Employers in California have until July 1, 2024, to prepare and train employees on workplace violence prevention plans. Given all that must be done, that date is closer than it sounds. Of all the bills enacted in the state this year, SB 553, which mandated the plans and training, may be the most challenging for employers to meet.
Meeting the July 1 deadline "is not going to be an easy undertaking for employers," said Robert Rodriguez, an attorney with Ogletree Deakins in Sacramento, Calif. "It will likely require the involvement of many internal stakeholders."
"California was the first state in the nation to pass a workplace violence law of this nature," said Marisa Randazzo, executive director of threat management with Ontic, which provides security software and expertise, and is headquartered in Austin, Texas. She predicted that other states will follow California's lead.
Elements of the Training
The law requires employers to create a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan and train workers on how to follow it. "While training must include instructing employees how to report concerns to their employer and to law enforcement, the required elements go well beyond just reporting," said Michael Johnson, chief strategy officer at Traliant, a provider of online compliance training headquartered in New York City.
Johnson said the training also must cover:
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