She Says: Scheduling Expert Susan Lambert

Professor Susan Lambert, Associate Professor at the University of Chicago, is an expert on unstable and unpredictable work schedules, which is a growing cause of economic insecurity.

When you were younger, you worked in retail yourself. How are things different for retail workers today? 
I worked at Sears for about six years, putting myself through college and some of grad school. Back then, many retail sales associates held full-time jobs, but now, although there may be a few full-time sales associates, many retailers only hire sales associates into part-time jobs.

You’ve been talking about this issue for many years, but it seems the country is finally starting to listen. What do you think turned the tide?
I think many factors have come together to bring attention to the issue. Unions and other labor groups should be given a lot of credit. Also, growing concern over income inequality has fueled interest in work hours. Rates of involuntary part-time employment have escalated in the past few years, especially in service industries, placing an increasing proportion of workers at risk of poverty.

What steps do you think legislators or businesses should take towards fairer schedules? How can we start to fix this?
My view is that we need new employment standards for a 21st century economy, standards that cover both time off the job (e.g., paid sick leave, paid family leave) and time on the job (e.g., minimum advance notice, minimum work hours). Businesses can help set standards by adopting best practices, and legislators can support laws that require employers to meet minimum standards.

Learn more about unstable and unpredictable scheduling practices.