Gap to End On-Call Scheduling
August 26 2015 - 9:10PM
Dow Jones News
Gap Inc. is ending a controversial scheduling practice that
changed workers' schedules with little notice and vowed to give
workers at least 10 days notice as part of a push to improve
work-life balance, the company said Wednesday.
The announcement, which follows similar pledges by Abercrombie
& Fitch Co. and L Brands Inc., came in a blog post Wednesday
afternoon by Banana Republic President Andi Owen and was tied to
Women's Equality Day.
"We know that as a company women are vital to our success," said
Lauren Wilkinson, a representative for Gap, adding that women
represent about 74% of the company's workforce.
Women, Ms. Owen wrote, represent 73% of the company's store
managers and 64% of the company's senior officers.
Ms. Wilkinson said the San Francisco company, which operates the
Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic brands, started phasing out the
on-call scheduling system this summer and would end it by the end
of September. Also in September, company officials will start
giving workers at least 10 to 14 days' notice of schedules. The new
policies will be in force in stores across the U.S. by early
2016.
Ms. Wilkinson said company officials have reviewed the company's
international operations and found no need for adjustments.
"Overall, we feel confident with out scheduling system in other
countries," she said.
On-call scheduling allows retailers to adjust staffing levels
based on real-time sales and traffic information, requiring workers
to make themselves available for shifts with little notice or
canceling shifts also with little notice.
Gap was one of the retailers that received warning letters from
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman saying such practices
may violate state law
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. has said it would end on-call
scheduling by the end of the year. L Brands Inc.'s Victoria's
Secret has also agreed to cease the practice.
Write to Maria Armental at maria.armental@wsj.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 26, 2015 20:55 ET (00:55 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2015 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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