Parenting Without Predictability: Precarious Schedules, Parental Strain, and Work-Life Conflict

Abstract

Against the backdrop of dramatic changes in work and family life, this paper draws on survey data from 2,971 mothers working in the service sector to examine how unpredictable schedules are associated with three dimensions of parenting: difficulty arranging childcare, work-life conflict, and parenting stress. Results demonstrate that on-call shifts, shift timing changes, work hour volatility, and short advance notice of work schedules are positively associated with difficulty arranging childcare and work-life conflict. We also find that mothers working these schedules are more likely to miss work. Finally, we consider how family structure and race moderate the relationship between schedule instability and these dimensions of parenting. Ultimately, we argue that unstable work schedules have important consequences for mothers working in the service industry.