Under the Fair Workweek Law, retail and fast food employers in New York City must give workers predictable work schedules.

Also, fast food employers:

  • Must give existing workers the chance to work more hours before hiring new workers
  • Can't fire or lay off workers or reduce their hours by more than 15% without just cause or a legitimate economic reason

Fast food and retail workers and employers in New York City can get more information and assistance from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) about:

  • Legal rights for fast food and retail workers
  • Legal responsibilities for fast food and retail employers
  • Complaints about employers

Online

By Phone

A DCWP representative can answer questions during regular business hours.

Call 311 for assistance.

Retail worker rights under the Fair Workweek Law include:

  • 72 hours’ advance notice of work schedule
  • No on-call shifts
  • No call-in shifts within 72 hours of the start of the shift
  • No shift cancellations with less than 72 hours’ notice
  • No shift additions with less than 72 hours’ notice unless worker consents in writing
  • Updated written schedule from employers if changes are made with less than 72 hours’ notice

Fast food worker rights include:

  • No firing or reduction of hours without just cause
  • No layoffs except for economic reasons
  • Written explanation for firing, reduction of hours, or layoff
  • Regular schedule and first work schedule in writing on or before first day of work
  • 14 days’ advance notice of work schedule
  • Premium pay for schedule changes by employer less than 14 days before the first shift on the work schedule and the right to say no to additional hours
  • $100 premium to work "clopening" shifts and the right to say no
  • Priority to laid-off or current workers to work newly available shifts before employer hires new employees

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