Schedules That Work Act

Schedules That Work Act – Plain English Summary

The Schedules That Work Act is a federal bill focused on giving workers more predictability and stability in their work schedules. While the full legislative text was not provided, this bill — which has been introduced in Congress multiple times over the years — generally aims to require employers in industries like retail, food service, and building cleaning services to provide workers with advance notice of their schedules, typically at least two weeks ahead of time. It would also give employees certain rights to request schedule changes without fear of retaliation, and require employers to pay extra compensation when schedules are changed at the last minute or shifts are canceled with little notice.

The bill primarily affects hourly and part-time workers in industries where scheduling is often unpredictable and irregular. These workers — who frequently include low-wage earners — sometimes receive their schedules only a few days in advance, making it difficult to arrange childcare, hold a second job, or plan their finances. Employers in covered industries would need to adjust their scheduling practices and potentially pay additional wages when they make last-minute changes.

The bill has been referred to several House committees, including the Committees on Education and Workforce, House Administration, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Judiciary, meaning different portions of the legislation fall under different areas of congressional oversight. It remains in the early stages of the legislative process and has not yet been voted on.