Predictive scheduling laws 2023: What changed?

Update: Take a look at your state labor law guide to see if there are any predictive scheduling laws in your state as of 2022. 

From coast to coast, cities in the U.S.—and one state—are implementing predictive scheduling laws. These laws protect hourly employees by requiring a new kind of scheduling practice. 

Legislation varies by jurisdiction. However, they all have one thing in common. You must give advance notice of schedules so employees can plan their lives around their shifts. 

Let’s take a look at what changed this year, as well as laws that were already in effect before 2022. 

Oregon

In Oregon the predictive scheduling law affects employers in the retail, hospitality, and food service industries that have at least 500 employees. 

The previous law required employers to provide written work schedules at least seven days in advance. On July 1, 2020, that requirement jumped to 14 days in advance. The law also requires employers to provide a good faith estimate of hours upon hiring and a rest period of at least 10 hours between shifts (or time-and-a-half pay if the employee agrees to forgo the rest period).

View further details of the law.

Chicago, IL

On 1, 2020, predictive scheduling laws under Chicago’s Fair Workweek Ordinance took effect for businesses with at least 100 employees, nonprofit organizations with more than 250 employees, and restaurants with at least 30 locations and 250 employees. 

The ordinance pertains to healthcare providers, hotels and manufacturers, building services, and retail and food service businesses. Employers within these industries must post schedules for employees who earn less than or equal to $26.00 per hour or less than $50,000 a year 10 days in advance. The notice requirement will increase to 14 days on July 1, 2022. 

If you change the schedule without the consent of the affected employee, you must pay the employee an extra hour of Predictability Pay (which equals the employee’s regular pay rate) for each altered shift. 

Employees may also refuse to work a shift that starts less than 10 hours after a previous shift, and if they do work a shift that starts in this manner, they must receive 1.25 times their regular pay rate. 

View further details of the law.

Philadelphia, PA 

Employers with at least 250 employees and 30 locations must post schedules 14 days in advance since April 1, 2020. If you change the schedule after giving the advance notice (less than 14 days before the schedule), you must pay affected employees one hour of predictability pay. 

You must also give employees a nine-hour rest period in between shifts. 

View further details of the law.

San Francisco, CA

Employers with at least 40 retail establishments worldwide and 20 or more employees worldwide must provide schedules two weeks in advance. 

In addition to giving schedules two weeks in advance, employers must provide an initial estimate of an employee’s work schedule, including on-call shifts, upon hiring. Employees must be compensated for schedule changes based on the amount of notice given. Also, businesses must treat part-time and full-time employees equally in terms of pay, time off, and promotion eligibility.

View further details of the law.

Emeryville, CA

Retail employers with at least 56 employees worldwide and fast food employers with 56 employees worldwide as well as 20 employees in Emeryville must provide a “good faith estimate” as part of their predictive scheduling laws. This means you should provide schedules at least 14 days in advance. If you don’t, you must give the employees “Predictability Pay.”

You must also pay employees time-and-a-half if you schedule them with two shifts within 11 hours of each other for every hour within that 11-hour window.

View further details of the law.

New York City

Fast food employers with at least 30 locations nationally and retail employers with at least 20 employees must follow NYC’s Fair Workweek Package. The legislation prohibits retail employers from implementing “on-call scheduling” within 72 hours of the shift. Fast food employers may not schedule shifts within 11 hours of each other. If the rule is broken, you must pay that employee $100.

Fast food employers must also provide a scheduling estimate when hiring a new employee, as well as a 14-day notice of schedules.

View further details of the law.

Seattle, WA

Retail and food service businesses with at least 500 employees worldwide must provide a good faith estimate of how many hours an employee can expect to work when they are hired. They cannot schedule shifts within 10 hours of each other, unless an employee consents to work for a time-and-a-half rate. These employers must provide schedules 14 days in advance. If they don’t, they must pay workers for at least an extra hour.

View further details of the law.

Remember this is not official legal advice. If you have any concerns, it’s best to consult an employment lawyer. 

If you’re a business owner in one of these cities, it’s important to make sure you stay compliant. Using an automated solution such as Homebase’s Scheduling App will take the difficulty out of avoiding fines and lawsuits. Consider saying goodbye to spreadsheets and hello to smarter schedules and happier employees today.