Under the Fair Workweek Law, fast food, retail, and utility safety 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 
  • Cannot fire or lay off workers or reduce their hours by more than 15% without just cause or a legitimate economic reason

Fast food, retail, and utility safety 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, retail, and utility safety workers
  • Legal responsibilities for fast food, retail, and utility safety employers
  • Complaints about employers

Online

By Phone

A DCWP representative can answer questions during regular business hours.

Call 311 for assistance.

Retail and utility safety 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