Unpredictable schedules are so disruptive to the lives of employees that even 30 days of high shift variability in a year increases the chances a worker will quit by 20 percent, according to a new study from Wharton experts. Employers use just-in-time scheduling to cover peak demand and raise both productivity and profits. But they may want to reconsider such policies in light of the research, which points to schedule volatility as a major factor in employee turnover.

“Operationally, a just-in-time approach sounds like a good thing, but that’s assuming it’s not going to lead to costs elsewhere,” says Wharton professor of operations, information and decisions Hummy Song, co-author of the study. “When you think of all the costs associated with high rates of turnover and quitting—the recruiting, the training, and the time it takes for new hires to ramp up their productivity—it’s quite substantial.”

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