Fairness: The Future of Hourly Employment

The world of hourly employment is an integral part of the deskless workforce. Millions rely on these jobs for their livelihood, contributing significantly to diverse industries like retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. However, the employee scheduling practices businesses use can create significant challenges for these workers, impacting their well-being, financial stability, and ability to plan for the future.  

Flexible scheduling is increasingly becoming table-stakes for today’s deskless workforce, and employers who adopt modern scheduling practices are more likely to win new talent and keep the employees they have. Let’s explore how businesses can move beyond bad scheduling practices like “clopening” (when a person works a closing shift and then returns for the next opening shift, leaving little time to rest in between), unpredictable on-call shifts, and constantly rotating schedules with the right employee scheduling solution. 

The Problem: Scheduling Instability and Its Impact 

Many hourly workers face a constant struggle with scheduling instability. This can manifest in several ways: 

• Clopening: The practice of scheduling a closing shift followed by working the next opening shift should be avoided. Not using employee scheduling software to avoid clopening shifts can lead to limited downtime between shifts, disrupt sleep patterns and reduce available free time for personal commitments. 
• On-Call Shifts: Requires employees to be available at short notice, often with little or no control over when they are called in.  
• Rotating Schedules: Employees are assigned different work hours each week, making it hard to plan for childcare, transportation, or other recurring commitments. These unpredictable schedules can lead to stress, anxiety, and difficulty maintaining a healthy work-life balance. 

These scheduling practices create serious, long-term problems for employees. Our Third Annual Global Employee Experience Study analyzes employee experience perceptions with a focus on hourly shift workers. In the study, we learned employees who don’t have scheduling flexibility are more likely to leave. Scheduling flexibility remains a top priority, especially for deskless workers; these workers want: 

1. Secure Schedules: Most hourly workers crave schedule security. The right employee scheduling software helps employees know their work hours in advance, allowing them to plan childcare, manage finances, attend appointments, and pursue hobbies. Unpredictable scheduling can lead to difficulty keeping a healthy lifestyle.
2. A Voice in Their Schedule: Employees want to have a say in their work schedules. A collaborative approach where preferences are considered gives employees some control over their schedules and can improve employee experience.
3. Collaboration and communication: The ability to see their schedule more than a week in advance and swap shifts with co-workers gives staff autonomy over their time, fosters a sense of teamwork, and improves overall efficiency. 

The Future of Fair Scheduling 

Businesses can move beyond these unfair practices and embrace a more employee-centric approach to scheduling. Here are some strategies to consider: 

• Predictable Schedules: Wherever possible, create consistent schedules with minimal changes week-to-week. This allows employees to plan for their personal lives and reduces stress. 
• Preference-Based Scheduling: Implement systems that allow employees to express their preferred work hours. While business needs must be met, some flexibility allows employees to have some control over their schedules. 
• Technology Solutions: Leverage scheduling software that allows for employee input, shift swaps, and open communication. These tools can help create more predictable and flexible schedules. 
• Cross-Training: Offering cross-training opportunities allows for greater employee flexibility and can reduce the need for unpredictable on-call shifts. 

Benefits of Fair Scheduling 

Implementing fair scheduling practices through an employee scheduling solution offers many benefits for both employers and employees: 

• Increased Employee Retention: Fair scheduling practices can significantly reduce employee turnover, leading to cost savings for businesses. 
• Improved Employee Engagement: When employees feel valued and have some control over their schedules, they are more likely to be engaged and productive at work. 
• Reduced Absenteeism: Predictable schedules allow employees to manage childcare and other personal commitments, leading to fewer unplanned absences. 
• Enhanced Customer Service: Happy and engaged employees provide better customer service, leading to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty. 

Fairness is Key

Fair and predictable scheduling practices are a feel-good initiative that’s essential for building a thriving and resilient workforce. By prioritizing scheduling fairness with employee scheduling software, businesses can attract and retain top talent, improve employee well-being, and ultimately create a more successful and sustainable organization. Strengthen your employees’ experience by giving them more control and flexibility.  

Book your demo today to see how the WorkForce Suite can provide the flexibility your workforce demands with the coverage you want — no matter how you schedule your workforce.