Schedules That Work Act
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
Introduced
Summary
Predictable schedules are the core aim of the Schedules That Work Act. It would create a statutory right for many hourly workers to request schedule changes and would set rules for advance notice, pay for short‑notice changes, minimum rest between shifts, and split‑shift pay.
Show full summary
- Workers and families: The bill would give employees in covered sectors the right to request changes to hours, on‑call status, work location, and notice. Employers would have to provide at least 14 days' schedule notice or pay predictability pay, and could not require shifts that start less than 11 hours after the prior shift without the employee's written consent.
- Employers: The bill would require posting schedules, providing a minimum expected monthly hours estimate, and paying a split‑shift premium equal to one extra hour. Failing to give required advance notice would trigger a $75 per day penalty per affected employee.
- Enforcement and federal workplaces: The Secretary of Labor would have 180 days to issue rules, including designations of other covered occupations, and would get investigatory powers. The bill would allow private and agency enforcement and establish civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Workers can sue for scheduling violations
If enacted, you could sue or ask the Secretary of Labor to act if your employer breaks the scheduling rules. You could recover wages or benefits denied, interest, and possibly liquidated damages. Employers who willfully and repeatedly break rules could face civil penalties of $500–$1,000 or $1,100–$5,000 per violation. Most claims would have a 2-year deadline, or 3 years for willful violations.
Predictable schedules and pay rules
If enacted, employers in covered sectors would have to post schedules at least 14 days before work and give new hires a schedule by their first day. If a required schedule is not provided, each affected employee would get $75 per day. Schedule changes with less than 14 days' notice would require predictability pay: one extra hour at your regular rate for added or moved shifts with no net loss, and at least half your regular rate for canceled or reduced hours. Split shifts and short-rest hours would also get extra pay, and those premiums would be shown on your pay stub.
Labor secretary can add covered jobs
If enacted, the Secretary of Labor would have 180 days to write rules and to decide whether to add more occupations to the law. The Secretary could add jobs when at least 10% of workers in that occupation get less than 14 days' notice or have big schedule swings. Other federal agencies would have to issue similar rules for certain federal employees within 180 days, though they could adjust rules for good cause with a stated reason.
Right to request schedule changes
If enacted, you would be able to ask your employer to change hours, on-call time, work times, or location. Employers would have to engage in a timely, good-faith interactive process and then grant or deny the request. Requests tied to serious health, caregiving, school or another job would have to be granted unless the employer shows a bona fide business reason for denial.
Government research and pilot programs
If enacted, the Secretary would run pilot programs testing fair scheduling practices like three weeks' notice, minimum hours, cross-training, and electronic scheduling. The Department would give guidance and technical help to employers and workers. The Census and BLS would add schedule questions to national surveys to track advance notice and schedule fluctuation.
Union and other laws still protect workers
If enacted, the bill would set minimum scheduling rights but would not replace stronger laws or union contracts. It would not override laws like the ADA, FMLA, NLRA, FLSA, or Title VII. The Act would not apply to employees covered by a valid collective bargaining agreement that includes scheduling terms and expressly waives the Act.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
CT • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]
NC • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Ansari
AZ • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
OR • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]
IL • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Carson, Andre [D-IN-7]
IN • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35]
TX • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
IL • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Garcia, Jesus G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
CT • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
MA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]
VA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1]
NJ • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
ME • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
IL • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
MS • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
IL • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
FL • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]
MN • D
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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