Scheduling in Hourly Jobs: Promising Practices for the Twenty-First Century Economy

Common scheduling practices in hourly jobs create challenges for workers, employers, and communities alike. Hourly workers increasingly experience fluctuating and reduced work hours and unpredictable work schedules that can compromise their job performance and their ability to earn an adequate living. Local communities suffer when residents’ jobs are unstable and their earnings unpredictable. Several targets for intervention—ranging from improving employer scheduling practices to enacting new legislation—could enhance the quality of jobs for hourly workers and, in turn, the quality of life in families and local communities.