Source: https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3860317&GUID=F97F44AA-CCC8-470B-998E-C3C35A5C0717&Options=Advanced&Search=
Timestamp: 2019-08-21 14:52:42
Document Index: 288819439

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 20', '§ 20', '§ 20', '§ 20', '§ 20', '§ 20', '§ 20', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§ 4']

The New York City Council - File #: Int 1415-2019
File #: Int 1415-2019 Version: * Name: Wrongful discharge from employment.
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to wrongful discharge from employment
Sponsors: Brad S. Lander, Adrienne E. Adams, Diana Ayala , Fernando Cabrera , Justin L. Brannan, Rory I. Lancman, Mathieu Eugene, Francisco P. Moya, Helen K. Rosenthal, Carlos Menchaca, Ben Kallos, Antonio Reynoso, Mark Levine, James G. Van Bramer, Rafael Salamanca, Jr., Margaret S. Chin, Carlina Rivera , Mark Treyger, Stephen T. Levin, Andy L. King, Laurie A. Cumbo, Robert F. Holden, Ritchie J. Torres, Rafael L. Espinal, Jr., Ydanis A. Rodriguez, Donovan J. Richards
Summary: This proposed bill would prohibit fast food employers from terminating the employment of a fast food employee without just cause. This proposed bill provides for arbitration guidelines to mediate disputes between fast food employers and fast food employees and specific remedies for those terminated for just cause.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1415, 2. Int. No. 1415, 3. February 13, 2019 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 2-13-19
2/13/2019 * Brad S. Lander City Council Referred to Comm by Council Action details Meeting details Not available
2/13/2019 * Brad S. Lander City Council Introduced by Council Action details Meeting details Not available
Int. No. 1415
By Council Members Lander, Adams, Ayala, Cabrera, Brannan, Lancman, Eugene, Moya, Rosenthal, Menchaca, Kallos, Reynoso, Levine, Van Bramer, Salamanca, Chin, Rivera, Treyger, Levin, King, Cumbo, Holden, Torres, Espinal, Rodriguez and Richards
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to wrongful discharge from employment
Section 1. Chapter 12 of title 20 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new subchapter 7 to read as follows:
§ 20-1271 Definitions. As used in this subchapter, the following terms have the following meanings:
Discharge. The term “discharge” means any cessation of employment, including termination, constructive discharge, reduction in hours and indefinite suspension.
Just cause. The term “just cause” means the fast food employee’s failure to satisfactorily perform job duties or misconduct that is demonstrably and materially harmful to the fast food employer’s legitimate business interests.
Probation period. The term “probation period” means a defined period of time, not to exceed 30 days from the time of hire, whereby fast food employers and fast food employees are free, at any time, with or without notice and with or without just cause, to end the employment relationship.
Progressive discipline. The term “progressive discipline” means a disciplinary system that provides a graduated range of reasonable responses to a fast food employee’s failure to satisfactorily perform such fast food employee’s job duties, with the disciplinary measures ranging from mild to severe, depending on the frequency and degree of the failure. Nothing herein shall preclude a fast food employer from terminating a fast food employee immediately for a sufficiently egregious failure or misconduct constituting just cause.
Reduction in hours. The term “reduction in hours” means a reduction in a fast food employee’s hours of work totaling at least 15 percent of the employee’s weekly work schedule.
§ 20-1272 Prohibition of wrongful discharge. A fast food employer shall not discharge a fast food employee who has completed such employer’s probation period except for just cause.
§ 20-1273 Administrative enforcement. a. In addition to section 20-1207, in determining whether a fast food employee has been terminated for just cause, the office shall consider, in addition to any other relevant factors, whether:
1. The fast food employee knew or should have known of the fast food employer’s policy, rule or practice;
2. The fast food employer provided relevant and adequate training to the fast food employee;
3. The fast food employer’s policy, rule or practice was reasonable and applied consistently; and
4. The fast food employer undertook a fair and objective investigation.
b. A termination shall not be considered based on just cause unless the fast food employer has utilized progressive discipline; provided, however, that the fast food employer may not rely on discipline issued more than one year before the purported just cause termination.
c. The fast food employer shall promptly provide a written explanation to any terminated fast food employee of the precise reasons for the just cause termination. In determining whether a fast food employer had just cause for termination, the office may not consider any reasons not included in such written explanation.
d. The fast food employer shall bear the burden of proving just cause by a preponderance of non-hearsay evidence in any proceeding brought pursuant to this chapter.
§ 20-1274 Private cause of action. a. In addition to section 20-1211, in determining whether a fast food employee has been terminated for just cause, a court of competent jurisdiction shall consider, in addition to any other relevant factors, whether:
c. The fast food employer shall promptly provide a written explanation to any terminated fast food employee of the precise reasons for the just cause termination. In determining whether a fast food employer had just cause for termination, a fact finder may not consider any reasons not included in such written explanation.
e. In addition to remedies that may be ordered pursuant to section 20-1211, a court of competent jurisdiction shall also order reasonable attorney’s fees and costs for violations of this subchapter.
§ 20-1275 Arbitration. a. Except as otherwise provided by law, any person claiming to be aggrieved by a fast food employer’s violation of this chapter may bring an arbitration proceeding, including on a class or collective basis, for back pay and benefits and other damages, including punitive damages, for reinstatement, restoration of hours, and other injunctive relief, and for such other remedies as may be appropriate. In an arbitration proceeding brought pursuant to this section, if the arbitrator finds in favor of the plaintiff, it shall award such person, in addition to other relief, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
b. An arbitration demand, and any amendments thereto, must be served on the fast food employer at any of the employer’s business addresses by regular mail, electronic mail, or private mail service, and must include a general description of the alleged violation(s) but need not reference the precise section(s) alleged to have been violated.
c. The parties to an arbitration proceeding shall jointly select the arbitrator from a panel of arbitrators, the number of which shall be determined by the office, chosen by a committee of eight participants established by the office comprised of:
1. Two fast food employees;
2. Two fast food employee advocates;
3. Two fast food employers; and
4. Two fast food employer advocates.
d. If an insufficient number of fast food employees, fast food employee advocates, fast food employers or fast food employer advocates agree to participate in the committee pursuant to subdivision c of this section, the office shall consult with those that have agreed to participate and select individuals to fill the requisite number of openings on the committee.
e. If the committee pursuant to subdivision c of this section is unable to select a sufficient number of arbitrators for the panel as determined by the office, the office shall select the remaining arbitrators.
f. If the parties are unable to agree on an arbitrator, the office shall select an arbitrator from the panel.
g. The office shall provide translation services to any party requiring such services for the arbitration hearing.
h. The arbitration hearing shall be held at a location designated by the office. Such arbitration shall be subject to the labor arbitration rules established by the american arbitration association.
i. If a fast food employee brings an arbitration proceeding, arbitration shall be the exclusive remedy for the wrongful discharge dispute and there is no right to bring or continue a private cause of action or administrative complaint under this chapter, unless such arbitration proceeding has been withdrawn or dismissed without prejudice.
j. In determining whether a fast food employee has been terminated for just cause, an arbitrator shall consider, in addition to any other relevant factors, whether:
k. A termination shall not be considered based on just cause unless the fast food employer has utilized progressive discipline; provided, however, that the fast food employer may not rely on discipline issued more than one year before the purported just cause termination.
l. The fast food employer shall promptly provide a written explanation to any terminated fast food employee of the precise reasons for the just cause termination. In determining whether a fast food employer had just cause for termination, an arbiter may not consider any reasons not included in such written explanation.
m. The fast food employer shall bear the burden of proving just cause by a preponderance of non-hearsay evidence in any arbitration proceeding brought pursuant to this chapter.
§ 20-1276 Applicability of Schedule Change Premiums. A fast food employee terminated for just cause shall be entitled to schedule pay premiums pursuant to section 20-1222, as applicable.
§ 20-1277 Exemptions. This subchapter does not:
a. Apply to any fast food employee who:
1. Is covered by a collective bargaining agreement if such agreement expressly waives the provisions of this subchapter and provides comparable or superior benefits for fast food employees; or
2. Is currently employed within a probationary period pursuant to section 20-1272;
b. Preempt, limit or otherwise affect the applicability of any provisions of any other law, regulation, requirement, policy or standard.
§ 2. Subdivision a of section 20-1208 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as amended by local law number 69 for the year 2018, is amended to read as follows:
a. For violations of this chapter, the office may grant the following relief to employees or former employees;
(f) Subdivision a of section 20-1251, the greater of $500 or such employee’s actual damages; [and]
(g) Subdivisions a and b of section 20-1252, $300; [and]
(h) Subdivision a or b of section 20-1262, $500 and an order directing compliance with such subdivision, provided, however, that an employer who fails to provide an employee with the written response required by subdivision a of section 20-1262 may cure the violation without a penalty being imposed by presenting proof to the satisfaction of the office that it provided the employee with the required written response within seven days of the office notifying the employer of the opportunity to cure[.]; and
(i) Section 20-1272, $500 for each violation, an order directing compliance with section 20-1272 and reinstatement of any fast food employee terminated and payment of back pay for any loss of pay or benefits resulting from the wrongful discharge.
§ 3. Subdivisions a of section 20-1211 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 107 for the year 2017, is amended to read as follows:
6. Section 20-1251; [and]
7. Subdivisions a and b of section 20-1252; and
8. Section 20-1272.
§ 4. This local law takes effect 180 days after it becomes law, provided that in the case of employees covered by a valid collective bargaining agreement in effect on such date, this local law takes effect on the date of the termination of such agreement, and provided further that the director of the office of labor standards may take such measures as are necessary for the implementation of this local law, including the promulgation of rules, before such effective date.
LS # 5226
2/7/19; 10:47 a.m.