Disruption for millions of workers informed of shifts less than a week

The Living Wage Foundation study discovered the scale of chaos for employees who were left behind by their bosses as they waited to hear from them when they were asked.

10 million workers receive notice of their shifts in less than a week, research reveals today.

A third of part-time and full-time employees are affected, resulting in disruption to their family life and childcare, according to a study by the Living Wage Foundation.

Figures from Statista show there were eight million part-timers and 24.4 million full-timers in the UK in the three months to December – meaning 10.3 million people were subject to short notice periods .

Lower-paid workers are among the hardest hit.

Fifty percent of under-wage matchers received notice of less than seven days of work, and 21% of workers had unexpected shift cancellations.

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Nearly nine out of 10 people are not fully paid, the report found.

The think-tank said its investigation “shows the size and impact of a culture of short-term mobility in the UK, with the strongest impact on low-paid workers in the “insecurity premium”. full “”.

Foundation director Katherine Chapman said: “We’ve known for a long time that there is a cost to being poor, but this study shows that being poor and working unsafely is even more costly.

“It is shocking that half of workers earning below real wages are told to work shifts of less than a week, making it impossible for them to plan for life and leading to extra costs like caregiving. last minute childcare”.

Ms Chapman urges employers to “provide workers with Working Hours – safe, guaranteed hours and informed shift patterns – along with a Living Wage”.

Deputy Labor Leader Angela Rayner, Shadow Futures Work Secretary, said “the scourge of precarious work and poor wages is overshadowing the lives of too many people”.

She added: “A job should offer security, prosperity and respect, and it will allow you to take care of your family.

“We need a new deal for the people who are working.”

Louise Woodruff, of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: “Being able to plan your life around work is essential for everyone, but we know that for the lowest earners it is Having a reliable income and schedule can provide the solid foundation on which they need to build a better life for themselves and their families.

“Employers can help their employees by providing the safety their workers need, not only to be productive, but also to be able to plan for their future.

“Employees really appreciate employers that understand and provide the security they need, and can offer loyalty and flexibility in return.”