Statewide secure scheduling (HB 1491 & SB 5717) would ensure that people who work for large food & retail chains in our state get flexible, balanced work schedules that include advance notice, access to additional hours before new positions are posted, no more mandatory clopens, input into work schedules, and more.
The big food & retail chains don’t seem to love the idea of making our schedules work for us, too. They’re even sending general managers and lobbyists to tell the state legislature that despite all the evidence, workers don’t really have a problem with their work schedules. That’s why it’s so important that we show up and speak out about the realities of unstable and unpredictable work schedules. They need to hear that our time counts too!
Take a moment to send a message and ask your legislators to stand with workers for secure scheduling!
Then check out what workers from all across the state are saying:
"We get our schedules 4 days in advance and childcare is a huge issue for me. I literally have to scramble every Thursday night to make sure my kids are being taken care of."
— Misty, server
"I work two jobs, and secure scheduling allows me to manage that successfully."
— Nicole, Macy’s
“We closed at 3am, then had to open the store at 8.”
— Adam, Domino’s
"There are bills family and life - it could be anything. We might be smiling but we're still struggling. Workers deserve a secure reliable schedule to make life less of a struggle."
— Peter, Safeway
"I work at Olive Garden. We get our schedules Thursday for the following Monday. I'm not able to schedule time to see my daughters."
— April, Olive Garden server
"Before I had secure scheduling, what I was getting was text messages the night before, from 6pm to 9pm. And we had people on our team who would at 5am. They would go to sleep not knowing whether they were going to work the next day."
— Erin, barista
"My management has not been able to keep a consistent schedule. There's a big difference between the 20 hours I'm getting and the 36 I was promised."
— Lee, PetSmart
"My schedule for Applebee's comes out on Sunday for a workweek starting the following Wednesday. My boyfriend is also a line cook at a different local restaurant and he receives his schedule for the the following workweek starting the very next day."
—Mckyndree, Applebee’s
"I was a student, and I would be scheduled to work around 10 minutes before class got out — so I had to choose between school and work."
— Lindsey, Chipotle
"It's shocking that this isn't something businesses are already doing. It humanizes us. It gives us a chance to be regular people. Like you."
— Sarah, Trader Joe’s
Everyone ought to know when they're going to work and how many hours they're going to get. But more and more giant corporations are expecting us to give them 24/7 availability — even for part-time jobs. So hundreds of thousands of workers in our state are left to struggle with inflexible, unbalanced, last-minute schedules.
Statewide secure scheduling would change all that.
“My schedule is supposed to be set Monday to Friday with a cap of 30 hours. I know a lot of people want more hours, but I’m collecting retirement, so if I work more than that, my income is considered too high and the government takes half of it as a penalty. So I just want 30 hours and that 30 hours was how it was supposed to be when they hired me, but they can’t seem to make it happen.”
— Roy, Walmart, Poulsbo
“Work is a big part of my time, but a small part of my life. Secure scheduling makes it easier to do everything outside of work, like spend time with my family, which is massive, or go on day trips or long hikes. I know exactly when I’m working, and I know those hours won’t change on me.”
— Adriana, visual merchandiser, Seattle
“Last time I was at the mall, I was with my little cousins. We were watching a movie. I had my Chipotle clothes, my Chipotle shirt and stuff, in her little bag because I already knew that they might call me in.
And then when I went home, he called me in. He just needed me there for an hour.
An hour!”
— Jenny, Chipotle, Tukwila
“We always get our schedule two to three weeks ahead of time. That works out well for me — I can schedule around my classes and study times, and spend time mentoring youth on the side too. My parents are elderly, so being able to know that I can spend time taking care of them if I need to is nice too. Getting notice of my schedule means I know where it’s at and where I can put in free time to study, mentor, spend time with family, or just take some me time.”
— Sean, barista at Starbucks
“I’d like to get more hours at the Dollar Tree because that job pays so much more. But Dollar Tree is all part-time. Even the assistant manager is part-time. The only full-time people are the upper-level management. It’s a store policy. They save money — for me it's an excellent part-time no benefit job, but they stay away from the benefit part by making it part-time. Some people are retired, or on social security, and you can only work a certain amount of hours, so this works for them. But it's not for everybody. If it's your only job, you need full-time and healthcare.”
— Kathy, Dollar Tree/Goodwill, Kirkland
“My schedule was definitely more flimsy before secure scheduling went into effect. Once it went into effect, it was like: oh, I’m actually going to get the hours I asked for instead of settling for 10 hours less? That was really wonderful.”
— Aubrie, barista at Starbucks
“Before secure scheduling went into effect, I had a hard time trying to change an irregular work schedule when my non-work schedule changed. Now, I’m less worried about my schedule — there’s more time for me to have, and schedule, a non-work life. I very much like getting two weeks’ notice of my schedule. Why wouldn’t it be easier on both management and employees to have a regular schedule?”
— Chris, grocery store clerk
“I work 20 hours per week at Starbucks, and I’m also in school full-time at Arizona State University. I love my job — I feel like they reward loyalty and achievement, and the benefits are pretty awesome. Secure scheduling has been great for me. My manager is very accommodating in regards to school and work. Scheduling is a lot more steady and tasking is a lot more focused.”
— Levi, Starbucks barista
“Since I started at REI, I have had only positive experiences in regards to secure scheduling. They schedule us 16 days, or three weekends, prior to the date we work. It’s my part-time weekend job, and I work full-time as a program coordinator at UW. Having a pretty consistent schedule on the weekends at REI is helping me save money.”
— Daniel, salesperson at REI
"I owe it to my family to provide for them but also to be present and know when I get to invest time. Secure scheduling means I can be home with my kid when I need to — without my boss being able to change it in the snap of the fingers. I know I get that time for my family. When I compare jobs and benefits, my secure scheduling & my two weeks' notice are at the top of my list."
— Merlee, bike courier at Jimmy John’s
“After the law went into effect in July 2017, our managers sat down with each of us one on one and created a schedule based on our personal schedules outside of work. For me and a couple other coworkers, it meant moving up to full-time hours. This made a huge difference for me.”
— Emily, salesperson at a large upscale clothing chain
“As a coordinator at Panera, I’ve seen that secure scheduling has made our staff so much happier. The employees choose — if they want to be here five days, I give them five 8-hour shifts. If they want to be here four days, I give them four 9- or 10- hour shifts. Once they’ve decided, it’s set in stone. We’ve made that obligation not to change it unless you come to us. Now you’ve got some form to your week — some structure you can then live off.”
— John, Catering Coordinator at Panera Bread
“I work at a department store in Redmond, but I still saw changes in my store’s scheduling practices when secure scheduling went into effect in Seattle. Before, I was called into work at the last minute. Now, I’m getting fewer calls to come in to work on scheduled days off. It’s easier to schedule doctor’s appointments, or get the car serviced, or plan lunch with a friend. I support secure scheduling because there’s more to life than the job.”
— Merchandiser at a department store
“I’m in school right now, and when I get a shift that’s in conflict with my school schedule, usually I get one of my coworkers to cover all or part of the shift. I've gotten close with a few coworkers specifically so we can help each other cover shifts when we need it. We can't rely on our schedule, so we rely on each other."
— Daniel, barista, Olympia