The Shift Project
@shift-project.bsky.social
National survey data & precarious employment research |
@Kennedy_School & @UCSF(formerly @UCBerkeley) | #Scheduling #ServiceSector #EssentialWorkers #Health
shift.hks.harvard.edu
@Kennedy_School & @UCSF(formerly @UCBerkeley) | #Scheduling #ServiceSector #EssentialWorkers #Health
shift.hks.harvard.edu
5/5 These findings have important implications that view ESI as a substitute for Medicaid for hourly service-sector workers.
November 7, 2025 at 7:22 PM
5/5 These findings have important implications that view ESI as a substitute for Medicaid for hourly service-sector workers.
4/5 - Falling into an exemption category is associated with a lower likelihood of being offered ESI. Workers are nearly 30, 25, and 8 percentage points less likely to be offered ESI if at a franchised firm, work part time, and have been at a firm for less than one year, respectively.
November 7, 2025 at 7:22 PM
4/5 - Falling into an exemption category is associated with a lower likelihood of being offered ESI. Workers are nearly 30, 25, and 8 percentage points less likely to be offered ESI if at a franchised firm, work part time, and have been at a firm for less than one year, respectively.
3/5 - Using the Shift Project’s measures of firm franchise status (used as a proxy for firm size), part-time status, and tenure, we find that nearly 60% of hourly service-sector workers fall into at least one of the exemption categories. @dschneider.bsky.social @gabyaboulafia.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 7:22 PM
3/5 - Using the Shift Project’s measures of firm franchise status (used as a proxy for firm size), part-time status, and tenure, we find that nearly 60% of hourly service-sector workers fall into at least one of the exemption categories. @dschneider.bsky.social @gabyaboulafia.bsky.social
2/5 - The Affordable Care Act requires that employers offer affordable, minimum-value ESI to workers or potentially face penalties. However, firms with <50 employees, part-time workers, and those who’ve worked at their firm for under one year may be exempt from the employer provision.
November 7, 2025 at 7:22 PM
2/5 - The Affordable Care Act requires that employers offer affordable, minimum-value ESI to workers or potentially face penalties. However, firms with <50 employees, part-time workers, and those who’ve worked at their firm for under one year may be exempt from the employer provision.
7/7 Amazon’s fissured employment model may have helped it overtake UPS and FedEx in market share, but it has very troubling implications for workers – and, given its size and influence, how Amazon treats its workers has effects that reach well beyond its own workforce.
October 7, 2025 at 2:41 PM
7/7 Amazon’s fissured employment model may have helped it overtake UPS and FedEx in market share, but it has very troubling implications for workers – and, given its size and influence, how Amazon treats its workers has effects that reach well beyond its own workforce.
6/7 But one shared experience among Amazon’s warehouse workers and delivery drivers? Being exposed to a high degree of surveillance and speed tracking on the job. Simply put, as one Amazon worker told us: “They know everything.”
October 7, 2025 at 2:41 PM
6/7 But one shared experience among Amazon’s warehouse workers and delivery drivers? Being exposed to a high degree of surveillance and speed tracking on the job. Simply put, as one Amazon worker told us: “They know everything.”
5/7 Amazon drivers’ challenges don’t stop at lower wages – they also have much less access to benefits like paid sick leave. The result: one in four report going hungry in the past month, & one in three report not being able to fully pay their utilities bills in the past month.
October 7, 2025 at 2:41 PM
5/7 Amazon drivers’ challenges don’t stop at lower wages – they also have much less access to benefits like paid sick leave. The result: one in four report going hungry in the past month, & one in three report not being able to fully pay their utilities bills in the past month.
4/7 On average, Amazon warehouse workers benefit from having more stable schedules than UPS and FedEx warehouse workers, but Amazon delivery drivers don’t have the same edge over UPS and FedEx drivers – illustrating the divide between Amazon’s delivery and fulfillment operations.
October 7, 2025 at 2:41 PM
4/7 On average, Amazon warehouse workers benefit from having more stable schedules than UPS and FedEx warehouse workers, but Amazon delivery drivers don’t have the same edge over UPS and FedEx drivers – illustrating the divide between Amazon’s delivery and fulfillment operations.
3/7 A critical contrast: the entire UPS workforce is directly employed & unionized, while Amazon’s workforce is highly fissured. None of its delivery drivers are actually Amazon employees; they are either independent gig workers (Amazon Flex) or employees of subcontracted DSPs.
October 7, 2025 at 2:41 PM
3/7 A critical contrast: the entire UPS workforce is directly employed & unionized, while Amazon’s workforce is highly fissured. None of its delivery drivers are actually Amazon employees; they are either independent gig workers (Amazon Flex) or employees of subcontracted DSPs.
2/7 We find that Amazon delivery drivers earn much lower wages on average than UPS or FedEx drivers, partially because Amazon workers rarely stick around for multiple years – and their pay hardly increases if they do. @dschneider.bsky.social @profsheenalives.bsky.social @juliesulabor.bsky.social
October 7, 2025 at 2:41 PM
2/7 We find that Amazon delivery drivers earn much lower wages on average than UPS or FedEx drivers, partially because Amazon workers rarely stick around for multiple years – and their pay hardly increases if they do. @dschneider.bsky.social @profsheenalives.bsky.social @juliesulabor.bsky.social
8/8 – So, what does this mean? (1) FSI workers often leave jobs for self-preservation, not due to “job hopping” or lack of work ethic. (2) Workplace relationships, especially with supervisors, have a major impact on their experience. More insights in the full report—check it out!
August 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM
8/8 – So, what does this mean? (1) FSI workers often leave jobs for self-preservation, not due to “job hopping” or lack of work ethic. (2) Workplace relationships, especially with supervisors, have a major impact on their experience. More insights in the full report—check it out!
7/8 – Notably, FSI young workers also tend to be employed in some of the least supportive sectors, such as fast food.
August 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM
7/8 – Notably, FSI young workers also tend to be employed in some of the least supportive sectors, such as fast food.
6/8 – Importantly, these workplace experiences don’t just impact these workers at work – they also impact them off the clock, with large associated changes in psychological distress.
August 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM
6/8 – Importantly, these workplace experiences don’t just impact these workers at work – they also impact them off the clock, with large associated changes in psychological distress.
5/8 – FSI workers are also more likely to feel physical unsafe at work, experience discrimination, and experience customer abuse. All of these negative experiences are associated with significant drops in job satisfaction and intent to stay in one’s current job.
August 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM
5/8 – FSI workers are also more likely to feel physical unsafe at work, experience discrimination, and experience customer abuse. All of these negative experiences are associated with significant drops in job satisfaction and intent to stay in one’s current job.
4/8 FSI workers also report less support from supervisors and coworkers, and more punitive discipline. Notably, they are 5.7 percentage points more likely to report being ridiculed, which has a very large effect on job outcomes. @harvardkennedy.bsky.social @ucsfhealth.bsky.social
August 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM
4/8 FSI workers also report less support from supervisors and coworkers, and more punitive discipline. Notably, they are 5.7 percentage points more likely to report being ridiculed, which has a very large effect on job outcomes. @harvardkennedy.bsky.social @ucsfhealth.bsky.social
3/8 – FSI workers face more disrespect and bullying from supervisors/coworkers, deeply affecting job outcomes. Those who feel respected by their supervisor report a 51-point increase in job satisfaction. @dschneider.bsky.social @kristenharknett.bsky.social
August 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM
3/8 – FSI workers face more disrespect and bullying from supervisors/coworkers, deeply affecting job outcomes. Those who feel respected by their supervisor report a 51-point increase in job satisfaction. @dschneider.bsky.social @kristenharknett.bsky.social
2/8 - Formerly systems involved (FSI) young workers report overall more negative onboarding experiences as compared to their non-involved peers. Positive onboarding experiences significantly impact job outcomes including job satisfaction and intent to stay in one’s current job.
August 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM
2/8 - Formerly systems involved (FSI) young workers report overall more negative onboarding experiences as compared to their non-involved peers. Positive onboarding experiences significantly impact job outcomes including job satisfaction and intent to stay in one’s current job.
7/7 - 🏛️ Policy implications: Results support PSL mandates as effective tool for establishing minimum job quality standards. Federal PSL mandate could address current patchwork of state coverage while delivering public health benefits! #PaidSickLeave #PublicHealth
July 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
7/7 - 🏛️ Policy implications: Results support PSL mandates as effective tool for establishing minimum job quality standards. Federal PSL mandate could address current patchwork of state coverage while delivering public health benefits! #PaidSickLeave #PublicHealth
6/7 - 📅 Study uniquely examines schedule instability as potential margin of adjustment—finding no increase in last-minute cancellations, on-call shifts, or reduced advance notice. Suggests firms don't shift costs to scheduling practices!
July 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
6/7 - 📅 Study uniquely examines schedule instability as potential margin of adjustment—finding no increase in last-minute cancellations, on-call shifts, or reduced advance notice. Suggests firms don't shift costs to scheduling practices!
5/7 - 💼 Important finding: No evidence firms offset PSL costs through other channels of adjustment. No cuts to wages, health insurance, retirement benefits, or schedule stability. This addresses key concern about unintended consequences of mandates.
July 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
5/7 - 💼 Important finding: No evidence firms offset PSL costs through other channels of adjustment. No cuts to wages, health insurance, retirement benefits, or schedule stability. This addresses key concern about unintended consequences of mandates.
4/7 - 📈 Key findings: PSL mandates increased worker access to paid sick leave from 46% to 62% in treatment states, while control states saw minimal change (37% to 39%). Workers also 3pp less likely to work while sick when PSL laws in effect. #PublicHealth
July 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
4/7 - 📈 Key findings: PSL mandates increased worker access to paid sick leave from 46% to 62% in treatment states, while control states saw minimal change (37% to 39%). Workers also 3pp less likely to work while sick when PSL laws in effect. #PublicHealth
3/7 - 🏪 Research focuses on service sector workers who typically lack PSL access but face high disease exposure through customer contact. The study uses 68,930 workers at 204 service companies to investigate implementation of 11 PSL laws from 2017-2023. #PaidSickLeave
July 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
3/7 - 🏪 Research focuses on service sector workers who typically lack PSL access but face high disease exposure through customer contact. The study uses 68,930 workers at 204 service companies to investigate implementation of 11 PSL laws from 2017-2023. #PaidSickLeave