AB 1761: Employee safety: hotel workers.

Existing law, the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973, requires, among other things, that an employer provide for the safety of its employees. Existing law requires an employer to provide and use safety devices and safeguards reasonably adequate to render the employment and place of employment safe.

This bill would require, among other things, that a hotel employer, as defined, provide its employees, as defined, with a panic button, as specified, in order to summon immediate assistance when working alone in the guestroom. The bill would require a hotel employer to post a specified notice in each guestroom regarding these provisions. The bill would require a hotel employer to provide paid time off to an employee who is the victim of assault in order to contact the police, a counselor, medical professional, or an attorney. The bill would require a hotel employer to provide reasonable accommodations to an employee who has been subjected to an act of violence, sexual assault, or sexual harassment by a guest, as specified. The bill would require a hotel employer, upon request of an employee, to contact law enforcement to report an act constituting a crime and to cooperate in the investigation. The bill would prohibit a hotel employer from discriminating or retaliating against an employee who reasonably uses a panic button, reports a specified act, requests time off, reasonable accommodations under these provisions. The bill would establish a minimum standard of protection for these employees and would authorize the enactment and enforcement of more protective policies.

The bill would impose a specified civil penalty on hotel employers for violations of its provisions and would provide legislative findings in support of its provisions.