Unpredictable work schedules increase the risk of romantic breakups, new study finds
While money problems are a known relationship killer, a new study uncovers another threat: unpredictable work schedules. Researchers found that erratic shifts and last-minute changes increase the risk of breakups for hourly service workers.
A recent study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family suggests that unpredictable work schedules may increase the risk of romantic relationships ending in separation or divorce. The research, conducted by Kristen Harknett, a professor of sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, analyzed data from 6,918 hourly service-sector workers in the United States.
The study found that workers experiencing four or five types of schedule instability, such as being placed on-call, having shifts canceled, or working "clopening" shifts, had a 12 percentage point lower likelihood of maintaining their marriages compared to those with stable schedules. For cohabiting couples, the risk of relationship breakdown increased to 8 percentage points lower when facing similar schedule instability.
The study highlights the potential impact of low-wage jobs with unpredictable hours on family stability, suggesting that employers should prioritize schedule predictability to minimize relationship disruptions.
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