NYC Fast-Food Worker Law Shines Light on ‘Just Cause’ Policies

The odds are against a flood of new “just cause” employee termination laws that mirror New York City’s new fast-food worker protections, but even a trickle could be a major change for employers and workers.

The New York law, once it takes effect in July, will bar fast-food employers from firing workers without a good reason and require the employer to prove the reason if a worker contests their termination, plus require a progressive discipline process before most firings. Worker advocates and management-side employment lawyers alike say it’s a huge shift and a rare law that contradicts the U.S. ...