Do I Need a WVPP? Requirements by Business Size and Type
Find out if your business needs a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan under SB 553. Covers exemptions by employee count, industry, and workplace type.
Quick Answer
Almost every California employer needs a WVPP under SB 553. The only size-based exemption applies to workplaces with fewer than 10 employees that are not accessible to the public. If customers, clients, patients, vendors, or any members of the public enter your workplace, you must comply regardless of how few employees you have. Remote workers are exempt only while working from their chosen location.
The Under-10 Employee Exemption
The exemption for workplaces with fewer than 10 employees requires meeting two conditions simultaneously: fewer than 10 employees AND the workplace is not accessible to the public. "Accessible to the public" is broadly interpreted — it includes customers, clients, patients, vendors, delivery persons, and anyone who is not an employee. A 3-person accounting firm where clients visit the office must comply. A 5-person software team working in a closed office with no visitors may be exempt.
Industry-Specific Requirements
Some industries face virtually no exemption pathway because public access is inherent: retail stores, restaurants, healthcare facilities, salons and personal services, fitness centers, hotels, auto repair shops, real estate offices, education facilities, and social services. Healthcare facilities already covered by Cal/OSHA Section 3342 have a separate (and stricter) standard — but non-clinical healthcare workers may still fall under SB 553.
Remote and Hybrid Workers
Employees telecommuting from a location of their choosing are exempt from SB 553 — but only while they are at that remote location. If a remote employee comes to the office even once per month, they must be covered by your WVPP while on-site. Hybrid workforces require careful planning: your WVPP must cover on-site operations and all employees when they are present at any company-controlled location.
Multi-Site and Multi-State Businesses
Each California location must be covered by a WVPP. You can use a single WVPP for multiple sites if it addresses the specific hazards at each location, but a one-size-fits-all approach that ignores site-specific risks will not pass inspection. For businesses operating in multiple states, California sites need SB 553 compliance, New York retail sites with 10+ employees need S2572B compliance, and monitoring is recommended for all other states.
Summary
Almost every California employer needs a WVPP under SB 553. The only size-based exemption applies to workplaces with fewer than 10 employees that are not accessible to the public. If customers, clients, patients, vendors, or any members of the public enter your workplace, you must comply regardless of how few employees you have. Remote workers are exempt only while working from their chosen location.
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