| Photo by Kevin Rajaram on Unsplash
NEW YORK — New York City’s recovery of more than $2.3 million in stolen or denied wages is being hailed as a major victory for frontline workers — including hundreds of Filipino Americans who make up a significant portion of the city’s retail, service, and healthcare workforce. Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the enforcement action this week, confirming that Walgreens, Allstar Security & Consulting, Calzedonia (Intimissimi), and Kinship Coffee were penalized for violating the city’s Fair Workweek and Protected Time Off laws.
For many Fil‑Am workers, especially those juggling multiple jobs or supporting family both in New York and back home, predictable schedules and guaranteed paid time off are not just legal protections — they are lifelines. “These laws exist because working families deserve stability on the job,” Mamdani said. “If corporations choose to break them, they will pay what they owe.”
The enforcement will deliver $2.1 million in restitution and more than $218,000 in civil penalties, benefiting over 1,600 workers citywide.
Walgreens Faces Largest Penalty; Filipino Workers Among Those Affected
Walgreens was hit with the largest penalty, ordered to pay over $1.6 million to more than 570 workers across three Brooklyn stores. Investigators found that the company failed to provide schedules with the required 72‑hour notice, assigned additional hours without consent, and violated other Fair Workweek provisions.
Fil‑Am workers are heavily represented in pharmacy retail, customer service, and shift‑based roles — sectors where unpredictable scheduling often disrupts childcare, church commitments, and community obligations. DCWP Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine underscored this impact: “Receiving a work schedule at the last minute or being wrongly denied time off can disrupt child‑care arrangements, interfere with educational opportunities, and make it harder to make ends meet.”
Security, Retail, and Coffee Shops Also Cited
Allstar Security & Consulting was cited for violating the Protected Time Off Law, including denying workers paid leave and failing to provide required sick and safe time. Filipino guards and building staff — many of whom work long overnight shifts — are among those expected to benefit from the restitution.
Italian retailer Calzedonia (Intimissimi) and local café chain Kinship Coffee were also penalized for failing to provide predictable schedules and denying workers protected leave. These industries employ many young Filipino workers, students, and recent immigrants who rely on stable hours to manage school, caregiving, and supplemental income.
Why This Matters to the Fil‑Am Community
NYC’s Fair Workweek Law requires:
- 72‑hour advance schedules for retail
- 14‑day advance schedules for fast‑food
- Premium pay for last‑minute changes
- Written consent for “clopening” shifts
- No retaliation for requesting schedule changes
The Protected Time Off Law guarantees paid leave for illness, family care, and safety‑related needs — a critical protection for Fil‑Am families who often care for elderly relatives or send remittances home.
“These actions will provide over two million dollars to workers whose rights were violated,” Levine said. “DCWP will continue taking decisive action against employers, including national corporations like Walgreens.”
For the Fil‑Am community, the message is clear: your labor has value, your time has dignity, and the city is enforcing your rights.
