US Businesses Give in to Worker Demands to Keep Employees

As many American businesses struggle to fill jobs, some have started negotiating demands that used to be non-negotiable for most hourly employees.

One of the top demands for many workers is scheduling — the days and time they spend on the job. 【小题1】 That means employees are pushing back against requirements to work weekends, late nights or holidays.

【小题2】 Therefore, workers can be more careful about the jobs they choose. There were 10.4 million job openings at the end of August and 11.1 million openings the month before. Those numbers are the highest since at least December 2000, when the government started recording the data. At the same time, the U.S. Labor Department said the number of people quitting their jobs jumped to 4.3 million in August from 4 million in July.

A recent study from an employment company found that nearly 40 percent of jobseekers worldwide said schedule flexibility was one of their top three issues in career decisions. Instawork is an employment marketplace that connects local businesses with hourly workers. 【小题3】

Such changes are happening as companies try to hire more workers for the upcoming holiday season. Target Corporation, for example, said this month it will pay $2 an hour more to employees who agree to work schedules during busy days of the holiday season. Sumir Meghani is co-founder and CEO of Instawork. 【小题4】 Hourly workers are now asking how they can get the same work-life balance as workers in other kinds of jobs who can work remotely.

During the pandemic (大流行病), hourly workers were hit especially hard when businesses like department stores and restaurants were forced to close for a few months during the spring of 2020. Those who remained employed at essential businesses like grocery stores found themselves working too much and too hard.