cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/37546974
A new Harvard survey found that 41% of Amazon employees get their schedule less than two weeks ahead of when they are scheduled to work, a practice known as “just-in-time” scheduling. For many employees — especially for those with responsibilities outside of their Amazon job, like caregiving, education, or additional jobs — just-in-time arrangements are unworkable.
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Just-in-time scheduling could have other consequences beyond leaving workers with little control over their own schedules and lives. The practice could mean that workers aren’t given enough hours, forcing them to become part-time workers with virtually no notice or ability to budget accordingly. Workers in the warehousing and transportation sectors are particularly likely to report high rates of anxiety, stress, and lack of control over their jobs as compared to other sectors — on top of elevated risk of injury and illness. And Amazon’s use of just-in-time scheduling could be indicative of other unfair scheduling practices, like “on-call” requirements — which force workers to remain available for shifts that may or may not come to be — or refusal to reschedule workers.
Kind of a weird thing to press amazon specifically on, any hourly job I’ve had basically gave the next week’s schedule the thursday before… No fancy algorithm needed, just slow managers.
Edit - I’m trying to say this behavior is rampant. Amazon is a good start, now write some laws for everyone else.
My job gives the part-timers schedules on Wednesday, two weeks in advance. According to the part-timers, that’s absolutely unheard of. They say the scheduling is one of the nicest parts of the job, because they can plan more than a few days in advance.
We’ve also had part-timers basically crying when they had to call in sick. Like dude, you’re trapped on the toilet; please stay home. We don’t want you here when you’re sick. We’ll deal with the staffing shortage, just focus on recovering.
How the hell is that not standard? People have lives outside of work.
My part-timer gives me his schedule on Monday.
It’s project work, the “schedule” is really just “when do we do our regular check-in?” and I don’t give a rat’s ass when he does his work, as long as I can reach him whenever he said I could. My boss doesn’t give a shit either, as long as our work gets done.
That sounds wonderful! I remember trying to juggle two jobs and it was damn near impossible because both demanded full availability for part time work, leading to their late-released schedules conflicting constantly. Eventually one fired me after i came in late from the other. My next role I set very clear boundaries coming in that “main job” would have first dibs, luckily that place was flexible enough to accommodate the shifting schedules.
Yeah, my thought exactly, I doubt Wawa has a fancy term for it but it’s better than all your staff coming in or calling on Thursday to see if next week’s schedule is posted.
Shit, 3 days notice would have been nice at my last job. I’d find out if I was working that day at 7am.
Senators: You are doing something very bad
Bezos: No
Senators: Yes
Bezos: What are you gonna do about it?
Senators: …
This concludes today’s session
Something like Bezos thinking everyone will be in line to serve billionaires. That that’s a worthy goal for the country.
I suppose there are benefits to gig work like Instacart in that you get to pick your own schedule, but what is the benefit of driving for Amazon? You’re a contractor, but Amazon picks your hours?
I deleted my Amazon account around 2007, when I discovered how they treat their workers. Never looked back. Fuck Amazon.
