"DavidsTea faces simmering challenge over labour practices in the United States", 13 April 2016

...DavidsTea is facing a simmering challenge in the United States over alleged use of "on-call" shifts to control labour costs.

Attorneys general in New York and eight other jurisdictions have sent letters to 15 retailers, including...DavidsTea, seeking information about their use of a scheduling practice that requires employees to call before a shift to find out if they are required to work.

The letter asks DavidsTea confirm its use of the controversial scheduling practice and submit information and documents...

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said that on-call shifts are unfair because unpredictable work schedules make it difficult for employees to arrange reliable childcare or other pursuits while adding to stress and strain on family life.

DavidsTea didn't respond to several requests for comment.

During a conference call... company executives acknowledged they were working to offset wage pressures in Canada and the U.S. — particularly in California and New York — from market forces and legislative changes.

"We're obviously looking to continue to have scheduling effectiveness and to improve and refine our staffing model but we're not able to completely offset it," chief financial officer Luis Borgen told analysts.

DavidsTea was reminded by officials that some U.S. states have call-in pay laws...