By The Associated Press
ALBANY, N.Y. — Disney and Aeropostale are among six retailers that have agreed to stop using on-call scheduling, a system worker advocates have said means too much unpredictability for employees.
The change in scheduling was made following an inquiry by nine attorneys general. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Tuesday about 50,000 workers nationwide will benefit.
On-call scheduling requires employees to call before a scheduled shift to find out if they have to work that day. Worker advocates say it can leave employees scrambling for child care, unable to hold second jobs and with uncertain paychecks.
A Disney spokeswoman said the retailer started phasing out on-call scheduling in July 2015.
Rounding out the six companies are Carter’s, David’s Tea, PacSun and Zumiez. They’re among 15 retailers who received a joint letter from the attorneys general.
The other nine companies — American Eagle, Payless, Coach, Forever 21, Vans, Justice Just for Girls, BCBG Maxazria, Tilly’s Inc. and Uniqlo — say they don’t use on-call scheduling or have recently ended it.
Other retailers have changed their practices. Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, rolled out a new scheduling system in July in about 650 Neighborhood Market stores that gives hourly workers more certainty about their schedules.
