The City Council on Nov. 29 granted final approval to LA’s Fair Work Week, which Councilmember Curren Price co-introduced in 2019. The ordinance, which will go into effect April of 2023, makes work schedules more fair - among other protections - for workers at large retail establishments in the City.
The new policy will give an estimated 70,000 retail and grocery employees in Los Angeles 14-day advance notice of work schedules, making it easier to care for their families, schedule doctor’s visits or juggle work and school. It also guarantees:
- Predictability pay for last minute schedule changes or canceled shifts
- The right to accept or decline extra hours added on short notice
- Mandatory “rest periods” (workers will have at least 10 hours rest between shifts or will be given additional pay)
- The right to request scheduling accommodations (right to decline shifts that do not satisfy that requirement, even if their employers offer them overtime pay)
- Employers are required to provide a “good faith estimate” of the average work week and existing employees will be offered additional hours prior to new/temporary workers being hired
"As we enter the holiday shopping season, we are reminded of our responsibility to support and protect our retail and grocery workers – many of whom are workers of color and women and have been on the front lines through this pandemic,” said Councilmember Price. “We must recognize the gaps and wide range of concerns faced by our workers and put their needs over the profits of corporations. This is the least we can do to give them our sincere appreciation and thanks for the work that they do year-round.”