mysql não está funcionando para IS NOT NULL

query = "SELECT date_format(startPeriod,'%a, %M, %d, %Y') as startDate,
             date_format(startTime,'%I:%i%p') as startTime,
             date_format(endTime,'%I:%i%p') as endTime,
             jobLocation,jobId,
              hoursWorked
       FROM users,paycheck
       WHERE users.userId = '" . $_SESSION['userId'] .
       "' AND userId = empId
       AND (startPeriod != '0000-00-00' OR startPeriod IS NOT NULL)
       ORDER BY paycheck.startPeriod DESC";