The Wood case demonstrates problems when hours are changed unilaterally. It may simply not be possible to change child-care arrangements or school hours to fit the changing hours an employer needs. Co-ordinating family activities becomes almost impossible if one or more members of the family cannot be sure what days or hours they will be required to work. Rather than making work more family-friendly, these new arrangements may further isolate people from their families. People may no longer be able to commit to sports or other activities.
Team sports require a group of people who share common free time.
No wonder recent ABS data shows voluntary community activities are in serious decline in Australia, although this in part reflects the changes in working time in Australia. Third, changed working time arrangements have unintended consequences. The increasing popularity of days of 12 or more hours in the service, transport and mining industries brings potential health and safety problems. Fourth, it is apparent some full-time employees have little say in when they work. About two-thirds of all workers in a national survey reported that they had some influence over when they started and finished work.