Miami Beach Hotel Panic Button Requirements

Hospitality leaders and local government officials have recognized the need for improvement for hotel workers. Many housekeepers say there are too many incidents and harassment when trying to do their job. The incidents range from guests exposing themselves to inappropriately touching the housekeepers. In 2018, the American Hotel & Lodging Association ("AHLA") started the 5-Star Promise initiative that helps strengthen the safety and security of hotel employees and more. During the same year, the City of Miami Beach stepped forward to improve hotel employees' safety by passing a local ordinance.  

This article will cover the panic button compliance requirements for hotels in the City of Miami. For more compliance details for other cities and states in the United States, view our comprehensive Panic Button Legislation Guide for Hoteliers here. 

Disclaimer: The content and materials available in this article are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author. 

Overview

In the City of Miami Beach, Ordinance No. 2018-4207 was passed and adopted on July 28, 2018, with an effective date of August 1, 2019. The Ordinance amended Chapter 62 of the Code of City of Miami Beach to create Article VI, named "Protection of Hotel Employees from Assault and Sexual Harassment." As described in the Ordinance documentation, it intends to protect hotel employees from sexual assault and harassment due to the nature of working alone in the workplace. One of the requirements is to provide a safety button (i.e., panic button, notification button, safety duress button) to each hotel employee that holds a role of a room attendant, housekeeper attendant, minibar attendant, or room service server. 

Summary of Hotel Employer Responsibilities 

The City of Miami Beach, Protection of Hotel Employees from Assault and Sexual Harassment Ordinance applies to all hotels and hostels.  

 Main employer responsibilities consist of: 

•  Provide a panic button device to each hotel or hostel employee who is a room attendant, housekeeper attendant, minibar attendant or room service server. The device should be provided at no cost to the employee. 
• Submit an affidavit to the city with an annual renewal of their business tax receipt that shows that they are in compliance with Sections 62- 206(a) and 62 -207. 
• Comply with the provisions in subsections 62- 206(a) and (b) by August 1, 2019. 

The City of Miami Beach Hotel Panic Button Devices 

Under Section 62-206, there is a requirement to provide a panic button device to certain employees. The panic button device must be designed to be portable, so it's easily carried on a person while performing their duties and allow for activation to summon help quickly to their location. 

A summary of the required panic button capabilities: 

1. Portable device.
2. Quick and easy activation.
3. Ability to summon assistance quickly to the employee's exact location by a security or staff member. 

It's essential to understand what is a hotel panic button and how it's not a traditional noisemaker that emits a loud noise when activated. 

Penalties and Fines for Noncompliance 

If a hotel or hostel does not meet their employer responsibilities, the following civil fines will be imposed for violation of the Ordinance: 

• First offense: A written warning to a person 
• Second offense: If within six months of the first violation, a person shall receive a civil fine of $500.00 
• Third offense: If within six months of the previous violation, a person shall receive a civil fine of $1,000.00 
• Fourth offense: If within six months of the previous violation, a persona shall receive a civil fine of $2,000.00 

Choosing the Best Panic Button Solution for your Miami Beach Property 

No one should come to work thinking they will face a situation where their safety and well-being are at high risk. The passing of the City of Miami Beach ordinance that provides hotel employees with a panic button that they can activate during an emergency will add an extra layer of relief to workers who often work alone. We recommend working with a vendor that has specifically built a platform for safety and not an "add-on" feature to an existing suite of technology.  

To protect employees with a reliable and effective panic button solution at your Miami Beach hotel property and meet panic button requirements, book a free demo with us today: https://www.reactmobile.com/demo-request.