Unpredictability: Unhealthy and Unnecessary

Every day, thousands upon thousands of Philadelphians walk into their local Wawa’s, the region’s superior response to 7-11. It’s a ritual for many, picking up a hoagie or grabbing a coffee, that helps them get through the work day. Wawa, they say, is part of who we are.

This week at a hearing at City Hall, we heard news that made us question how true that was.

Between impassioned pleas from the city’s workers and parents describing the hardships that unpredictable work schedules wreak on their children, the President and CEO of Philadelphia’s Chamber of Commerce Rob Wonderling said he was against the resolution at issue.

Wawa, he said, was also adamantly opposed to that same resolution. What exactly was so objectionable?

Here’s the actual resolution: “Resolved, that the Council of the City of Philadelphia, Authorizes the Committee on Children and Youth to conduct hearings regarding the impact of unpredictable and inadequate work hours on the well-being of families, and examining the impact of unstable work weeks on children and caregivers.”

It was about starting an important conversation that could have a profound effect on Wawa families.

And Wawa doesn’t even wa-want to hear about it.

How’s that for unpredictable?

When a parent’s work schedule varies by shift, raising healthy, stable children becomes much more difficult. When they cannot predict their work schedule they cannot put their child in consistent child care. Inconsistencies in child care undermine cognitive and emotional development while predictable schedules can help to avoid jarring interruptions.

But not only does the lack of a predictable schedule make critical child bonding with caregivers impossible, it also means the enrollment of children in high quality child care is unlikely. The state requires parents using subsidized child care to maintain 20 hours of regular work. When hours and schedules fluctuate, causing the parent’s income to change, a parent’s capacity to maintain their eligibility for these critical early learning supports for their children is put at risk.

Unpredictable schedules mean parents and their children miss pediatric appointments. Already far too many children miss school because of treatable chronic illnesses like asthma that flare up when doctor appointments are missed. With reasonable notice of a work schedule, a parent can negotiate with their children’s health care provider for appointments.

Not only are kids harmed, it shifts the cost of unpredictable schedules right on our health care systems. We regularly hear from pediatricians, including those at CHOP and St. Chris, that children miss appointments because parents do not have notice of their schedules.

Other cities and states have found a workable solution for employees and employers.  The state of California has already passed a law that ensures employers tell employees their schedules in advance, as have Oregon, New York City, Seattle, and San Francisco. Each of these states and localities approach the scheduling requirements differently and Philadelphia would likewise find an approach that works here.

The government cannot turn a family-hostile employer into a family friendly workplace. But the government can level the playing field in these sectors so that there is no competitive disadvantage for employers who want to retain good parents as their workers.