TRANSCRIPT: June is Worker Safety Month in New York
Jacob Lazarus: June is Labor Safety Month in New York. And one new program can help protect retail workers in Central New York. NCC’s Andrew Watson is live in the studio with more.
Andrew Watson: Thank’s Jake, earlier this week, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that June will now be known as Worker Safety Month. This proclamation helps to recognize that worker safety in New York is of the utmost importance. But with the proclamation also came a few new programs including the retail worker safety act.
Watson: Three programs were included in the Department of Labor’s Proclamation. The Retail Worker Safety Act, the Fashion Workers Act, and the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Program. But the New York state Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon believes that the message of the proclamation is more than just a law.
Roberta Reardon: We see you, we understand that there are risks in everyday work that need to be taken seriously.
Watson: The Retail Worker Safety Act specifically has a large impact on the Syracuse area. It plans to improve safety in every retail store from grocery stores, to small businesses in retail.
Reardon: But also there has been a spike in violence in retail shops literally around the country. Harassment, intimidation, and retail workers, they’re the face, they’re the person in front of you when that’s happening.
Watson: Now the Retail Workers Safety Act does not apply to only massive businesses, it also applies to small businesses. like J. Michael Shoes over my shoulder. And for Colin Smith who has worked here since 2021. He still has to find ways to remain safe in the workplace.
Colin Smith: You know getting in contact with the Marshall street security, he does a great job up here, when he’s up here. DPS or even the police. As unfortunate as it is we have been in contact with them over the last couple years.
Watson: Even though Smith does not have to use these resources often, they are still in place to protect his employees. And he recognizes that retail can still have its own set of risks.
Smith: Even though it’s retail and it may not be the most dangerous thing in the world, anything can happen. But you know in realization, us working here. This is our livelihood. But at the same time our safety is more important.
Watson: The Retail Worker Safety Act applies to all retail stores with 10 or more employees. And small businesses in New York can access retail workplace violence prevention training videos on the Department of Labor’s website. Jake?
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a proclamation early last week making June 2025 Worker Safety Month.
This proclamation also issued three new programs that aid in creating safer working environments — the Retail Worker Safety Act, the Fashion Workers Act, and the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Program.
New York Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon says that she was excited that Hochul named June Worker Safety Month and that it shows the state how seriously the Department of Labor takes safety in the workplace.
“The governor has been very focussed for a long time actually to make sure that New York state is an affordable place to live in, but that it’s also a safe place to live and work,” Reardon said.
While each of these laws hold significant value to the Syracuse area, arguably the most important is the Retail Worker Safety Act.
Reardon attributed this to a spike in violence in retail shops not only in New York, but around the country.
“Harassment, intimidation, and retail workers, they are the face. They’re the person in front of you when that’s happening,” Reardon said.
The manager at J. Michael Shoes in Syracuse, Colin Smith, agreed with this idea that retail workers face their own set of risks.
“Even though it’s retail and it may not be the most dangerous thing in the world, anything can happen,” Smith said. “This is our livelihood. But at the same time our safety is more important.”
The Retail Worker Safety Act requires businesses with more than 10 employees to adopt a “retail workplace violence prevention policy,” while also providing workplace violence prevention training.
Even though J. Michael Shoes does not fall under this category of business, Smith has contacted both Marshall Street Security and the Syracuse Police Department if it is necessary. He also says that nearly every business on Marshall Street has needed to use these resources.
“As unfortunate as it is, we have been in contact with them over the last few years,” Smith said.
Although these new laws cover a wide range of businesses in New York, Reardon says that the proclamation is more than just a few laws.
“We see you, we understand that there are risks in everyday work that need to be taken seriously.”