[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 57 (Friday, March 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20502-20503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06054]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of Labor Statistics


Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

AGENCY: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be 
provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial 
resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, 
and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be 
properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed reinstatement with change of the 
``Work Schedules Supplement (WSS) to the Current Population Survey 
(CPS).'' A copy of the proposed information collection request can be 
obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the ADDRESSES 
section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice on or before May 21, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Erin Good, BLS Clearance Officer, Division 
of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room G225, 2 
Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20212. Written comments also 
may be transmitted by email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Good, BLS Clearance Officer, at 
202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number). (See ADDRESSES section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The purpose of this request for review is for the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics (BLS) to obtain clearance for the Work Schedule Supplement 
(WSS or the supplement) to the Current Population Survey (CPS), 
scheduled to be conducted in September 2024. This supplement was last 
conducted with the May 2004 CPS.
    The results of this supplement will increase our understanding of 
work schedules (including shift work) and work at home for the employed 
by various demographic characteristics, occupations, and industries. 
The data will expand our understanding of current workplace 
arrangements and how those arrangements have changed over time. Policy 
makers also can use these data to inform the design of regulations for 
different types of workers.
    Since the supplement was last collected in 2004, work patterns and 
policies have changed. The disruption of the coronavirus (COVID-19) 
pandemic has had lasting impacts on work at home and increased the 
demand for information about work at home. The Work Schedules 
Supplement provides information on the number and characteristics of 
people who work at home, including people who operate businesses from 
their homes. It includes items about the frequency of work at home and 
makes it easier to identify people who work entirely at home, a topic 
of interest for researchers and policy makers. For those who work 
entirely at home, there are new questions about whether they have a 
worksite they could go to and why they don't work there.
    As work at home is more common than in the past, there is a need to 
have more information about the nature of this work, including 
identifying people who work entirely at home and quantifying how much 
people work at home. Policy makers lack information about hybrid work 
(combining at-home and on-site work) from a large-scale comprehensive 
labor force survey. For people who work at home some of the time, the 
supplement asks about hours and days of the week worked at home, 
including days worked exclusively at home. These items will shed light 
on the intensity of work at home. There are also questions about work 
at home on second jobs.
    In terms of work schedules, the supplement includes questions to 
identify shift workers and the reason people work a non-daytime shift. 
Other questions ask whether people can vary their work hours (the time 
they start and end work), days worked, or shift worked. Other questions 
ask about how many and which days of the week people work (including 
items about second jobs). The 2024 supplement also includes a question 
about how far in advance workers know their work schedule. Researchers 
and policy makers can use these data to identify people who lack 
advance notice of their work schedule or may have unstable work 
schedules.
    Because this supplement is part of the Current Population Survey, 
in which detailed demographic data are collected, estimates can be 
produced for a variety of population groups. Given sufficient sample 
size, comparisons will be possible across demographic characteristics 
such as sex, age, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and educational 
attainment. Comparisons by class of worker, industry, and occupation 
will also be possible.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the 
reinstatement with change of the Work Schedules Supplement (WSS) to the 
Current Population Survey (CPS). A reinstatement with change of this 
previously approved collection, for which approval has expired, is 
needed to provide the Nation with timely information about work 
schedules (including shift work) and work at home.

III. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in 
comments that:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary

[[Page 20503]]

for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility.
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used.
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.
    Title of Collection: Work Schedules Supplement (WSS) to the Current 
Population Survey (CPS).
    OMB Number: 1220-0119.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement, with change.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Annual Number of Respondents: 47,000.
    Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
    Total Annual Responses: 47,000.
    Average Time per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Total Burden Hours: 3,917 hours.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they also will become a 
matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on March 15, 2024.
Eric Molina,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Branch of Policy Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2024-06054 Filed 3-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P