Panic buttons, historically used in hotels and other hospitality environments, are becoming a priority for retail in 2026 as new state legislation takes effect. Increasingly viewed as safety critical, panic buttons allow frontline employees to get immediate help with anything from ORC threats to individual emergencies. This technology can be activated on a physical device, a wearable, or a mobile app.
Legislative implementations vary by state. Washington state, for instance, effective January 1, 2026, has updated its mandate on panic buttons for isolated retail staff (defined as those working alone or without backup). In Washington, they must be simple to activate with a single action, allowing the worker to summon assistance from a coworker, security guard, or supervisor/manager. The objective is to initiate a direct local response before escalating to law enforcement if necessary.
New York’s 2025 Retail Worker Safety Act introduced a response button requirement impacting larger retailers. Effective January 1, 2027, the legislation mandates that retailers with 500 or more employees in the state provide a silent response function. New York also requires alerts to be routed internally to managers/security instead of automatically contacting emergency services. Fixed, wearable, or mobile app solutions are all acceptable provided they facilitate the necessary internal response. However, the state stipulates that devices hosting panic button features must be employer provided and cannot be BYOD to avoid undue causing employee burden.
For national and global retailers, these regulatory nuances on timing and coverage are introducing complexity for frontline device fleets. Chains operating across multiple effected jurisdictions must meet compliance on various definitions of what constitutes a panic button response, and criteria for which employees are covered. This fragmentation is making flexible, adaptable software solutions that don’t require hardware changes increasingly critical, especially as more states adopt similar safety policies.
To date, vendor strategies have been to embed panic button functions into platforms already used by frontline teams. Theatro, acquired by Motorola Solutions in 2025, is one example of this. Theatro offers a voice wearable product that retail associates already use every day. Its Personal Safety Alert feature even lets employees trigger a response using covert code words. Once it is activated, the system alerts store supervisors/security and delivers pre-configured safety guidance. This aligns with New York’s internal response mandate, providing the quick and discreet communication that the law demands.
Similarly, Zebra has integrated panic button capabilities directly into its handheld computers and wearables which retailers already deploy widely. Zebra’s devices have hardware buttons that can be configured to trigger emergency responses. This makes it possible for retailers to follow local regulations and internal policies accordingly. Zebra’s Workcloud Communication software enables alerts to override existing communications and convey location and situation details to supervisors.
Data from VDC’s 2025 Loss Prevention Report illuminates the pressures relating to worker safety. 65% of survey respondents reported that labor shortages or staffing constraints had a moderate-to-severe impact on their ability to implement loss prevention, and 24% characterized the impact as significant or severe. When asked how they were maintaining loss prevention despite staffing shortages, most respondents cited deploying additional technology (58%) and concentrating staff at high-risk times/areas (49%), with 41% paying for remote monitoring centers. Those dynamics matter for worker safety because a panic button can only be as effective as the response coordination.
Retailers must now view panic buttons as an essential component alongside existing safety protocols. These new solutions integrate seamlessly with frontline technology. They allow associates to quickly escalate emergencies internally while being compliant across different state regulations. Critically, these integrated solutions enhance safety and also improve employee confidence and well-being, which are crucial priorities as retailers face staffing struggles. As the regulatory environment continues evolving, panic button solutions will become increasingly central to retail operations.
For more information, download VDC’s 2025 Retail Loss Prevention Executive Brief and watch for upcoming updates.
