Hourly workers across a number of industries have long been grappling with unstable schedules and pay as their employers use software to slash labor costs and maximize productivity.

Algorithms are a staple of modern life. People rely on algorithmic recommendations to wade through deep catalogs and find the best movies, routes, information, products, people and investments.

The increasing use of algorithms to optimize pricing strategies has drawn the attention of competition authorities on both sides of the Atlantic, who fear the technology can facilitate price fixing ...