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The city of Sacramento (the city) enacted a hotel worker protection ordinance (HWPO) that requires hotel operators to provide employees who clean guest rooms or restrooms with panic buttons that they may use to alert hotel staff of threatening conduct by a hotel guest and other emergencies. The HWPO also encourages hotel operators to notify hotel guests about the panic buttons and provide employees with written notice of the hotel's sexual harassment prevention policy.
For more information on the HWPO, you may contact the city clerk at (916) 808-7200.
A covered "hotel operator" under the HWPO is:
Compliance by either the hotel proprietor or the managing agent is considered compliance by both. 2
A "hotel" under the HWPO is any structure that is occupied or is intended for occupation by transients for dwelling, lodging or sleeping, including but not limited to a/an:
A "transient" under the HWPO is any person who occupies or has the right to occupy a space in a hotel for 30 consecutive calendar days or less, with partial days counted as full days. A person is considered a transient until they have occupied a space in a hotel for more than 30 days, unless there is a written agreement for a longer period of occupancy. 4
A "hotel employee" under the HWPO is any person who works at a hotel full or part time for wages, salary or any other form of remuneration. 5
A hotel operator must provide a portable "panic button" at no cost to each hotel employee assigned to work in a guest room or restroom. 6 The panic button must be a device that an employee can quickly and easily activate to summon to their location hotel staff able to provide immediate aid and assistance. 7
The HWPO encourages hotel operators to notify hotel guests about panic buttons provided to hotel employees cleaning guest rooms or restrooms and to give employees with written notice of the hotel's sexual harassment prevention policy. 8 Additionally, state law mandates that employers develop and distribute a written harassment, discrimination and retaliation prevention policy to employees.
Violations of the HWPO are subject to criminal sanctions, civil actions and administrative penalties. These violations are declared a public nuisance, and any person found in violation is liable for civil penalties ranging from $250 to $25,000 for each day the violation continues. Additionally, any person who violates the HWPO is guilty of an infraction. 9
1. Sacramento City Code, sec. 3.28.020
2. Sacramento City Code, sec. 3.28.020
3. Sacramento City Code, sec. 3.28.020
4. Sacramento City Code, sec. 3.28.020
5. Sacramento City Code, sec. 5.78.020
6. Sacramento City Code, sec. 5.78.030
7. Sacramento City Code, sec. 5.78.020
8. Sacramento City Code, sec. 5.78.010
9. Sacramento City Code, sec. 5.78.040