A new Berkeley ordinance will require fast-food restaurants, hotels, retail chains and several other businesses to give their employees more predictable work schedules.
Called the Fair Work Week Ordinance, the legislation mandates that certain large employers give lower-wage workers their shift schedules at least two weeks in advance, and pay a bonus if they need to call employees in or cancel shifts on short notice.
The City Council approved the legislation during a special meeting Monday night over objections from some business groups. Unions and other advocates for workers backed the ordinance, which goes into effect a year from now, saying the new rules will make it easier for employees to balance commitments like second or third jobs, schoolwork and child care.
“Low-wage, part-time workers have a lot of insecurity in their work life,” said Councilmember Kate Harrison, who authored the ordinance. “They often have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet, so when schedules change without much notice it can really upend their entire life.”
Several other cities have passed similar ordinances, including Emeryville, San Francisco and Chicago. Supporters described Berkeley’s ordinance as the most expansive of its kind since it applies to a...
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