Relates to the schedules that work act

Title of bill

An act to amend the labor law, in relation to the schedules that work act

Purpose

To require that an employer, employing fifty or more employees in the state of New York in retail, food service, or cleaning adhere to the Schedules That Work Act. It also provides for an employee to voluntarily be called in to work beyond their scheduled hours,

Summary of provisions

Section 1: adds a new article 5-A to the labor law entitled Schedules That Work Act

Section 2: effective date

Justification

This bill would protect hourly worker in the fields of retail, food service or cleaning, who often find themselves laden with unpredictable schedules and irregular hours. Industries that employ hourly workers are some of the fastest growing and lowest paying. Allowing workers a more stable schedule enables them to plan for essential responsibilities including child care and transportation. It is not uncommon for an hourly worker to be sent home early, before their scheduled shift ends or for the number of expected work hours or specific days to change with little or no notice. This can be crippling for working families. This bill would ensure that workers who get sent home early for under four hours of work are compensated fairly up to four hours and it would require some compensation to the employee for being "on call" if it is within 24 hours of the shift in question. This bill would promote more communication between employee and employer regarding expectations for\ work and require the employer to give more reasonable notice to the employee of changes in their work schedule. A more predictable schedule would result in a more focused employee who has been ensured their responsibilities outside of work have been taken care of. Additionally, giving hourly employees a voice at work would likely decrease worker turnover rates. In this way, this bill would benefit both the employee and the employer.

This legislation allows for an individual to voluntarily be called in for extra hours.

Prior legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal impact

Undetermined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date to be made on or before such date.