In an attempt to end widespread violations of Fair Labor Standards Act wage and hour regulations in New York City?s 2,000 grocery stores, State Attorney General Elliot Spitzer yesterday announced the successful negotiation of a greengrocer code of conduct with groups representing major stakeholders in the business. Over twenty grocers have already signed the code of conduct, and Mr. Spitzer is optimistic that several hundred will sign on in the next few months alone, in order to gain the amnesty from government prosecution of past violations that agreeing to the code confers. The code of conduct requires grocers to allow inspectors to check their businesses and financial records at least twice a year to insure that they are paying their employees the minimum wage and time-and-a-half for hours worked beyond a standard forty-hour workweek, offer paid sick days, and at least a week of pad vacation.
See STEVEN GREENHOUSE, The New York Times, September 17, 2002