Disney, Aeropostale, David’s Tea & Other Retailers Agree To Cease Burdensome Scheduling Practice Following Multistate Investigation; Agreements Will Benefit An Estimated 50,000 Workers Nationwide
These Are Latest In Series Of Groundbreaking National Agreements Secured By NY AG’s Office To End On-Call Scheduling At Major Retailers
Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, along with attorneys general from seven other states and the District of Columbia, announced that six major retailers have agreed to stop using on-call shift scheduling following an inquiry by the multi-state coalition of AGs. An estimated 50,000 workers nationwide will benefit from the agreements to end the burdensome scheduling practice, which requires employees to call their employer – typically an hour or two before a scheduled shift – to find out if they will be assigned to work that day. The agreements with these six companies are the latest in a series of groundbreaking national agreements secured by the New York Attorney General’s office to end on-call scheduling at a number of major retailers.
The six companies – Aeropostale, Carter’s, David’s Tea, Disney, PacSun, and Zumiez – were among 15 large retailers who received a joint inquiry letter from the nine attorneys general in April of this year seeking information and documents related to their use of on-call shifts. These six companies reported that they were using on-call shifts, but after discussions with the AGs’ offices, all agreed to stop doing so, and none are currently using on-call shifts.
In addition to ending the use of on-call shifts, four of the companies -- Carter’s, Disney, David’s Tea, and Zumiez – all committed to providing employees with their work schedules at least one week in advance of the start of the workweek. Such advance notice allows employees to plan ahead to cover child care and other obligations.
“On-call shifts are not a business necessity and should be a thing of the past. People should not have to keep the day open, arrange for child care, and give up other opportunities without being compensated for their time,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “I am pleased that these companies have stepped up to the plate and agreed to stop using this unfair method of scheduling.”
These six companies, as well as others involved in a 2015 inquiry by Attorney General Schneiderman’s office, all found alternative staffing methods for addressing unanticipated employee absences or fluctuations in business volume; typically, some kind of pool arrangement has been implemented in lieu of on-call shifts.
The collaboration among attorneys general stemmed from their collective concern about the impact of on-call shifts on employees and their families, as well as the national scope of the retail companies involved.
The April letter states, “Unpredictable work schedules take a toll on employees. Without the security of a definite work schedule, workers who must be “on call” have difficulty making reliable childcare and elder-care arrangements, encounter obstacles in pursuing an education, and in general experience higher incidences of adverse health effects, overall stress, and strain on family life than workers who enjoy the stability of knowing their schedules reasonably in advance.”
It continues, “Our letter today is prompted by the concerns outlined above and by our shared interest in the well-being of workers nationwide,” and notes that certain states have laws regarding reporting or call in pay laws applicable within those jurisdictions.
Attorney General Schneiderman’s Office sent letters to the following fifteen retailers and was joined by some or all of the attorneys generals with retail locations in their respective states: American Eagle, Aeropostale, Payless, Disney, Coach, PacSun, Forever 21, Vans, Justice Just for Girls, BCBG Maxazria, Tilly’s, Inc., David’s Tea, Zumiez, Uniqlo, and Carter’s. Nine of these companies responded that they did not use the practice of on-call scheduling or had recently ended it.
New York State has a “call in pay” regulation that provides, “An employee who by request or permission of the employer reports for work on any day shall be paid for at least four hours, or the number of hours in the regularly scheduled shift, whichever is less, at the basic minimum hourly wage.” (12 NYCRR 142-2.3)
In 2015, as a result of an inquiry by Attorney General Schneiderman into on-call scheduling, brands including Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap, J.Crew, Urban Outfitters, Pier 1 Imports, and L Brands (parent company of Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret) all agreed to end the practice of assigning on-call shifts.
The letters were signed by representatives of the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, and Rhode Island. Several offices signed only letters to retailers located within their states.
