AGs Go After Firms with 'On-Call' Worker Policies

Attorneys-general from eight states, including California, have collaborated in an effort to rein in on-call worker policies that leave employees dangling and unable to do anything while waiting for a call to work that might never come. On-call policies demand that employees remain free to be summonsed to work if needed. The AGs sent a letter to 15 companies asking for details on their on-call policies and records of employees affected. The letter read in part: "Workers who must be 'on call' have difficulty making reliable childcare and elder-care arrangements, encounter obstacles in pursuing an education, and in general experience higher incidences of adverse health effects." The companies include American Eagle, Aeropostale, Payless, Disney, Coach, PacSun, Forever 21, Vans, Justice Just for Girls, BCBG Maxazria, Tilly's Inc. David's Tea, Zumiez, Uniglo and Carter's. California law requires companies to compensate workers with up to four hours of wages if they are ready for work but aren't called in, or if they are promised a long shift but work only part of it.