ALBANY, NY – A New York law that protects employees from assaults in the workplace now extends to public schools.

New York’s Workplace Violence Prevention Law has been in effect since 2009 but was recently expanded to include public school districts, Boards of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES), and County Vocational Education and Extension Boards. 

Workplaces covered by the law must by May 3 evaluate the factors that place their employees at risk, write a workplace violence policy, and establish a workplace violence prevention program.

“Our educational facilities are community cores that play a vital role in our economic future," said labor commissioner Roberta Reardon. "I commend Governor Hochul and the legislature for protecting students, teachers, and other faculty at schools across New York State.”

The law requires that employers train employees on the risks of occupational assaults and homicides in their workplace, implement a system so that employees can report incidents of violence, and review those reports annually.

Any employee experiencing hazardous conditions in the workplace should first provide written notice to a supervisor and allow reasonable time for correction, the labor department says.