RAMONA GIWARGIS

San Jose: New law giving part-timers access to more hours begins Monday

SAN JOSE — San Jose businesses with 36 or more employees must now offer extra shifts to part-time workers before hiring new staff, under a landmark law approved by voters last year.

San Jose’s Opportunity to Work measure, the first legislation of its kind in the country, took effect Monday, changing how some San Jose employers schedule and hire workers.

Under the new legislation, companies must offer — in writing — extra work hours to existing qualified part-time employees. If those employees aren’t qualified or decline the extra hours, an employer can then hire additional workers to fill the shifts. The idea, advocates say, is to give existing workers access to extra hours to boost their paychecks.

Labor leaders, including council members Raul Peralez, Donald Rocha, Sylvia Arenas and Sergio Jimenez, gathered at City Hall on Monday to highlight how the new law works. READ MORE