Pennsylvania . Predictability . Updated April 2026

Philadelphia's Fair Workweek: Mandating 14-day advance notice for retail, food, and hospitality schedules.

The Philadelphia Fair Workweek Employment Ordinance requires covered employers in the retail, food service, and hospitality industries to provide employees with their work schedules at least 14 days in advance. Changes made with less notice can trigger predictability pay, compensating employees for last-minute adjustments to their work lives.

Jurisdiction
Philadelphia, PA
Applies to
Retail, Food, Hospitality
Advance Notice
14 Days
Active

Philadelphia Fair Workweek

Ensures predictable scheduling and compensation for last-minute changes for eligible employees.

Predictability Pay
Advance Notice
Always running

What those rules do as a Pennsylvania shift is created.

Teambridge applies the Philadelphia Fair Workweek ordinance at the point of schedule creation and modification, ensuring compliance dynamically. This means that as you build or adjust schedules, the system instantly evaluates potential violations and calculates any required predictability pay.

Advance Schedule Notice Flag

When a shift is scheduled less than 14 days in advance for a covered employee, Teambridge flags the shift, alerting the scheduler to the potential for predictability pay obligations.

Predictability Pay Calculation

If a schedule change occurs with less than 7 days' notice, Teambridge automatically calculates and applies predictability pay, typically at one hour of the employee's regular rate of pay for each change, or half their rate for specific types of changes.

Shift Modification Impact Analysis

Before confirming a shift modification, Teambridge provides an immediate impact analysis, showing any associated predictability pay and allowing managers to adjust schedules to minimize costs where possible.

Ready to simplify Pennsylvania compliance?

See how Teambridge can put your entire workforce on autopilot, ensuring compliance with Philadelphia's Fair Workweek and all other relevant state and local regulations.

The rule, plainly stated

Philadelphia Fair Workweek ensures predictable schedules for retail, food, and hospitality workers.

The Philadelphia Fair Workweek Employment Ordinance, enacted in 2018, aims to provide greater stability and predictability for employees in covered industries. It mandates advance notice for schedules and provides compensation for last-minute changes, empowering employees to better plan their lives outside of work.

Philadelphia Code, Title 9, Chapter 9-4700 (Fair Workweek Employment Ordinance)

Requires covered employers to provide employees with a written work schedule at least 14 days before the first day of the schedule. Employers must provide "predictability pay" for certain schedule changes made with less than 7 days' notice, or for changes made within 24 hours of the shift.

Who is covered by the Fair Workweek Ordinance?

The ordinance applies to "covered employers" and "covered employees" within the City of Philadelphia. A "covered employer" is primarily engaged in retail, food service, or hospitality, and has 250 or more employees globally, or 30 or more locations globally. "Covered employees" are non-exempt employees working for a covered employer within Philadelphia.

It's important to note that the employee count includes all employees globally, not just those within Philadelphia, and includes both full-time and part-time staff. This broad definition means many national chains with a presence in Philadelphia are subject to the ordinance.

Predictability Pay Details

Predictability pay is required when an employer changes an employee's schedule with less than 7 days' notice. The amount of predictability pay depends on the timing and nature of the change:

  • Changes with less than 7 days' notice but more than 24 hours' notice: The employer must pay the employee one hour of predictability pay at their regular rate for each shift reduced by more than one hour, or for each shift added.
  • Changes with less than 24 hours' notice: The employer must pay the employee for half of the scheduled hours for any shift canceled or reduced by more than one hour. If a shift is added with less than 24 hours' notice, the employee receives one hour of predictability pay at their regular rate.

There are specific exceptions to predictability pay requirements, such as mutual agreement in writing, employee-initiated changes, or unforeseen circumstances outside the employer's control (e.g., natural disaster, utility failure).

On autopilot

Teambridge automates Philadelphia Fair Workweek compliance from schedule creation to payroll.

Navigating the nuances of Philadelphia's Fair Workweek ordinance manually can be a significant administrative burden. Teambridge integrates these complex rules directly into your scheduling workflow, ensuring compliance is inherent in every decision.

01 . Schedule Building

Real-time Notice Alerts

As managers build schedules, Teambridge instantly highlights any shifts that fall outside the 14-day advance notice window, providing immediate feedback and allowing for proactive adjustments.

02 . Schedule Modifications

Automated Predictability Pay Calculations

When a schedule change is made with less than the required notice, Teambridge automatically calculates the appropriate predictability pay based on the timing and type of modification, ensuring accurate compensation.

03 . Employee Communication

Transparent Schedule Updates

All schedule changes and associated predictability pay are clearly communicated to affected employees through the Teambridge app, fostering transparency and reducing disputes.

04 . Payroll Integration

Seamless Pay Processing

Calculated predictability pay is seamlessly integrated into your payroll system, ensuring employees are compensated correctly without manual intervention, reducing errors and saving time.

FAQ

People also ask.

What industries are covered by the Philadelphia Fair Workweek Ordinance?
The ordinance primarily covers employers in the retail, food service, and hospitality industries. This includes businesses like restaurants, cafes, bars, hotels, and retail stores.
What is the minimum number of employees for an employer to be covered?
An employer is covered if they are primarily engaged in retail, food service, or hospitality and have 250 or more employees globally, or 30 or more locations globally. This includes full-time, part-time, and temporary employees.
What is "predictability pay" under this ordinance?
Predictability pay is additional compensation given to employees when their schedule is changed with less than 7 days' notice. The amount varies based on how much notice is given and the nature of the change (e.g., adding a shift, reducing hours, canceling a shift).
Are there any exceptions to providing predictability pay?
Yes, exceptions exist, including when employees mutually agree to a schedule change in writing, when an employee initiates a change, or when changes are due to certain unforeseen circumstances outside the employer's control, such as natural disasters or utility failures.
What is the penalty for non-compliance with the Philadelphia Fair Workweek Ordinance?
Violations can result in fines and damages. Employees can file a complaint with the City of Philadelphia's Office of Labor Standards, which can investigate and order back pay, predictability pay, and civil penalties.
Does this ordinance apply to salaried employees?
No, the Philadelphia Fair Workweek Ordinance applies only to "covered employees," which are defined as non-exempt employees. Salaried, exempt employees are generally not covered by the provisions of this ordinance.