Tackling Unstable and Unpredictable Work Schedules

Abstract

While paying bills and taking care of family members are high on the list of challenges that workers in lower-wage jobs experience when they are subject to erratic scheduling practices,the harm they face does not stop there. Workers experience adverse health effects, have difficulty finding and keeping childcare arrangements, face transportation obstacles, have trouble going back to school to advance their education, and experience considerable overall stress and strain on family life. Since their schedules fluctuate so much, they can't predict the size of their paychecks. Communities suffer, too, when workers can't afford to buy groceries or other goods from neighborhood businesses. Even the employers that adopt volatile scheduling practices that contribute to these problems may face negative repercussions, as they cope with the significant expenses associated with high rates of turnover and low morale. Moreover, consumers are increasingly wary of spending their money at businesses that treat their workers poorly. The ripple effects of unstable and unpredictable scheduling are felt in the lives of individuals, in communities, and throughout the economy