New DC JWJ Report Reveals Unfair Scheduling Practices in DC

by | Jun 11, 2015 | Actions & Events

Today, DC Jobs With Justice, Jobs With Justice Education Fund, DC Fiscal Policy Institute and Georgetown University Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor released the first-ever study on service sector scheduling practices in Washington, D.C. Read the Executive Summary here The report, “Unpredictable, Unsustainable: The Impact of Employers’ Scheduling Practices in D.C,” draws on a survey conducted in 2015 with hundreds of people employed in the District, focusing on the retail and restaurant/food service industries—the broadest citywide study of scheduling practices in the service industry to date. In line with previous research, it finds that “just in time” approaches to scheduling negatively impact many D.C. employees’ lives, often resulting in erratic and unpredictable hours for the women and men who serve our food, stock our shelves and sweep our floors. Employees are granted too few hours on too short notice, resulting in unpredictable incomes and work schedules that make it hard to budget, arrange childcare, continue with education or hold down a second job to try to make ends meet. You can read the full report here Some Key Findings: Low Pay Common: The typical employee works 32 hours per week at a pay rate of $10 per hour resulting in an annual income of approximately $16,000 More Hours Needed: Four out of five people said it was very important or somewhat important to get more hours. Second Jobs Required: Nearly one-quarter of individuals work at least one additional job. Unpredictable Schedules: A typical respondent faces a 13 hour range in weekly hours per month, receiving as little as 25 hours some weeks and a high of 38 hours...