Public sector employers in New York State need to get in compliance with the New York State Workplace Violence Prevention Act. Originally passed on June 7, 2006 and effective on March 4, 2007, the law requires all New York public employers to develop a workplace violence prevention program and to provide training to all of their employees on preventing workplace violence.

The final regulations drafted by the Department of Labor pursuant to this law were issued on April 29, 2009 and required employers to be in compliance by August 27, 2009. Apparently however, according to New York State Assemblyman Rory Lancman, Chairman for the New York State Subcommittee on Workplace Safety, only half of the public agencies in New York have complied with the law and provided the training it requires despite the fact that these New York State Agencies had until August 2009 to comply. Moreover, about 45% of the employers have still failed to develop the required workplace violence prevention program for their workplaces. More Info