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Ensuring that our neighbors’ worker rights are protected in their workplaces is a constant battle. From predictable schedules to protection from wrongful terminations, these workers are entitled to rights and safeguards under New York City’s workplace laws, and we will continue to educate workers and take actions against businesses that violate those rights.
Last month, we announced more than $2.6 million in relief secured for more than 3,400 workers from five major businesses to resolve violations of our Fair Workweek Law and Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law. Among them, businesses like Burlington Coat Factory paid over $1.3 million in restitution for failing to give workers adequate notice of schedules and added hours to workers’ schedules without consent. And iconic New York City restaurant, Tavern on the Green, refused to give workers paid safe and sick time, and had to pay more than $150,000 in restitution to those workers.
We also just recently filed our third wrongful termination lawsuit against Starbucks for firing longtime barista Karmen Rich after our investigation found that Starbucks did not have just cause to fire Ms. Rich. In New York City, under our Fair Workweek Law, fast food workers cannot be fired for a single policy violation unless the violation involves dangerous or illegal conduct. We rely on and encourage workers to come forward to let us know about potential violations of their rights so we can take action.
Since 2014, DCWP has received more than 13,600 complaints about potential workplace violations, closed more than 6,500 investigations, and secured more than $65 million in restitution and civil penalties for over 75,500 workers across all workplace cases. Since the start of the Adams administration, DCWP has secured more than $46 million in restitution for nearly 29,200 workers.
Workers can visit nyc.gov/workers or call 311 for more information about their rights and to file a complaint. Businesses can learn more about how to comply with the City’s workplace laws at nyc.gov/BusinessToolbox or by calling 311.
Vilda Vera Mayuga is the Commissioner for the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. Learn more about DCWP’s Office of Labor Policy & Standards—NYC’s central resource for workers—at nyc.gov/workers.
