Final answer:
Whether a full-time employee can be called in to work part of a shift depends on their contract and workplace policies. Full-time workers typically have fixed hours and an inelastic labor supply curve, in contrast to part-time or younger workers who have more elastic labor flexibility.
Step-by-step explanation:
Whether an employee who signed up to only work full shifts can be called in to work the remainder of a shift is not a true or false question as it depends on the specifics of the employment contract and company policies. The response patterns to changes in wages and hours point to different economics behaviors among full-time and part-time workers. Full-time employees often have hours that are held relatively fixed, which is reflected in their inelastic labor supply curve.
As explained, these individuals may not change their work hours significantly as wages rise or fall. This lack of change is partially due to personal choice and also employer practices, which can include set shift patterns and an expectation for work commitment. In contrast, part-time or younger workers are generally more flexible in adjusting their hours in response to wage changes, making them likely to have a more elastic supply of labor. This suggests that expecting someone who has signed up for full shifts to come in only for a part of a shift could be against normal practices unless stipulated by policy or in response to exceptional circumstances.