Many Illinois workers don't have stable, predictable work schedules: survey

Source: Xinhua    2018-06-24 02:26:10

CHICAGO, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Lack of stable, predictable work schedules is widespread for workers in the state of Illinois in U.S. Midwest, according to a survey of the University of Illinois (UI).

The researchers surveyed more than 1,700 workers throughout the state between October 2017 and March 2018. All respondents had an annual household income of less than 150,000 dollars. More than 60 percent of surveyed workers were parents; and slightly fewer than one-third of respondents were financially responsible for other dependents.

The survey included full-time, part-time and temporary workers plus a smattering of independent contractors. Almost 80 percent were paid by the hour, and the rest were salaried. Surveyed workers were clustered in 21 industries ranging from the retail trade, educational services, manufacturing, health care services and food services to professional and technical services sectors.

More than 40 percent of hourly workers and 30 percent of salaried workers in Illinois have variable or unpredictable work schedules, the survey found, resulting in underemployment and work-life conflicts with child care, parenting and other family obligations.

And the average fluctuation in working hours per week was plus or minus 14 hours.

"Whether you're working 14 more hours or 14 fewer hours per week, that's significant, and it's difficult to stabilize your home life, whether it's child care or your finances, when there's that amount of flux," said Robert Bruno, a UI professor of labor and employment relations and director of the Labor Education Program.

When there is a need for workers to change their schedule, there's not a way for them to do it without feeling like they're putting their livelihoods at risk.

"When schedules are changed on them at the last minute, they have little recourse to complain," said Alison Dickson, an instructor for Labor Education Program. "The worker isn't really given an option. It's 'Be here or else.' There's no penalty to the employer for upending someone's schedule, and there's also no reciprocity when the employee has to change their schedule due to illness or some other unforeseen circumstance."

When the schedule changes occur at less than 24 hours' notice, it can throw a wrench into a child care or elder care situation. Then it becomes a choice of being able to pay the rent or caring for a loved one.

"What we discovered is that these workers are incredibly vulnerable, and they don't really get an opportunity to influence their schedule," Dickson said. "They have no voice in the process and are at the mercy of their employers."

The only recourse workers have is finding another job, a task that is time-consuming and difficult in its own right.

"Twenty-three percent of the sample had to look for another job because they couldn't cobble together enough hours to make ends meet," Bruno said.

"Making workers contingent or giving them inadequate hours is compelling them to always be looking around the corner for something better, which can't be good for the employer, either," Bruno added.

Editor: yan
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Many Illinois workers don't have stable, predictable work schedules: survey

Source: Xinhua 2018-06-24 02:26:10

CHICAGO, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Lack of stable, predictable work schedules is widespread for workers in the state of Illinois in U.S. Midwest, according to a survey of the University of Illinois (UI).

The researchers surveyed more than 1,700 workers throughout the state between October 2017 and March 2018. All respondents had an annual household income of less than 150,000 dollars. More than 60 percent of surveyed workers were parents; and slightly fewer than one-third of respondents were financially responsible for other dependents.

The survey included full-time, part-time and temporary workers plus a smattering of independent contractors. Almost 80 percent were paid by the hour, and the rest were salaried. Surveyed workers were clustered in 21 industries ranging from the retail trade, educational services, manufacturing, health care services and food services to professional and technical services sectors.

More than 40 percent of hourly workers and 30 percent of salaried workers in Illinois have variable or unpredictable work schedules, the survey found, resulting in underemployment and work-life conflicts with child care, parenting and other family obligations.

And the average fluctuation in working hours per week was plus or minus 14 hours.

"Whether you're working 14 more hours or 14 fewer hours per week, that's significant, and it's difficult to stabilize your home life, whether it's child care or your finances, when there's that amount of flux," said Robert Bruno, a UI professor of labor and employment relations and director of the Labor Education Program.

When there is a need for workers to change their schedule, there's not a way for them to do it without feeling like they're putting their livelihoods at risk.

"When schedules are changed on them at the last minute, they have little recourse to complain," said Alison Dickson, an instructor for Labor Education Program. "The worker isn't really given an option. It's 'Be here or else.' There's no penalty to the employer for upending someone's schedule, and there's also no reciprocity when the employee has to change their schedule due to illness or some other unforeseen circumstance."

When the schedule changes occur at less than 24 hours' notice, it can throw a wrench into a child care or elder care situation. Then it becomes a choice of being able to pay the rent or caring for a loved one.

"What we discovered is that these workers are incredibly vulnerable, and they don't really get an opportunity to influence their schedule," Dickson said. "They have no voice in the process and are at the mercy of their employers."

The only recourse workers have is finding another job, a task that is time-consuming and difficult in its own right.

"Twenty-three percent of the sample had to look for another job because they couldn't cobble together enough hours to make ends meet," Bruno said.

"Making workers contingent or giving them inadequate hours is compelling them to always be looking around the corner for something better, which can't be good for the employer, either," Bruno added.

[Editor: huaxia]
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