Urban Outfitters is the latest national retailer to agree to end on-call scheduling practices amid pressure from state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
The attorney general’s office announced Wednesday morning that the retailer is the fifth to end the practice, which requires employees to call in to work sometimes less than a day in advance of a potential shift to find out if they are needed. In a statement, Schneiderman said Urban Outfitters also agreed to provide employees with their schedules at least one week in advance.
“Workers deserve basic protections, including a reliable work schedule that allows them to budget living expenses, arrange for childcare needs, and plan their days,” the attorney general said. “I commend Urban Outfitters for taking this important step to ensure that their employees have schedules that are more predictable.”
In April, Schneiderman’s office sent letters to 13 retailers seeking information on their scheduling practices and any on-call procedures they might use. That was enough to prompt a handful of retailers to stop on-call scheduling. Abercrombie & Fitch, Bath & Body Works, Gap and Victoria’s Secret also have agreed to end the scheduling practice.
The Capitol Confidential team: