provide panic button devices to hotel employees who work in guestrooms or employees who work alone in restrooms. Hotels with more than 60 guestrooms are required to assign a dedicated security personnel to receive and immediately respond to panic button alerts. Hotels with less than 60 guestrooms may assign a supervisor or a manager to respond to panic button alerts.
Hotels required to post signs on the inside of guestroom doors notifying guests that panic buttons are in use by hotel employees. Mandatory annual training is also required on the use and maintenance of panic button devices and the proper protocols to respond to panic button alerts.
Hotels with less than 60 guestrooms require a minimum of three hours of training regarding the use and maintenance of panic button devices. The ordinance also limits the workload for guestroom attendants, by basing workload on the square feet of floor space within an eight-hour workday. Hotels must also receive written consent from employees who wish to work more than 10 hours within a workday.
What are Los Angeles hotel panic button requirements?
Los Angeles hotels require that hotel panic button devices be portable, devices must provide the precise location of the employee in distress and must alert the designated security personnel or manager who will provide immediate assistance.
Oakland, CA
Date of Compliance
Became Effective on July 1, 2022.
Hotels with 50 or more guestrooms must provide panic buttons to all hotel employees assigned to work in a guestroom or bathroom without other employees present. Hotels are also prohibited from taking disciplinary actions against employees for the use of panic buttons, unless it is “clear and convincing” that employees knowingly made a false report of an emergency. Hotels are also required to post a notice on doors of each guest room, that displays the heading “The Law Protects Hotel Housekeepers and Hotel Employees From Threatening Behavior,” and a notice that the hotel is providing panic buttons to its specific employees.
What are Oakland Panic Button Requirements?
A portable emergency contact device, including but not limited to a panic button that is designed so that a hotel worker can quickly and easily activate such device to summon prompt assistance by a hotel security officer, manager, or supervisory hotel staff member to the hotel worker’s location.
Sacramento, CA
Date of Compliance
Effective on March 29, 2018
The ordinance became effective on March 29, 2018. The county will provide a 60-day grace period for businesses to comply with the ordinance after it takes effect. This bill applies to hotels and motels with 25 or more rooms that are located in the unincorporated area of Sacramento County. It requires every hotel owner to provide each employee with a panic button or notification device.
Hotels are also required to develop, maintain, and comply with a written sexual harassment policy to protect employees against sexual assault and sexual harassment by guests. The policy must describe the procedures the complaining employee and hotel shall follow in instances of alleged sexual assault or sexual harassment by guests.
What are Sacramento Panic Button Requirements?
A portable emergency contact device, including but not limited to a panic button that is designed so that a hotel worker can quickly and easily activate such device to summon prompt assistance by a hotel security officer, manager, or supervisory hotel staff member to the hotel worker’s location.
Santa Monica, CA
Date of Compliance
Effective on January 1, 2020.
Hotels must provide employees assigned to work in guestrooms or rest rooms where no other employee is present with safety devices to prevent sexual violence or threatening behavior. Safety device shall be provided at no cost to the hotel employees and employees should have the ability to report criminal and threatening behavior without fear of retaliation. The ordinance also requires hotels to use a certified Public Housekeeping Training Organization, in order to provide regular training for employees.
What are Santa Monica’s Panic Button Requirements?
A portable emergency contact device, including but not limited to a panic button that is designed so that a hotel worker can quickly and easily activate such device to summon prompt assistance by a hotel security officer, manager, or supervisory hotel staff member to the hotel worker’s location..
West Hollywood, CA
Date of Compliance
Effective on January 1, 2022
The Chapter 5.128 Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance became effective on January 1, 2022. Hotel employers must provide a personal security device to each hotel worker assigned to work alone in a guest room or restrooms. The personal security device should be provided at no cost to the hotel employee. Employees may activate a personal security device should they reasonably believe that a violent or threatening conduct or an emergency is occurring in their presence. Immediately prior to or upon activating the device, the employee may stop working and leave the immediate area of danger to await assistance.
No hotel employee shall be subjected to an adverse employment action for activating a personal security device or for stopping work to await assistance, absent clear and convincing evidence that the employee knowingly and intentionally made a false claim of emergency. Hotel employers must assign a security guard, manager, or supervisory hotel staff member to provide immediate assistance in the event that a personal security device is activated.
What are West Hollywood panic button requirements?
A portable emergency contact device, including but not limited to a panic button that is designed so that a hotel worker can quickly and easily activate such device to summon to the hotel worker’s location prompt assistance by a hotel security officer, manager, or supervisory hotel staff member designated by a hotel employer.
Miami Beach, Florida
Date of Compliance
The deadline for compliance was August 1st, 2019.
Hotels are required to provide panic buttons or notification devices to each hotel or hostel employee. Hotels are also required to post signs in guest rooms that a safety device has been given to hotel employees. Non-compliance will result in a written warning for the first offense, a 2nd violation will result in a civil fine of $500, 3rd violation will result in a civil fine of $1,000 and the 4th and subsequent violation in the preceding six months will result in a civil fine of $2,000.
What are Miami Beach Panic Button Requirements?
A portable emergency contact device that can be quickly and easily activated by employee and such button or device must effectively summon immediate assistance to the employee’s location by a hotel or hostel security officer, manager or other designated hotel or hostel employee.
Union Negotiated Hotel Panic Button Contracts
New York City
Date of Compliance
Providing emergency devices for unionized hospitality workers, in particular housekeepers, has been the law in New York City since 2013.
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.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Date of Compliance
In 2018 the Las Vegas chapters of UNITE HERE’s Culinary and Bartender Unions negotiated contracts with local hotels in an effort to equip hotel and casino employees with panic buttons.
Two major casino companies, MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment Corporation, which respectively employ 24,000 and 12,000 union workers have already signed contracts in 2018 with the Culinary Union and implemented panic buttons for guest room attendants. By 2019 nearly all Las Vegas housekeepers were equipped with critical panic button safety devices.
Pending Hotel Panic Button Legislation
Georgia
Date of Compliance
Currently pending
The panic button bill for Georgia is currently pending, the law requires that every tourist court employer provide panic devices to each service employee assigned to work in guest rooms without any other employees present. Safety devices must be provided to employees at no cost. The bill requires that by December 15, 2022, the Department of Public Health shall develop and provide, by rules and regulations, and a program with a pending approval date on or before January 1, 2023.
What are Georgia’s Panic Button Requirements?
Employees shall be provided with a two-way radio or other electronic device that permits communicating with or otherwise effectively summon immediate assistance from a security officer, manager, supervisor, or other appropriate tourist court staff member.
Massachusetts
Date of compliance
Ordinance is still pending: Will take effect 1 year after passage
Hotels with at least 25 rooms are required to provide employees assigned to work in guestrooms or in any enclosed area, where no other employees are present and where guests may be reasonably expected to be present, with panic buttons. Hotels are required to develop and maintain a program that provides employees with information, written or otherwise, in order to educate hotel employees regarding the use of panic buttons. Employees should also be informed of their rights in the event their panic buttons are activated, and employees should be encouraged to activate panic buttons when appropriate.
Pennsylvania
Date of compliance
Currently Pending
The House Bill No. 1944, Protection of Hotel Employees, is currently pending and will take effect 60 days after passing for hotels with at least 100 guest rooms. Hotel employers shall provide employee safety devices to each hotel employee assigned to work in a guest room without other hotel employees present. Hotel employers may provide employee safety devices to other employees at the hotel’s discretion and employee safety device shall be provided at no cost to the employee.
What are Pennsylvania Panic Button Requirements?
Employees must be provided with a two-way radio or other electric device that is kept on a hotel employee’s person while on duty in guest rooms. Devices must permit a hotel employee to communicate with or otherwise effectively summon immediate assistance from a security officer, manager or supervisor or other appropriate hotel staff member.
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