Chicago City Council Considers Ordinance to Require Panic Buttons for Hotel Workers
Summary
According to a Chicago Tribune report, the bill, sponsored by Alderman Michele Harris, 8th Ward, and backed by labor unions including Unite Here Local 1, would require that employees working alone in Chicago hotels be issued panic buttons (such as RFT’s HELP ALERT wireless pendant) that would enable them to warn security quickly if they encounter potentially dangerous situations in guests’ rooms. The ordinance would also require that hotels post sexual harassment and assault policies and promise no retaliation against workers who report encountering such treatment. Similar mandates and/or ordinances will soon be adopted in cities including Seattle, San Francisco, and areas in Southern California, where they are being requested with increased frequency by staff members and local unions representing hospitality workers. Life safety solutions such as CODE ALERT® Wander Management, QUICK RESPONSE® Wireless Nurse Call, SAFE PLACE® Infant Security, and HELP ALERT® reduce risk for residents, staff, and the facility; innovations such as RFT CARES® smartphone application improve caregiver coordination and efficiency. Backed by 30 years of experience in senior living, RF Technologies’ solutions are UL-certified to meet today’s life safety standards.