Employment Law Update:  New Workplace Violence Poster and Posting Requirement

House Bill No. 915 (88^th Leg. Session) instructed the Texas Department of Public Safety to create a Workplace Violence Hotline that allowed employees to report any concerns related to possible workplace violence.  Although this law became effective in September 2023, the Texas Workforce Commission and the Texas Department of Public Safety were instructed to issue a model poster no later than March 2024.  In January 2024, the TWC and TDPS issued a model poster.

Employers of all sizes are required to post this Workplace Violence Hotline poster (1) in a conspicuous place in the employer’s place of business, (2) in sufficient locations to be convenient to all employees, and (3) in English and Spanish, as appropriate.  Since this law is already in effect, employers should post this new Workplace Violence Hotline poster at their earliest opportunity.

The poster provides information to employees about their right to report instances of workplace violence or suspicious activity by calling the Workplace Violence Hotline at 844-643-2251 or by using the iWatchTexas Community Reporting System at www.iwatchtx.org.  Employees have the right to make these reports anonymously.  Employees can use these reporting systems to bring concerns or suspicions of workplace violence to TDPS prior to these concerns becoming emergencies.

If you have any questions related to this announcement or other employment law matters, contact Sarah Glaser, Chair of Lloyd Gosselink’s Employment Law Practice Group, at 512.322.5881 or sglaser@lglawfirm.com, Laura Ingram at 512.322.5848 or lingram@lglawfirm.com, or Michelle White at 512.322.5821 or mwhite@lglawfirm.com.