Dive Brief:
-
New York State attorney general Eric Schneiderman has requested reports, due May 4, from 13 retailers regarding how they schedule their work shifts.
-
The letters express concern about the increasing use of “on-call shifts” also known as "just in time" schedules, that squeeze efficiencies through scheduling but make it difficult for workers to schedule child care, other jobs, or schooling, and hurt their ability to make a living.
-
Schneiderman’s office sent letters to Target, Gap Inc., Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Ann Inc., Burlington Stores Inc., Crocs Inc., J.C. Penney Co., J. Crew, L Brands Inc., Sears Holding Corp, TJX Cos., Urban Outfitters Inc., and Williams-Sonoma Inc. A number of them have responded and are defending their scheduling practices.
Dive Insight:
The retail practice of “just in time” scheduling has emerged as an issue nearly as important as the minimum wage for retail workers. The practice, which has helped retailers trim what some might call fat from bottom line expenses, uses computer algorithms to wring gaps in schedules so that retailers aren’t paying workers at down times.
But that has created a work environment that advocates say is untenable. Several states, including New York, already have laws governing this area, but they’re often not strong enough or are ignored, advocates say. Several retailers have raised their hourly wages to attract and keep better workers, but that may not be enough.
Indeed, change in this area is probably inevitable. The New York Times published a story last year that led Starbucks to reevaluate its super-efficient scheduling program to allow workers more reasonable time tables. And several states, municipalities, and Congress are looking into legislating more fair scheduling. Look for this issue to continue to get scrutiny from beyond New York.
