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Maine Enacts Law Requiring Employers to Pay Workers Who Report to Cancelled or Reduced Shifts

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A new law in Maine is set to take effect on September 24, 2025, requiring certain employers to pay workers who report to work but have their shifts cancelled or reduced by their employer. The law, enacted on June 24, 2025, primarily impacts businesses in the restaurant, retail, and tourism industries, which employ hourly workers. The law requires employers with at least ten employees for more than 120 days in a calendar year to compensate workers according to specific guidelines. Employers who make documented good-faith efforts to notify workers of cancelled shifts may be exempt from paying wages. However, employers may be subject to fines between $100 and $500 for each violation.

Key Takeaways:

  • The law applies to employers with at least ten employees for more than 120 days in a calendar year.
  • The compensation requirement is the lesser of two hours' worth of wages at the worker's regular pay rate or the total pay for the shift for which the employee was initially scheduled.
  • The rule does not apply to salaried employees who are exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA) overtime and minimum wage provisions.
  • Employers that make documented, good-faith efforts to notify workers not to report to their scheduled shifts will not be required to pay wages under the law.
  • Employees who report to work after an unsuccessful attempt by their employer to notify them of a cancelled shift must perform assigned duties if physically able.
  • The compensation requirement does not apply if an employee is unable to work due to adverse weather conditions, a natural disaster, a civil emergency, an illness or medical condition, or a workplace injury.
  • Employers may be subject to fines between $100 and $500 for each violation of the law.

Statistics:

  • At least ten employees are required for an employer to be subject to the law.
  • Employers must have more than 120 days of employees in a calendar year to be subject to the law.
  • The lesser of two hours' worth of wages at the worker's regular pay rate or the total pay for the shift for which the employee was initially scheduled is the required compensation.
  • Employers may be fined between $100 and $500 for each violation.

Sources:

  • Ogletree Deakins. "Maine Enacts Law Requiring Payment of Workers Who Report to Work but are Cut to a Shorter Shift."
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
  • Maine State Legislature. "An Act to Ensure Payment to Employees for Reporting to Work without Performing Hours when Shifts are Reduced or Cancelled" (June 24, 2025)

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