"Just-in-Time" Scheduling Creates Chaos for Workers

[XCashier]

A very interesting article about the scheduling problems many of us deal with: http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/in-pl...workers-n95881

What employers need to understand is that their workers are human beings with families and lives outside of work, and they need a lot more stability in their working schedules.

[MoonCat]

just-in-time scheduling practices are intended to drive up profitability

This pretty much explains it all. That's the only real focus.

What I've found lately (and I don't even work in retail) is that "business needs" is used as the excuse for EVERYTHING.

[sms001]

employers need to understand is that their workers are human beings with

Sadly, I'm afraid that many do understand, they just don't care.

[EricKei]

...the software program has been 'well-received' across the company

I'm calling bullshit on this one -- unless, of course, they're talking about people above store level, who are unaffected...

It makes me think of the immortal line from the H.R. Director in Dilbert -- namely, Catbert: "I haven't listened to a single complaint."

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Not that it matters, but the first woman mentioned makes $14 an hour. Not nearly enough to make a living in NYC but still very good for retail.

Methinks (or at least hopes, anyway) that this wouldn't be implemented in a big box, minimum-wage store; good luck getting people willing to be "on call" or sent home early when they're making only eight bucks an hour.

[eltf177]

Also, I seriously doubt any of these people have any sort of benefit packages. Coupled with the yo-yo hours means an even further drain on said paycheck. So, being desperate for a bigger paycheck means you come when called. And of course this proves the process "works"...

Well, for management it does. For the peons not so hot!

[cindybubbles]

Reminds me of this cartoon!

[EricKei]

good luck getting people willing to be "on call" or sent home early when they're making only eight bucks an hour.

Sadly, the jobs I've had where the pay was the worst were the ones that consistently expected just that -- not "on call" per se, but still "We expect you to make yourself available in case we need somebody" -- almost as if they think that minimum wage-pay somehow was enough to make workers prioritize that job over...well...anything else in their lives. To the extent that, if they tried to call someone in ten times in, say, 3 months and they only were able to come 7 times, it would be unofficially taken into consideration when making future schedules, as if it were a legitimate attendance issue. Kinda sad.

[Deserted]

Another thing I'm glad I don't have to deal with. I set my own schedule. Granted, my schedule is generally when the biz is happening, but still...

[Kittish]

Methinks (or at least hopes, anyway) that this wouldn't be implemented in a big box, minimum-wage store; good luck getting people willing to be "on call" or sent home early when they're making only eight bucks an hour.

This is exactly the sorts of business that will LOVE this sort of thing. And with people desperate for jobs, they'll do what their corporate overlords tell them to to keep said jobs.

I can see the day coming when people juggle 2, 3 or even 4 part time jobs because part time is all that's available and bills gotta be paid.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I can only speak for my store, but I wouldn't exactly call people "desperate" for work there. Not when people are quitting after one or two shifts, or after a week, or on their lunch break on their first day of work. The pay sucks, the work sucks, now lets add scheduling that chains people to their phones to find out if they're even working. They wouldn't be able to staff the place.

If such a thing does get implemented at the swamp, hopefully I will be immune to it, because hopefully I will be in a job with set hours (receiving specialist; I work around the vendors who deliver product and they only work during the week.)

[XCashier]

I can see the day coming when people juggle 2, 3 or even 4 part time jobs because part time is all that's available and bills gotta be paid.

Many people are doing that now. Yes, it does suck. It should not be that way, but as long as the corporate overlords are making the big bucks, why should they care that their underlings are doing badly?