Improving health and economic security by reducing work schedule uncertainty

Area of Science:

• Labor Economics
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Service sector work schedules are often unstable and unpredictable, potentially harming worker health and economic security.
• The causal impact of unpredictable work schedules is difficult to isolate due to confounding factors like low wages.
• Seattle's Secure Scheduling ordinance provides a unique opportunity to study the effects of mandated schedule predictability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the causal relationship between work schedule predictability and worker health and economic security.
• To evaluate the impact of Seattle's Secure Scheduling ordinance on service sector workers.
• To quantify the effects of schedule predictability on well-being outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Difference-in-differences analysis comparing workers in Seattle to those in comparison cities.
• Utilized pre- and post-intervention survey data from service sector workers.
• Employed instrumental variable analysis using the Seattle law to estimate causal effects.

Main Results:

• The ordinance significantly increased schedule predictability and stability for workers.
• Workers experienced improvements in subjective well-being, sleep quality, and economic security.
• Schedule predictability was causally linked to enhanced worker well-being, especially sleep and economic security.

Conclusions:

• Mandating schedule predictability can lead to substantial improvements in worker health and economic security.
• Unpredictable work hours negatively impact worker well-being, particularly sleep and financial stability.
• Policy interventions like the Secure Scheduling ordinance are effective in mitigating the adverse effects of unstable work schedules.