New California law expands workplace violence prevention measures

Editor's Note

A new workplace violence law was enacted in California in September 2023 that requires all businesses to have a violence prevention plan in place by July 1, 2024, HealthLeaders November 7 reports. Employers already covered under the Workplace Violence Healthcare standard are exempted, as are law enforcement agencies and employers with 10 or fewer employees. 

Under the new law, employers must enact policies and procedures that directly address workplace violence, have a system for reporting threats, training, incident logs, restraining order files, and plan-related records. This is the first general industry law of its kind, and follows California state laws around violence in healthcare. 

Experts say employers will need to pull together an experienced team that includes people focused on safety, HR, and legal issues. While enforcement of the new workplace violence law is largely expected to follow any incidents, workplaces will need to take serious steps to put new protective measures in place, experts say.