A new report released by the Center for Popular Democracy shows that erratic and abusive work schedules are a major culprit in keeping women prisoners of income volatility – called the new “hidden inequality” by the New York Times. Here are some report highlights:
- With 38.8 million women paid by the hour – including 72 percent of Latina workers and 68 percent of African American women workers – women and people of color are disproportionately affected by the concerns facing the hourly workforce.
- 41 percent of all hourly workers [in a national survey of early career adults] reported that they know their work schedule a week or less in advance and that they have almost no say in their schedules (p. 3), making it nearly impossible for them to schedule childcare, school or a second job.
- 25 percent of the 12 million (p. 1) women working part-time would prefer full-time work (p. III), but without predictable, flexible work schedules, these women workers can’t increase their hours while still fulfilling their family responsibilities or pursuing education.
- A third of workers have a fluctuating monthly income and 42 percent of them cite irregular work schedules as the cause. (p. III)
The Center for Popular Democracy (CPD) published the report as part of our Fair Workweek Initiative, which has legislation in the pipeline in Congress and nearly a dozen states and localities to turn back abusive work schedules.
Santa Clara County has led on this issue, in December becoming the first in the nation to commit to achieving fair workweek standards for employees of its service contractors like janitors, cooks, laundry workers and security officers. The Board of Supervisors will discuss in June whether to extend these protections to 17,000 County government workers and will take up fair workweek standards again in the fall.
The 40 hour workweek – and the dignity and security that it represented – has been eroded in this new era of big data, just-in-time scheduling technology, and the 24/7 economy. We need new policies to protect our families and our pocketbooks in a new economy. Santa Clara County’s policy is a crucial step, with Silicon Valley’s second largest employer showing its private sector peers that fair workweek standards are attainable. With women workers, mothers and workers of color bearing the brunt of these problems, we must step up to lead and engage our brothers in the fight for the 21st century fair workweek.
Rachel Deutsch serves as Senior Staff Attorney for Worker Justice for the Center for Popular Democracy, focusing on the Fair Workweek Initiative.
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