Panic Button Compliance + Mask Mandates + Google's 'Online Order' Button + Marijuana Use + Remote Work & Employment Law

Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting impact on the travel and hospitality industry at large was devastating and, unfortunately, derailed the efforts of hotels around the world to overhaul their staff safety infrastructure. However, as we move on from the pandemic and shift into a period of recovery and regrowth, staff safety is once again placed under the spotlight. Now, it is estimated that around 2 million rooms will fall under mandates for panic button compliance in 2022, following any delays formerly attributed to the pandemic. With compliance dates unlikely to be awarded further deferral, hoteliers must get well acquainted with the legislative requirements faced by their hotel.

With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of many of the states currently impacted by panic button legislation and senate bills.

Hotel executives, administrators, marketing professionals, office staff, salespeople and countless other employees, have spent the past two years working in their living rooms, home offices, kitchens and dens. Whether remote work is simply the new way we work or a temporary measure to weather the pandemic storm, what’s clear is that many hospitality employees will be working from home for the foreseeable future.

What’s equally clear is that many hospitality businesses are treating their remote staff as if they still go into the office every day. While technologies like Zoom, Google Meet and sometimes the traditional telephone have made the transition to remote work almost seamless, things are not quite as simple from an employment law standpoint.