Walmart Opposes Panic Buttons in Stores

Retail giant Walmart is opposing a New York State Senate bill requiring large retail chains to install panic buttons in stores for safety reasons. Walmart’s chief corporate affairs officer, Dan Bartlett, argues that panic buttons could trigger false alarms and are impractical for Walmart’s 4,700 U.S. stores, including 98 in New York. The legislation, awaiting Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision, mandates violence prevention training for retailers with 10 or more employees. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union supports the bill. At Walmart’s recent shareholder meeting, a proposal for an independent review of workplace safety was defeated.