Protects certain employees from a reduction of wages due to their involvement in the investigation of a violation of a workplace violence protection program

• Democratic10
• Republican1

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Christopher Ryan says this is needed

Section 27-B of the Labor Law creates a duty for public employers to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence. The law is modeled on section 27-A of the labor law, which contains safety and health standards for public employers. Ensuring a worksite free of violence is critical to ensure the safety of employees and clients who may be on site. The Workplace Violence Prevention Act has created a collaborative labor-management effort to further this goal. Employee involvement during site visits is critical to ensure that the concerns of employees are acknowledged. Until recently, it was understood by employers and employees that § 27-B allowed employees to 1) accompany the Commissioner of the Department of Labor, or their representative, during a site investigation; 2) partic- ipating in an onsite risk evaluation and determination inspection; and 3) participate in an annual workplace violence program review without the loss of pay. However, some employers have changed their interpreta- tion and are now requiring employees to charge accruals to participate in these workplace violence prevention activities. This legislation would modify this section of law to explicitly state that employees who are on a site visit for an alleged violation, are participating in an onsite risk evaluation and determination inspection or are involved with an annual workplace violence program review will not suffer any loss of wages due to their participation. This change will continue the long-standing practice and allow employees to continue to bring unsafe working conditions to light without fear of retribution or loss of pay.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.