Following in the footsteps of fellow retailer Victoria’s Secret, Abercrombie & Fitch announced that it will no longer use the on-call method of scheduling, which required workers to be available for a shift at a moment’s notice. Or, on the other hand, find out they’d be staying home for an upcoming shift, not getting paid.

In April, New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman warned 13 major retail companies, including Abercrombie, Target, Sears and Gap, that some stores may be violating state law by using on-call scheduling systems.

It seems Abercrombie was listening, as the company says it’s working on phasing out on-call work schedules, where employees may only have a few hours notice before they’re expected to be at work — or to find out whether they’ll be at home, not getting paid.

“Over time we will discontinue the use of call-in shifts throughout the United States, and will begin that process in New York this September,” a spokesperson for Abercrombie told CBS MoneyWatch. “We believe that this change is beneficial to our store associates, and reflects our commitment to creating a positive work environment.”

The retailer’s hourly and shift workers won’t have to keep a spot open in their schedules for shifts they might not end up working, and will receive a list of their scheduled shifts a week in advance, the company said in a letter to Schneiderman’s office.

Because there are some people who might appreciate a last-minute shift, Abercrombie says it will ask workers if they’d like to get email alerts notifying them when a shift pops up unexpectedly. Even if staffers choose to get those alerts, they won’t be obliged to work those suddenly available shifts.

Abercrombie & Fitch to end on-call work schedules [CBS MoneyWatch]

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