PoliticaCT is supporting Fair Workweek Scheduling as one of our top five issues for the 2020 state legislative session.

Today’s workweek is a source of instability for Connecticut service workers. Many hourly workers are saddled with unpredictable, fluctuating work schedules over which they have no control. 

These practices have caused profound economic insecurity — particularly for women and workers of color — and have made it difficult for workers to access sufficient hours, care for their families, and get ahead.

Senate Bill (S.B.) #227,  AN ACT CONCERNING A FAIR WORK WEEK SCHEDULE, has been raised by the Labor and Public Employees Committee and must be voted on (“JF’ed”*) by March 24, 2020. The committee is chaired by PoliticaCT-endorsed State Senator Julie Kushner and former PoliticaCT board member State Representative Robyn Porter.

Read PoliticaCT’s written testimony in support of Senate Bill #227 here.

Senate Bill #227 will support women by requiring:

  • Good faith estimate of work schedule to job applicants
  • Advance 14-day notice of work schedules
  • Predictable pay by compensating workers if employer makes last-minute changes
  • Consent be given for last-minute added hours
  • Right to request scheduling without retaliation
  • Right to rest at least 11 hours between shifts
  • Promotion of full-time opportunities

Women and people of color hold a disproportionate number of these service-sector jobs.  Women are also still typically the caregiver in the household, in addition to working. Unfair scheduling practices create significant barriers to women and people of color reaching economic security, participating in children’s school, scheduling childcare or planning for any of life’s other activities.

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* “JF” = If a committee believes a raised or committee bill should be taken up by the full General Assembly, it votes to give the bill a favorable report. Since the committee is a joint committee (with members from both the House and the Senate), the vote is called a Joint Favorable Report. The common expression for such action on a bill is that it is “JF’ed”

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