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New Jersey is ramping up efforts to raise awareness in the hospitality industry of employers’ responsibilities under the statewide Panic Device Law. The measure is designed to protect housekeeping and room service staff from sexual assault and other dangerous situations.

As part of that push, the New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association and the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development will co-host a free one-hour webinar Feb. 22 at 11 a.m. for hotel owners and managers to discuss compliance, as well as field questions.

In a statement, Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo said, “Hospitality workers often work in isolation, during early morning or late-night hours, leaving them vulnerable to unique dangers.”

“Additionally, these workers may not be familiar with their work rights or have the courage to speak up, so this law provides a needed safety net for this vulnerable worker population,” he said.

How it works

Calling it the first state law of its kind, Gov. Phil Murphy signed the Panic Device Law in June 2019. It went into effect January 2020.

The measure requires hotels with more than 100 guest rooms to equip all full- and part-time staff assigned to work alone in those rooms with a device they can wear or carry that can immediately summon help if the need arises.

Under the law, hotels must also advise guests that staff possess the devices, either by requiring them to acknowledge the policy upon check-in or by posting signs inside guest rooms.

Additionally, hotels are required to keep a record of received accusations as well as the name of an accused guest on a list for five years from the date of the incident.

Any suspected misconduct or criminal activity must be reported to law enforcement. Employers are also explicitly prohibited from punishing a worker who activates a device, according to the law.

Furthermore, employers must notify other employees of the presence and location of any accused guests. Workers must be allowed to opt out of servicing such locations. The hotel/motel must also immediately reassign the hotel employee who activated the panic device to a different work area away from the accused guest’s room for the duration of their stay.

Hotels that violate the law can be subject to a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for the first violation and $10,000 for subsequent violations.

To register for the webinar, click here.

The DOL also posted updated guidance regarding the law for hotel workers and employers.