NY attorney general questions 13 retailers practices for on-call staff, pay for short shifts

New York's attorney general has launched an inquiry into 13 retailers, questioning whether they require workers remain on-call for short-notice shifts and pay for less than four hours when employees report for work, a practice not legal in New York.

The letters are to Gap Inc., Abercrombie & Fitch, J. Crew Group Inc., L. Brands, Burlington Coat Factory, TJX Companies, Urban Outfitters, Target Corp., Sears Holding Corp., Williams Sonoma Inc., Crocs, Ann Inc. and jcpenney Co. Inc.

The attorney general's office says it has received reports of more employers requiring hourly workers stay on-call for shifts set the night before or the same day, including these 13.

Labor Bureau chief Terri Gerstein says that gives many workers too little time to arrange for other work or family needs.