Startups
California requires a workplace violence prevention plan.
Yours needs to address the risks startups actually create.
Layoffs, vesting disputes, and former employees with active badge access are the specific hazards your plan must cover — and Cal/OSHA knows to look for them. A non-compliant plan carries a $25,000 fine. Cynserus generates your startup-specific compliance package — Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, staff training materials, and incident log — most plans ready within the hour.
Most businesses are required to have a written plan
California law requires almost every employer to keep a written workplace violence prevention plan on file. A single violation can mean a fine up to $25,000. Most startups do not have one yet.
Why startups specifically
Startups move fast. People get let go quickly. Badge access stays active for days. Former employees still know the door codes.
Equity disputes, vesting cliffs, and sudden layoffs create the kind of resentment that turns into real threats. Your office manager should not be the one figuring out what to do in that moment.
And if an enterprise customer or investor asks for your compliance documentation during diligence, you need to have it ready.
What Cynserus does for your business
- 1A written plan with your company name on it — covering badge access protocols, post-termination procedures, and insider threat scenarios. Built for a Cal/OSHA inspection.
- 2Structured incident documentation your team fills out when a former employee shows up unannounced, a termination meeting turns hostile, or someone bypasses access controls.
- 3A QR code for the lobby and common areas. Your team scans it to report an incident the moment it happens — no Slack message that gets lost.
In practice
What a Cal/OSHA citation actually looks like for a startups
A San Francisco startup conducts a layoff, letting go of a senior engineer in a tense meeting that turns confrontational. The terminated employee's badge access is not revoked until three days later. No incident report is filed. Six months later, the company is acquired and the acquirer's legal team requests compliance documentation — including workplace violence records.
Without a compliant plan
No written plan exists. No incident was logged from the termination meeting. Badge access procedures are undocumented. During a Cal/OSHA audit triggered by a former employee complaint, the company cannot demonstrate a compliant plan or a training record. Fine: up to $25,000 per violation — and the acquisition due diligence stalls.
With Cynserus
The plan specifically addresses post-termination procedures, badge access revocation timelines, and insider threat scenarios. The confrontational termination is logged via the Cynserus portal within the hour. Annual training is documented for all employees. Cal/OSHA finds complete, compliant documentation — and so does the acquirer's legal team.
Scenario is illustrative. Outcomes depend on your specific documentation and circumstances at the time of inspection.
Pricing
Essential
You handle training. We handle the paperwork.
- IncludedYour SB 553-compliant plan, written for your specific business — delivered within 1 hour
- IncludedIncident log template so you’re ready if Cal/OSHA shows up
- IncludedUpdated automatically when the law changes — no extra charge
Complete
We give you everything to train your team yourself.
- IncludedEverything in Essential, plus a ready-to-deliver training presentation with a script you can read word-for-word
- IncludedEmployees report incidents through a private digital portal — no paperwork, no awkward conversations
- IncludedAnonymous reporting via QR code posted at each location
Pro
We handle compliance end to end. You just run your business.
- IncludedEmployees complete training online on their own time — you get a signed log for every person, auto-generated for Cal/OSHA
- IncludedFull incident management system that’s audit-ready if an inspector walks in
- Included30-minute call with our founder (former police detective, 15+ years in workplace threat assessment) to review your specific risks
All plans include an annual renewal starting 12 months after purchase. Renewal keeps your compliance documents current with updated WVPP reviews, training refreshes, and regulatory changes.
Startups FAQ
If any of your California employees work from an office, co-working space, or company-controlled workspace, you need a WVPP for that site. Fully remote companies with no physical workspace may be exempt, but consult legal counsel.
Increasingly, yes. Institutional investors and enterprise customers are requesting compliance documentation as part of due diligence. A compliant WVPP demonstrates operational maturity.
Yes. A recent layoff is a documented elevated risk factor for Type 3 violence. Your WVPP should be reviewed and updated after any significant organizational change.
Your WVPP must address all persons who enter your workplace, including contractors, vendors, and visitors. Access control and visitor management procedures should be documented.
15-minute intake. Documents delivered within one business day.
Less than an attorney charges for a consultation. Built by a former detective who has worked these incidents. Starting at $249.
Start Your Compliance Plan