HR Tip: Schedules play critical role in employee wellbeing

Poor work schedules harm workers' wellbeing and adversely affect productivity are among the first findings released from The American Job Quality Study, a multiyear study led by Jobs for the Future, The Families & Workers Fund, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, and Gallup that aims to understand what workers need to thrive at work. Researchers surveyed more than 18,000 U.S. workers from various industries, demographics and job types. They found that 62 percent of the workers don't have a high-quality schedule, defined by predictability (knowing a schedule at least two weeks in advance), stability (work hours that don't fluctuate by more than 25 percent over the course of a month) and control (when an employee has input on two or more aspects of scheduling such as the hours and days they work and when they can take time off).

According to the report, "employees with jobs that have high-quality schedules tend to feel more financially secure, have better work-life balance (meaning fewer conflicts between work and personal life) and be happier with their jobs than employees who have low-quality schedules." Employees with unpredictable hours, last-minute changes or little control over their schedules are more likely to struggle to pay their bills, face hunger or housing problems, feel stressed, sleep poorly, and have conflicts between work and family.

The full study, which also addresses financial wellbeing, workplace culture and safety, growth and development opportunities, and the ability to have input into working conditions, will be released this fall.