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7 reasons why Panic Buttons are the best thing to happen to your business

March 29, 2021/in Relay for Business

If you work in the hospitality industry, chances are good you’ve been hearing a lot of news and information related to the new panic button legislation. And as many of us understand this is a great move for the industry, it’s hard to be relaxed about a topic that has the word panic built into the name.

 

At Relay, we’re proud that our devices connect workers and empower them through the use of a panic button and a completely connected cellular network. Contact us to find out how to empower your staff through connectivity with a device that alerts anyone to potential danger.

 

Take the panic out of panic buttons:

If you stop to think about it, panic buttons are probably the best thing to happen to hotels and casinos in years, and here’s why.

  1. It builds up your brand reputation: Inc reported that 69% of job seekers would reject a job offer from a company with a bad reputation. While legally all in the hospitality sector will eventually have to give panic buttons to specific employees — especially solo workers and housekeeping staff— some are still dragging their feet about the process. By being one of the first to outfit your staff with panic buttons, you show guests and even potential investors that you take the business of both safety and hospitality very seriously. In a sometimes gossipy industry, being one of the first to take safety concerns seriously gets you and your property talked about in the best way possible.
  2. You’ll retain more employees: Training new staff can sometimes feel like a full-time job in itself. But what about training staff who then leave if they don’t feel safe or protected by their employers? By ensuring that your staff has new and working panic buttons, you’re letting them know that you’re invested in their safety and wellbeing. This automatically reminds them how important they are to your company overall.
  3. Workers will be less distracted: On a practical level, a panic button allows hotel and casino staff to better pay attention to the work at hand. If someone is constantly looking for a way to contact management in case of an emergency, they probably won’t be able to work as efficiently or effectively. By giving them a panic button connected to a larger network, you’re handing them peace of mind as well. They can pay attention to the task at hand and know that if a guest behaves inappropriately, all they have to do is push a button and help is on the way.
  4. You can shore up the safety on trouble spots: While no one wants to hear that their property is unsafe, the reality is that many workers are sexually harassed or worse on hotel property. By monitoring the activity on panic buttons, hotel safety staff can better understand if certain areas of the property are less safe, poorly lit or otherwise not as safe as the rest of the property.
  5. You’ll better support your security staff: The reality of modern life is that emergencies happen and security staff needs to be constantly on high alert. Knowing that your entire team has rapid connectivity in the event of an emergency means that your security staff can better manage their own resources as needed.
  6.  You’ll be more reassured about remote areas of the property: Most hotel management won’t admit how stressful it can be to fully monitor every single foot of the property. If your staff is fully outfitted with panic buttons operating on a secure network, they’ll be able to connect with anyone on the property if needed. While it won’t replace surveillance and security staff, it’s another way of empowering workers and keeping them safer.
  7. You appear less vulnerable to potential mischief makers: Let’s face it, there are a lot of individuals who surveil properties in the hopes of finding and then later exploiting vulnerabilities. If your staff all have visible panic buttons, it sends a message to anyone looking to rob a property or sexually harass your staff that they will be immediately reported and hopefully caught. In this case the panic button speaks volumes without anyone saying a word.

 

The Relay difference:

If you’re ready to set up your own network of panic buttons, look no further than Relay. Our products are compliant, affordable, and efficient. Relay is an easy to deploy, flexible panic button. Best yet, it’s also an elevated communications solution, so you’re combining two critical line items into one (with better value). With Relay, you save money, setup is nonexistent, and our products offer hotel staff a practical, easy solution.

https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Blog-01-–-21.png 711 1747 Travis Aptt https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/relay_blog.svg Travis Aptt2021-03-29 13:14:042021-07-18 16:20:537 reasons why Panic Buttons are the best thing to happen to your business

3 Ways to Do More With Fewer Resources

March 23, 2021/in Relay for Business

No matter how well-funded your company is or how carefully you plan out your budget, there are times when spending has to stop. Even if there’s promise of more in the future, for the time being you have to learn how to make do with fewer resources.

 

The year that changed everything:

For many of us, last year was that moment. Maybe it was a smaller staff or less access to the resources needed to run your business. Whatever it was,  COVID-19 also cut down on most of our spending and socializing. And nearly all of the experiential moments in our lives including live entertainment, travel and dining out, ground to a halt. More than that, it felt like anyone even peripherally connected to the hospitality industry had to tighten their collective belts and make do with less.

 

Making less seem like more:

Many are still struggling with trying to keep up morale — and appearances — when making do with less. To help you figure it out, we spent some time brainstorming and came up with 3 creative (and sort of sneaky) ways to make it seem as if everything is exactly as it should be.

 

The Relay difference:
If you’re ready to set up your own network of panic buttons, look no further than Relay. Our products are compliant, affordable, and efficient. Relay is an easy to deploy, flexible panic button. Best yet, it’s also an elevated communications solution, so you’re combining two critical line items into one (with better value). With Relay, you save money, setup is nonexistent, and our products offer hotel staff a practical, easy solution.

 

  1. Frame it differently:
    To paraphrase Mary Poppins, a spoonful of sugar really does make the medicine go down. In other words, think about all the creative words and expressions we use. For instance we’ve taken the idea of junking and turned it into a more creative and beautiful alternative, upcycling. Instead of presenting fewer resources as a calamity, try to present it as a timely option. In our newer work universes, things are often pared down. Perhaps your new approach is one of minimalism or a bare bones approach. Or maybe you’re trying to work to create a more streamlined process and that might mean eliminating the excess that makes days more crowded and less productive. And have fun with the announcements if at all possible. Let your team know that you’re going to cut monthly meetings down and increase coffee breaks. In that way you’re rewarding them for integrating this new approach.
  2. Choose multi-tasking tools/and become more collaborative
    Remember when Zoom and Slack were simply descriptors and not part of our everyday life? Well, our frequently distanced work environments mean that many on our teams will continue to work remotely for a while. And that’s a good thing if you’re going through a time when you have fewer resources.This would be a great time to introduce new tools to your team. In this way you allow everyone to stay in touch and continue to feel the connectivity even as the daily resources might otherwise have dwindled. We’ve heard from people who connect with colleagues over short Loom video trainings or who find different ways to collaborate on projects on Asana.And if you want to find ways to reward your staff, try to create modified versions instead of the over the top ones. Maybe your team had epic cocktail parties each month. While people seem to have tired of Zoom cocktail parties, what if you sent team members a gift of a mixology lesson or flower arranging course or something that allows all of you to meet in a way that seems luxurious but might actually cost a fraction of an in-person event

    In this way you remind your team how important they are to you while cutting costs and creatively reinforcing just how important they are to the continued success of your company.

  3. Turn it into a team-building experience:
    One of the more frustrating elements of working within a team utilizing fewer resources is the feeling of helplessness. Added to that is the panic that having less means fewer jobs are the next logical step and that your own position is suddenly precarious.

 

If you’re charged with figuring out how to do your best with less, try to incorporate team members to help you figure it all out. “Try to make it collaborative,” suggests Andres Lares, Managing partner at Shapiro Negotiations Institute. “If there are aspects of the decision (fewer resources) that haven’t been made, try to include employees – small groups, survey for all, etc. and allow them to voice their opinion.” Lares, who’s also co-author of Persuade:The 4-Step Process to Influence People and Decisions which will be out in July, said by doing so “ This not only will help to end up with a better result, it will also make them more committed since they had a say in the process, decision, communication, etc.”

Adding to that idea, there might be elements that you think are crucial that your team members might never use. Maybe it’s a license for a product that no one ever bothered to figure out, or even an incentive that’s wholly disinteresting. By working with your team you also empower them to decide on their priorities and thereby make it a collective decision to cut down.

And if anyone grumbles, try to build credibility. Lares advises making sure that you “communicate that you have actually have their best interest in mind. This will make the change – especially if it’s a loss – more palatable.”

 

At Relay, we’re proud that our devices connect workers and empower them through the use of a panic button and a completely connected cellular network. Contact us to find out how to empower your staff through connectivity with a device that alerts anyone to potential danger.

https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Blog-01-–-20.png 711 1747 Travis Aptt https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/relay_blog.svg Travis Aptt2021-03-23 13:25:292021-04-13 11:33:493 Ways to Do More With Fewer Resources

How to train new staff to best use employee safety technology

March 17, 2021/in Relay for Business

The hospitality industry is undergoing a lot of exciting changes as the  panic button legislation continues to roll out nationally. But along with the relief at having better protections for distanced staffers, come new challenges as well. After all, what good are these new panic buttons if your staff isn’t completely clear on best uses and practices? More than that, if your employees aren’t used to relying on technology on a daily basis, how can they be expected to automatically adapt to the idea of potentially using panic buttons as part of their daily routines?

Set training goals:

Before you move forward with training your staff create measurable and actionable goals to be shared as needed. Before your next meeting on the subject, try to address at least some of the following questions:

12 questions to cover before your staff trainings:

  1. How much time do you plan on allocating to creation of employee safety training?
  2. Will these be in-person training sessions, digital training or recorded sessions?
  3. How many languages will you offer training in?
  4. Who poses the greatest potential threat to employee safety?
  5. How will you know if the training is successful?
  6. Will you offer refresher courses at any point in the future?
  7. How often will staff panic buttons be tested?
  8. Will you offer actual drills to test out the new devices?
  9.  Will you offer tiered learning programs, or will all staff members learn at the same time on the same level?
  10. How will you address any glitches in your response time?
  11. How will you keep a record of the times panic buttons are deployed?
  12. Will you have local law enforcement involved in the training process?

Digital natives vs. less tech adept counterparts

Another potential glitch in the process depends on the age of your staff or at the least their comfort level in using technology. While digital natives might think of panic buttons as just another expected update in their work life, staffers who are newer to tech might have a hard time getting used to these new devices.

 

The Relay difference:

If you’re ready to set up your own network of panic buttons, look no further than Relay. Our products are compliant, affordable, and efficient. Relay is an easy to deploy, flexible panic button. Best yet, it’s also an elevated communications solution, so you’re combining two critical line items into one (with better value). With Relay, you save money, setup is nonexistent, and our products offer hotel staff a practical, easy solution.

 

Learning from students

The Afterschool Tech Toolkit is an online resource for empowering students and training them on how to access and use tech outside of the classroom.They created some training modules to help individuals and companies learn to train and support staff in the use of technology. While the module was theoretically geared toward students, it also offers very common sense wisdom and understanding including the idea of “building staff comfort and confidence” in using new technology.

Before distributing panic buttons to your staff, you can come up with informal training sessions or methods to increase ease of use.

  • Increase their comfort level: Is there a way you can work with your own staff to build their comfort level in always keeping their panic buttons close at hand? What about easy to remember tricks to deploying the button only in an emergency? If you present the devices with confidence and build in the opportunity for initial glitches, you reassure your staff that it’s an ongoing process and that you’re all learning as you go.
  • Make it fun if possible: Another challenge posed in the student training module was realizing that “It may feel exhausting for staff to focus on both their day-to-day responsibilities and learning new skills, apps, devices, and systems.” Is there a way to make the training more fun, or to gamify the process? It might sound weird, but timing the response of others or creating an informal marathon with actual prizes awarded might reinforce staffers to the value of learning how to properly use their new panic buttons.
  • Explain the added benefits: The 2017 National Education Technology Plan raised an interesting idea of upskilling those you’re educating. If you are able to impart the message to your staff that by undergoing training they are simultaneously improving their safety while upgrading their own skillset, the training in itself becomes something worth paying attention to. Take it a step further, can you create some sort of interior documentation that has necessary steps completed along with a certificate of completion? While your informal certification is mostly decorative, it also gives employees a feeling of accomplishment along with a document to refer back to if needed.
  • Acknowledge that lone workers might need completely different training: Lone worker safety is an issue that is often addressed in other industries, but that doesn’t mean the lessons aren’t universal for hotel or casino staff as well. Back in 2014, the site org — which deals with the spectrum of worker safety issues— explained some of the risks lone employees face that might not be automatically obvious to the rest of staffers or management. From working off-hours to dealing with medical conditions while somewhat isolated, lone workers including housekeeping staff have special needs that should be addressed thoughtfully in training as well.

At Relay, we’re proud that our devices connect workers and empower them through the use of a panic button and a completely connected cellular network. Contact us to find out how to empower your staff through connectivity with a device that alerts anyone to potential danger.

 

Legal disclaimer: While we hope the content we provide is interesting and informative, it in no way is meant to be used as a substitute for legal counsel. All content on the blog section of this website is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete or up to date. None of the information provided is intended to be used in place of advice or consultation with legal or law enforcement professional.

https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Blog-01-–-19.png 711 1747 Travis Aptt https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/relay_blog.svg Travis Aptt2021-03-17 12:15:012021-03-30 11:23:40How to train new staff to best use employee safety technology

Inside Illinois State’s Panic Button Legislation

March 12, 2021/in Relay for Business

We recently shared the results of a survey we conducted about the state of panic button adoption and buying motivation. We also released a state-by-state guide and infographic to give those in the hospitality industry a clear idea of what they can expect as the rollout continues and panic buttons become mandatory for employees.

Since the legislation differs in each state, we’re going to highlight a few key regions and share data that might clarify the process. Please note that we are providing this documentation and these articles for informational and educational purposes only and these should not be substituted for legal requirements. If you require clarification on your legal responsibilities, you should seek it from a qualified attorney in your state.

 

How the Hotel and Casino Employee Safety Act affects Illinois hospitality businesses:

While Illinois legislation originally suggested July 2020 as the initial rollout for the requirement of panic buttons in all hotels, due to the pandemic the deadline was switched to March 1st, 2021. Despite that deadline having passed, many hotels are still in the process of sourcing affordable panic button solutions to fit their pandemic strained budgets. If your hotel or casino is located in the state of Illinois, here are some top issues you need to know about panic buttons for your staff:

  1. The panic button, safety device or notification device must be provided by the hotel or casino at no cost to the employee.
  2. Hotel and casino employers must “develop, maintain and comply with a written anti-sexual harassment policy to protect employees against sexual assault and sexual harassment by guests.” This document should be written in English, Spanish and the primary languages spoken by the majority of staff. A current copy of the policy also has to be provided to all employees and posted publicly in well-trafficked areas. The complaint process should be easy to understand and follow.
  3. Workers are also protected from retaliation as a result of using their panic buttons since in Illinois it is also illegal “for an employer to retaliate against any employee who reasonably uses a safety device or notification device.”
  4. Illinois has a long history of workplace protection. The new Hotel and Casino Employee Safety Act actually builds off of (and references) the Human Rights Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to provide additional protections against sexual harassment in the workplace.

 

The Relay difference:

If you’re ready to set up your own network of panic buttons, look no further than Relay. Our products are compliant, affordable, and efficient. Relay is an easy to deploy, flexible panic button. Best yet, it’s also an elevated communications solution, so you’re combining two critical line items into one (with better value). With Relay, you save money, setup is nonexistent, and our products offer hotel staff a practical, easy solution.

While the Illinois act is less detailed than those of some other states, the underlying commitment to distanced worker safety is clear. By providing staff with panic buttons and other communications devices, they no longer feel as isolated even when working in more remote locations. By creating policies and distributing them widely, staff understands that hotel and casino management take both their safety and concerns extremely seriously. One crucial issue covered in the Illinois panic button legislation is that retaliatory actions are illegal.

 

Panic button 101 in Illinois State:

  • It’s not only hotel housekeeping staff mentioned. The Hotel and Casino Employee Safety Act mentions casinos, casino employers, riverboats, guests and more.
  • Sexual harassment gets specific. Just in case it isn’t clear what constitutes harassments, the bill specifies that “Sexual harassment” means “any harassment or discrimination on the basis of an individual’s actual or perceived sex or gender, including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.”
  • Violations should be reported. Section 5-20 of the act details how employees may bring an action in writing if they feel the hotel or casino is in violation of this act. So, say for instance, hotel management only purchases limited panic buttons or attempts to charge employees for them, this violates the act meant to protect staff.
  • Hotels have 15 calendar days to clear up these violations. Worth noting that not complying with panic button laws can be pricey. Each day that a violation continues constitutes a separate violation. Each violation may receive economic damages of up to $350.00. That means that a single violation could rack up $3,250.00 in damages making it a lot cheaper to simply purchase panic buttons and outfit your staff accordingly.

One last thing: Despite being in the headlines often right now, panic button legislation in the state of Illinois has been on the radar for years.

According to the Chicago City website, back in 2017, the city council passed the Hotel Workers Sexual Harassment Ordinance to provide what were then referred to as “new protections for hotel workers” from sexual harassment.

In what now sounds familiar to most and a variation of current panic button laws, the ordinance introduced by Ald. Michelle Harris required hotels “to comply with three major duties: 1) provide panic buttons or similar notification devices to employees who have to enter guest rooms or restrooms alone, 2) develop, maintain, and comply with anti-sexual harassment policies, and 3) provide all employees with a copy of the policy and post it in conspicuous places within the hotel.” In other words, the current laws should already have been in place in Chicago hotels, they now simply became law for the rest of Illinois.

At Relay, we’re proud that our devices connect workers and empower them through the use of a panic button and a completely connected cellular network. Contact us to find out how to empower your staff through connectivity with a device that alerts anyone to potential danger.

https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Blog-01-–-18.png 711 1747 Travis Aptt https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/relay_blog.svg Travis Aptt2021-03-12 11:54:422021-03-30 11:23:47Inside Illinois State’s Panic Button Legislation

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