Oregon lawmakers have set scheduling regulations as a legislative priority for 2017, putting the state on track to become the first to adopt shift-change restrictions like the ones recently enacted by Seattle and San Francisco.
“It’s going to be a big deal,” Sen. Michael Dembrow, a Democratic leader, told a local news website, BendBulletin.com.
Success in pushing through so-called secure scheduling regulations could add momentum to the spread of the measures, which prohibit employers like restaurants from making last-minute changes in shift schedules. The measures in Seattle, in San Francisco and under consideration for New York City require employers to set schedules at least 14 days in advance and pay a penalty if hours are changed.
The law approved by Seattle’s City Council and proposed by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also restrict restaurants’ ability to hire. Both require that restaurants increase the hours of current staff before they hire new people.
Secure scheduling regulations are being pushed by unions, who argue that the measures provide more income predictability to hourly workers.
Legislation has also been proposed this year, unsuccessfully, in Minneapolis and Washington, D.C.
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