Sen. Murray Cosponsors Bill to End Unstable Scheduling Practices

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) joined Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Bobby Scott (D-Va.), and nearly 80 of their colleagues to introduce the Schedules that Work Act in the Senate and House. The legislation addresses unstable, unpredictable, and rigid scheduling practices such as placing workers "on-call" with no guarantee of work hours, scheduling them for "split shifts" of non-consecutive hours, sending workers home early without pay when demand is low and punishing workers who request schedule changes. (Read the fact sheet here.)

These scheduling practices disproportionately affect low-wage workers and workers in retail, food service, and cleaning occupations, and make it hard for these workers and their families to maintain stable child care, care for other family members, pursue career development or other education, get or keep a second job, or take care of their own health. Variable schedules can also lead to significant fluctuations in income for workers. As a result, workers struggle to manage their household incomes and balance professional responsibilities with individual and family needs.

"Our country, our economy, and our workplaces should work for all families, not just the wealthiest few, but today, unfair scheduling practices keep workers guessing on when they'll be called in to work and with no guarantee of how much money they'll earn in a given week," Senator Murray said. "That makes it nearly impossible for many workers to balance their jobs with individual and family needs. Our bill would alleviate some of that needless pressure on workers and restore economic security and stability to more families."

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