Abstract
BackgroundNon-standard work schedules (NSWSs), occurring outside of regular and predictable daytime hours, may negatively affect worker and family health. This qualitative study sought to understand worker perspectives on the health and well-being impacts of NSWSs among full-time, transportation maintainers, correctional, and manufacturing workers.MethodsForty-nine workers participated in 8 focus groups. Data were transcribed and analyzed with ATLAS.ti, using the constant comparative method to identify themes and sub-themes.ResultsWorkers reported that long work hours and irregular and unpredictable schedules posed the biggest obstacles to their well-being. Workers reported that NSWSs were associated with behavior impacts (poor family and social connections, poor eating, poor sleep, lack of exercise recovery), physical health impacts (exhaustion, weight gain) and extended work exposures (increased stress, increased accidents).ConclusionsThis highlights the importance of developing and implementing effective workplace interventions to address these barriers to health and health behaviors.
Highlights
Non-standard work schedules (NSWSs), occurring outside of regular and predictable daytime hours, may negatively affect worker and family health
While NSWSs have long been commonplace for workers in some sectors such as public safety, healthcare, and retail, the expansion of NSWSs to a broader range of work sectors is new
“Shift work,” is one type of NSWS, defined as work scheduled outside the typical daytime work period that may extend beyond a typical 8 to 9 hour schedule, in order to meet the staffing needs of organizations that operate continuously over 24 hours [3]
Summary
Non-standard work schedules (NSWSs), occurring outside of regular and predictable daytime hours, may negatively affect worker and family health. “Shift work,” is one type of NSWS, defined as work scheduled outside the typical daytime work period that may extend beyond a typical 8 to 9 hour schedule, in order to meet the staffing needs of organizations that operate continuously over 24 hours [3]. It may include on-call work, compressed work schedules, rotating shifts, weekend work and many other shift arrangements. While NSWSs help to meet the societal and economic demands of a 24/7 society, there are implications for workplaces, workers, as well as families and communities [5]
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