Urban Outfitters to End On-Call Scheduling in New York

ALBANY, N.Y.—Urban Outfitters will end on-call scheduling at its stores in New York state, becoming the latest retailer to respond to Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's inquiry into the practice of requiring workers to report for shifts on short notice.

The Philadelphia-based retailer plans to phase in the change next month, Mr. Schneiderman said. The company agreed to provide New York employees with work schedules at least one week in advance, he said.

Urban Outfitters didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

"Workers deserve basic protections, including a reliable work schedule that allows them to budget living expenses, arrange for child care needs, and plan their days," Mr. Schneiderman said.

In April, his office wrote to 13 major retailers questioning the on-call practice. The letter also cited possible violations of New York's requirement to pay hourly staff for at least four hours when they report for work.

Other retailers with agreements are L. Brands' Bath & Body Works and Victoria's Secret for their U.S. stores, as well as Abercrombie & Fitch and Gap Inc.

San Francisco-based Gap said its decision also applies to its other brands, including Banana Republic, Old Navy and Athleta, and the change will apply "across our global organization."

New Albany, Ohio-based Abercrombie said it would discontinue call-in shift scheduling in New York by year's end, with a long-term goal of ending it nationally, with the change also applying its other brands Hollister and Abercrombie Kids.

Mr. Schneiderman's office also sent letters to J. Crew Group Inc., Burlington Stores Inc., TJX Companies, Target Corp., Sears Holdings Corp., Williams-Sonoma, Inc., Crocs, Inc., Ann Inc. and J.C. Penney Co., Inc.

He previously targeted New York employers who cheated or underpaid low-wage workers, getting more than $17 million in restitution for about 14,000 workers from fast food franchise owners, construction contractors and others.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press

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October 07, 2015 11:55 ET (15:55 GMT)

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