Characterizing scheduling demands for hourly, low-wage workers

Much of the evidence regarding flexible schedules has been based on salaried workers; however, less is known about the potential health effects of unpredictable and unstable schedules among low-wage, hourly workers. These adverse scheduling patterns might be associated with health via direct and indirect pathways, for example, increasing psychosocial distress due the perceived incompatibility of work and family roles, higher lower tobacco consumption, financial strain due to variable hourly wages, low compliance with safety standards, as well as increased fatigue, muscular strain associated with prolonged work hours. Thus, there is an urgent need to characterize the principles of schedule control for low-wage hourly workers, but moreover, to assess the potential occupational health consequences of unpredictable and unstable schedules.

The aim of this presentation is to discuss the results of a pilot study aimed at characterizing scheduling demands among low-wage, hourly workers employed in the food-service industry of the Boston area. The pilot will be conducted during the spring and summer of 2015. We expect to present a comprehensive initial assessment of how unpredictable and unstable schedules might impact workers’ mental health, tobacco consumption and MSD symptoms. Research activities conducted in this pilot include (1) focus groups with workers, (2) cognitive testing of existing questionnaire, (3) and in-person bi-lingual survey of 100 workers. We will present a characterization of scheduling demands from workers’ perspectives. We hope that this pilot provides insight for future basic and applied research with this workforce as well informing managerial practices.