BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A state proposal requiring employers to set schedules two weeks in advance, and also pay employees if their shift is canceled on short notice, would have dire consequences for weather-dependent businesses like snow plow crews, according to state Sen. Chris Jacobs.

"If you think about it, there's a big storm coming, predicted in this area, so that plow service has all of the drivers on standby, on call. The storm doesn't come. Well, with these regulations, that snow plow company would have to pay each one of those drivers four hours of work for not plowing. That is just financially infeasible," said Jacobs, R-60th District.

The New York State Department of Labor's new Employee Scheduling proposal would provide employees four hours of "on-call" pay if their shift is cancelled less than three days in advance.

"I think this is one of those ideas that was thought through in the halls of Albany, in the ivory tower, and not really thought through of the impact on the street," said Jacobs, R-60th District.

Delta Sonic has 19 New York locations that employ 2,000 people, and another 240 in corporate positions. In a hearing before the Senate last month, CEO Ron Benderson revealed plans of doubling the business over the next seven years and building a new 120,000 square foot manufacturing facility without asking for any government subsidies.

He says the new renovations will add 2,500 new jobs, but that can all change if new regulations go into effect.

"We like to employ real people to do work for our customers; however, if this regulation were to go into effect, the cost to the organization would be so great that we might have to start experimenting with automation and the elimination of labor-intensive services," said Nicole Janik, Delta Sonic manager of communications.

Jacobs says health care workers, nursing homes and printing companies have also expressed worry. He says that small businesses should also be protected, citing that similar legislation passed in Oregon exempted companies with fewer than 500 employees.

If the rules are passed as is, Jacobs says he won't sit by.

"I will propose something in the Senate to curtail this, because this is a serious issue, and could be again, very, very damaging," Jacobs said.

The Department of Labor has not released a timeline on its decision, but released a statement:

"The Department of Labor received a considerable volume of public comments on the proposed rulemaking governing employee scheduling practices. A full review and assessment of those responses is underway. Once the review is complete the agency will advise on next steps."