Following the 2021 massacre at the Valley Transportation Authority rail yard in San Jose, where a gunman killed nine employees, the state passed SB 553. The legislation mandates that California employers establish workplace violence prevention plans and prohibit them from requiring employees to intervene with active shooters or suspected shoplifters.
This bill has sparked controversy, with business owners expressing concerns that it may encourage shoplifters, while others argue it will increase employee safety. Notably, the bill does not apply to trained security guards.
Senator Dave Cortese of District 15 (Santa Clara) supported the bill in response to a growing concern for employee safety, referencing the VTA massacre among many other deadly incidents in California over the past few years. “This groundbreaking law will help workers and employers establish a plan for the types of workplace violence that are on the rise,” Cortese said.
His position has support from at least some Palo Alto High School students, including senior Minerva Villegas.
“I feel like it makes sense honestly just because workers should not have to put their life at risk just to save the stores,” Villegas said.
According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, a survey of retail employees conducted over the 12 months ending in November 2023 concluded that nearly two-thirds of retail employees in the United States fear for their safety, with 31% reporting increased hostility from customers.
According to the New York Times, however, when shoplifting goes unchecked it can lead to higher prices for consumers, store closures, and financial hardship for small businesses. The same article lists San Francisco as an example, following the closure of Whole Foods, Walgreens, and other stores due to rampant theft, leading some remaining stores to place products behind security glass.
“With growing awareness of workplace violence, California needs smarter guidelines to keep workers safe in the office or on the job site, ” Cortese says.