Fair Scheduling; The Next Crusade for Workers
We here in Massachusetts pride ourselves on supporting progressive policies nationally, but at the state level, we always seem to be falling short. One area in which our Commonwealth is lagging behind is the protection of hourly workers. These workers, who make up the majority of the American work force, work long hours on difficult and sometime unpredictable schedules. Because there are no regulations surrounding the creation of workers’ schedules, employers are free to leave such things to the last minute. This freedom for employers leads to a host of negative consequences, which is why many lawmakers are pressing for new laws to add stability to the lives of hourly workers. At a national level, Massachusetts is at the forefront of this push; our own Senator, Elizabeth Warren, was one of the main sponsors of the Schedules that Work Act in 2015. Unfortunately, this push for better scheduling has not trickled down to the state level. While a bill was introduced in 2015 by Representative Sean Garballey to address this issue, it was never even brought up for a vote. We, the people of Massachusetts, need to reintroduce a bill designed to protect our most vulnerable workers by ensuring that they have reliable schedules.
The current state of affairs is extremely detrimental, both to employees and to customers. Unpredictable hours make it difficult for workers to make other commitments. This forces parents to spend lots of money on daycare, prevents part-time students from attending classes, and stops employees from working a needed second job. Bills put forth in San Jose and Seattle require employers to post schedules at least 14 days in advance, which allows workers to make reliable plans. Another problem facing workers is that their hours aren’t guaranteed, so managers can send employees home as soon as they walk in the door. Many of these workers are living paycheck to paycheck, so these lost hours can lead to empty stomachs or unpaid rent. Preventing employers from changing schedules at the last minute would help alleviate these problems, as well.
Employees are not the only ones who suffer from unpredictable schedules. Unfair scheduling often results in lower customer satisfaction and longer lines. Because workers are dealing with increased stress, they are less able to solve customers’ problems and work slower than they normally would. Additionally, unpredictable schedules lead to high employee turnover rates, which cost companies lots in training fees. Many businesses have already decided to institute fairer scheduling on their own. Hopefully Massachusetts will follow their example and protect our hourly workers.
However, hope isn’t enough to convince lawmakers to act. It requires citizen interest. If you want to show your legislators that this issue is important to you, I recommend sending them an email or calling them at their office. Additionally, you can sign up to get more information on this and many other important issues on our website, Fair Shot For All. With active engagement from people like you, we can help improve the lives of many members of our Commonwealth.


