Disney, Aeropostale, Carter’s, David’s Tea, PacSun, and Zumiez said Tuesday that they will stop requiring their retail employees to work “on call” shifts. The practice requires those employees to call in before a shift to determine whether they need to show up that day—something that often forces low-wage workers to keep a day open and arrange things like child care, only to discover that they don’t need to work and won’t even be compensated for their time.
On-demand work schedules have been shown to increase employee stress and impact things like the ability to pursue an education. Under pressure from employee-rights groups, some retailers have agreed to assign work schedules in advance. Last year, retailers including the Gap, Urban Outfitters, and Victoria’s Secret, made a similar pledge. But it’s unclear if the agreements will help retailers avoid new regulations. Legislators in New York City, for instance, recently proposed a package of bills that would force employers to set more regular schedules for low-wage workers.