Oregon lawmakers have approved the nation's first statewide law on predictable scheduling for employees.
Starting in July 2018, the state would require large employers in the hospitality industry to give hourly workers at least seven days advance notice of which shifts they're working. In three years, that lead time increases to two full weeks.
The bill would apply to businesses with more than 500 employees at all worldwide locations, and only those in the retail, restaurant and hotel sectors. Service industry workers had testified that employers often call them in at the last minute and threaten their jobs if they don't show up.
Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Clackamas, owns several fast food restaurants that would be affected by the law — and she supports it. She said the idea is to give low-wage employees more time to plan around their work schedules.
"As a working mom and a business owner, I 100 percent understand how hard it is to balance work and family," Bynum said.
The measure received bipartisan support, but opponents, including Rep. Carl Wilson, R-Grants Pass, said it was too hard on employers.
"This is just one of a panoply of anti-business bills that makes it harder to employ people," he said. "And as we all know, it's better to have a job than to not have a job."
The measure now heads to the desk of Gov. Kate Brown, who is expected to sign it.
