Walmart is opposing a new initiative by the New York legislature to mandate panic buttons in large retail stores. 

The Retail Worker Safety Act proposes that by 2027, major retailers, including Walmart, must “develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence.” This would involve violence prevention training, a written workplace violence policy, and the installation of panic buttons that allow discreet 911 calls in emergencies. 

Having passed the New York State Senate last week, the measure is now awaiting a decision from Governor Kathy Hochul, who has 10 days to sign or veto it, according to Reuters. 

Critics of the legislation argue that the cost of installing panic buttons is prohibitively high, and Walmart Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs Dan Bartlett has expressed concerns that these buttons could lead to numerous false alarms. 

“Eight out of 10 times somebody thinks something’s going on, there’s actually not,” Bartlett told Reuters. 

Bartlett also highlighted that Walmart employs a chief safety officer responsible for overseeing the safety of store employees. 

As one of the largest retail chains in the U.S., Walmart has been addressing increasing crime rates in various ways. For instance, a store in California announced in January that it was locking up socks and underwear to prevent theft. 

In 2023, Governor Hochul faced criticism from state retailers after vetoing a bill aimed at establishing a retail crime task force. This bipartisan-supported bill would have created a panel of experts to devise strategies to combat retail theft in New York State.