Hotel employers operating in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County should ensure they are complying with the County’s Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance (“HWPO”), which took effect on April 1, 2026, and has compliance deadlines approaching on October 1, 2026. The ordinance establishes new workplace safety protections, housekeeping workload restrictions, record keeping obligations, and other requirements for covered hotels.

Among the HWPO’s key safety requirements, covered hotel employers must provide personal safety devices, commonly referred to as “panic buttons,” to employees who work alone in guest rooms or restrooms. Employers must also provide annual training regarding the devices and applicable response procedures, maintain records concerning device activations, and ensure that a designated responder is available onsite. Employees who experience or report violent or threatening guest conduct are also entitled to certain protections, including paid time to report such conduct to law enforcement and reasonable accommodations when appropriate.

The ordinance also regulates housekeeping workloads. It limits the amount of guest room space hotel employees may be required to clean during a workday without receiving additional compensation, with applicable limits varying based on the size of the hotel. Employers must maintain detailed records regarding rooms and square footage cleaned, overtime hours, and compensation. Additionally, hotel employees generally may not be required to work more than 10 hours in a workday unless they provide written consent after receiving at least seven days’ advance notice.

Employers should also be aware of an additional compliance deadline approaching on October 1, 2026. Beginning on that date, covered hotel employees must receive at least six hours of live, interactive Public Housekeeping Training addressing topics such as employee rights, human trafficking and violence awareness, disease prevention, pest detection, and responses to suspected criminal activity, and pass an exam. No Hotel Employer will be permitted employ a Hotel Worker as a Room Attendant for more than 120 days after October 1 without a certificate of having completed the training.

Covered employers should review their policies and practices for compliance, including their safety-device procedures, housekeeping assignments, scheduling practices, notices, signage, and recordkeeping. Employers should also begin preparing now for the October 1 training requirements to ensure timely compliance.

Stokes Wagner will continue to monitor these developments and provide further updates after the September 30 deadline. If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact a Stokes Wagner attorney.

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THIS DOCUMENT PROVIDES A GENERAL SUMMARY AND IS FOR INFORMATIONAL/EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE COMPREHENSIVE, NOR DOES IT CONSTITUTE LEGAL ADVICE. PLEASE CONSULT WITH COUNSEL BEFORE TAKING OR REFRAINING FROM TAKING ANY ACTION.