New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has signed into law a bill aimed at protecting direct care workers.
Here are three things to know about the law.
1. The law makes it a Class D felony to assault any workers providing direct care in hospitals, nursing homes and clinics, according to the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East union. The provision already applied to nurses, emergency medical personnel and many other workers in law enforcement, traffic control, firefighting and other professions.
2. Such an assault is punishable by up to seven years in prison.
3. The signing of the bill came after months of lobbying and testimony from 1199SEIU direct care workers, according to the union. New York legislators, people in the healthcare community and the trade union movement have also been supportive.
More articles on workforce and labor management:
Our Lady of Fatima Hospital employees picket over 'unfair treatment': 3 things to know
West Virginia hospital offers job shadowing in finance, accounting: 3 things to know
6 things to know about the best-paying healthcare jobs in NJ