Los Angeles proposes predictable schedules and paid rights training for fast-food staff
The L.A. City Council is set to vote on an ordinance that would extend Fair Work Week rules to fast-food workers, adding advance-notice scheduling and a six-hour paid labor-rights training.
Los Angeles officials are considering an ordinance that would broaden the 2024 Fair Work Week law to cover fast-food restaurants, mandating two-week advance scheduling and a six-hour paid training on labor rights. The measure, approved by the council's economic development and jobs committee, moves to a full council vote on Tuesday. Support comes from the California Fast Food Workers Union, which says many employees are unaware of protections related to heat exposure and unsafe conditions.
Opponents, led by the California Restaurant Assn., warn the rule could increase operating costs, duplicate existing regulations, and expose workers' personal data to third-party trainers, referencing a McDonald’s-commissioned study where about 70.6% of surveyed workers opposed the training. The fast-food sector employs over 750,000 Californians, making the proposal significant for both labor advocates and restaurant owners.
Why it matters
The ordinance could reshape scheduling and training standards for a large, vulnerable workforce in a major U.S. city.
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