Another state—New Jersey—is examining requiring hotels to provide staff with panic buttons.
“A bill in the Legislature would require the devices to be provided at any hotel with 25 or more rooms. The devices are already in use at some hotels in Las Vegas, New York, Washington, Seattle and Chicago, said Bob McDevitt, head of the main Atlantic City casino workers' union. Hotel guests harassing or making room cleaners uncomfortable is common, he said.”
States across the country have proposed similar legislation. California legislation Assembly Bill 1761 is currently in committee being held under submission and could be reintroduced next year. The California Hotel and Lodging Association commended the delay who lobbied against the bill.
‘“Common sense has prevailed,’’ said CH&LA President and CEO Lynn Mohrfeld. “Although CH&LA member hotels already mandate protective procedures for our employees and guests, this bill went too far with a one-size-fits-all approach that, if approved, would have hurt the very workers it sought to help.”
‘Specifically, CH&LA said the bill, if passed, would have made hoteliers pay for the buttons twice, first to satisfy the state law and second to comply with any city or county ordinance that had different requirements.”
Another provision of the bill also inconvenienced the CH&LA: “In addition to preventing sexual harassment, the initiatives in both cities are aimed at reducing room cleaner workloads and limiting mandatory overtime, and they apply to larger hotels and resorts. Employers would be required to pay double to housekeepers who are assigned to clean more than 4,000 sq ft of floor space per shift. The Rancho Palos Verdes law also requires a $15 per hour minimum wage for resort workers. Union hotels would be exempt from all but the panic button provisions; Unite Here officials argue the exemption is reasonable because in union establishments, workers negotiate workloads and overtime with their employers.”
“The bill’s sponsor, Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi of Torrance, California, said he plans to reintroduce the bill next year.”
Seattle and Chicago have already passed laws and panic buttons were slowly distributed to their staff.
BEC Integrated Solutions can provide you with the system you need. “Our systems are built with the latest in security innovation to provide for quick and direct communication for help. These Hotel Wireless Panic Alarm systems have been installed in hotels, motels, court rooms, malls and a variety of other residential and commercial properties. Protect your staff by providing them the tools needed to be able to call for help should an emergency arise.”
Contact BEC Integrated Solutions to get a free quote today.
