Six national retailers, including Walt Disney Co., Pacsun, and Aeropostale Inc. have agreed to stop using on-call work shifts for U.S. employees after a multi-state probe by several attorney generals.
The practice, which requires employees to clear their personal schedule for the possibility of getting called into work, and therefore only a possibility of getting paid, helps companies cut costs but is fiercely opposed by labor groups.
The business tactic came under harsh scrutiny back in 2014 when a New York Times article profiled a Starbucks employee whose life was in a “constant cloud of chaos” as a result of the last-minute demand.
Regarding the agreement, which will benefit a reported 50,000 employees, New York Attorney General, Eric T. Schneiderman, made a statement saying, “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.”
You can read more about the agreement at Bloomberg.
