Time Arrangements Research Articles

Long working hours and health in Denmark: a post hoc analysis of three cohort studies

BackgroundTo protect the safety and health of workers, national legislations often stipulate an upper limit to weekly working time. The purpose of the present study was to provide information that may facilitate the obtainment of evidence-based limits to weekly working time.ObjectiveTo estimate incidence rate ratios (RRs) of (i) hospital treatment or death due to accidental injuries, (ii) redeemed prescriptions for psychotropic drugs and (iii) redeemed prescriptions for antihypertensive drugs, respectively, as continuous functions of weekly working hours among employees in the general population of Denmark.MethodsBaseline data on working time arrangements were obtained from the Danish Labor Force Surveys of 1999–2013. Follow-ups with a mean duration of 1.8, 4.0 and 6.6 years for accidental injuries, psychotropic drugs and antihypertensive drugs, respectively, were accomplished through national registers. Adjusted RRs were obtained through Poisson regression in the interval 32–80 weekly working hours (wwh). The reference (standard working hours) was set at 37 wwh. RR estimates were interpreted in accordance with a modified version of Monson’s guide to strength of associations, in which a RR in the open interval 0.83 to 1.2 is classified as ‘no association’ (too weak to be detected by observational studies).ResultsThe estimated RRs as well as the upper and lower limits of their 95% confidence intervals lied within the no-association zone throughout the intervals 32–76, 32–64 and 32–69 wwh, for accidental injury, psychotropic drug use and antihypertensive drug use, respectively. The estimated RRs for psychotropic drug use decreased from 1.08 (95% CI: 1.03–1.13) at 32 wwh to 0.96 (0.93–0.99) at 45 wwh. They thereafter increased to 1.00 (0.95–1.06) at 55 wwh and 1.31 (1.08–1.63) at 80 wwh. The estimated RRs for accidental injury and antihypertensive drug use increased slowly from 1.00 at 37 wwh to 1.04 (0.88–1.24) and 1.11 (0.94–1.31), respectively, at 80 wwh.ConclusionThese results suggest that, from a societal perspective, the effect of wwh on the rates of these types of morbidity is negligible throughout the interval 32–64 wwh.

Optimizing the Production of Biodegradable Containers from Corn Husks Using Hot Mold Forming: Study on Temperature, Forming Time and Husk Arrangement

Optimizing the Production of Biodegradable Containers from Corn Husks Using Hot Mold Forming: Study on Temperature, Forming Time and Husk Arrangement

Longitudinal association between nonstandard work schedule and depressive symptoms

Abstract Background Nonstandard work schedules (NSWSs) have been linked to increased risk of depression, but the evidence is mostly from cross-sectional studies and data on the risk distribution across various groups is lacking. We examined the impact of different NSWSs on depressive symptoms and assessed effect modification by sex, ethnicity, and immigrant status. Methods We used five waves of longitudinal data from the Understanding Society, the UK Household Longitudinal Study, which were collected biennially from 2010/11 to 2018/19. The study sample comprised 11371 employed workers aged 16 to 58 years in 2010/11. Generalised estimating equation with logistic regression was used to assess crude and adjusted effects of NSWS types (work time arrangement, work hours, and weekend working) on depressive symptoms. Independent correlation was specified in all the models. Complete-case and multiple imputation analyses were performed. Results After adjusting for confounders, only weekend work was associated with depressive symptoms. Workers who worked most/all (OR 1.24; 95%CI 1.13 - 1.37) or some (OR 1.10; 95%CI 1.02 - 1.18) weekends had a higher risk of depressive symptoms than workers who did not work on weekends. Ethnicity modified the association between work hours and depressive symptoms, indicating a higher risk among White workers working > 40 hours/week (OR 1.10; 95%CI 1.02 - 1.20) and Asian workers working <35 hours/week (OR 1.72; 95%CI 1.32 - 2.25) compared to White workers working 35-40 hours/week. No effect modification by sex or immigrant status was observed. The results were the same as those obtained from the imputation model. Conclusions Weekend work, long work hours (for White workers), or working < 35 hours/week (for Asian workers) were associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms. These findings indicate the need to review the working conditions of workers exposed to NSWSs, especially those working on weekends and Asian workers who work part-time. Key messages • Weekend work schedule is associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms among employed workers in the UK. • The effect of work hours on depressive symptoms varies by ethnicity.

Variation in bovine milk stability according to lactational stage and genetic group.

We address the hypothesis that at early and late lactation milk presents low ethanol stability due to high acidity and ionic calcium values. Our aim was to evaluate the functional traits of milk (milk ethanol stability: MES, acidity and ionic calcium: iCa) according to lactation stage in different genetic groups. Raw milk samples were collected from Jersey (n = 271), Holstein (n = 248) and Jersey × Holstein crossbred cows (n = 82), raised on five commercial farms located in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Milk composition, somatic cell count (SCC), milk urea nitrogen (MUN), MES, pH, acidity and iCa were determined. Days in milk (DIM) were categorized into four classes: 1-60, 61-150, 151-305 and over 305 DIM. Data were submitted to analysis of variance. Fixed and random effects were incorporated into the model, in a repeated measures in time arrangement using the mixed models methodology. Significant interactions between DIM class and genetic groups were detected. The comparison between each combination of genetic group and DIM class showed that at the beginning of lactation, Holsteins produced milk with higher MES than Jersey and crossbreds. At 105-305 DIM Holstein milk presented higher MES than Jersey, while beyond 305 DIM Holstein milk showed higher MES than crossbred cows. At the beginning of lactation acidity was higher in Holstein milk and crossbreds compared with Jersey, while acidity was lower in Holstein milk compared with Jersey and crossbreds in the other lactation stages. Ionic calcium was highest after lactation peak for Holstein, but did not vary between lactation stages for Jersey and crossbreds. Functional characteristics of bovine raw milk such as MES, iCa and acidity varied between lactation stages in a distinct manner according to genetic groups. Early and end lactation stages are challenging in terms of low stability, especially for Jersey and crossbreds.

A simple model of flexible working time arrangements

AbstractWe offer a simple formalization of different types of flexible working time arrangements. Specifically, we study the distinction between employee‐oriented flexibility and employer‐oriented flexibility. The formal framework we offer can be useful in formulating hypotheses for the growing body of empirical work in the area.

Diversity of flexible working time arrangements and workers' health: An analysis of a workers’ panel and linked employer-employee data for France

Flexible working time arrangements (FWTA) have increased over the last decades, favored by labor market deregulation, the decentralization of collective bargaining and the development of new technologies. The negative impact of some non-standard working hours on health (like night work, shift work) is quite well-known but other forms of FWTA have been studied less so far.This article aims to investigate the relationship between FWTA and workers’ health. It focuses on employer-oriented FWTA and uses a job demands-control framework to identify different types of working time demands and control.The study uses individual data from the French working conditions survey, including panel data from 2013 to 2019 (64,981 observations) and cross-sectional employer-employee linked data from 2019 (5687 employees from 4672 workplaces).We identify empirically two main dimensions of employer-oriented FWTA, based on 14 working time variables. The first type involves “atypical working hours”, such as working weekends, nights, early mornings, evenings, or doing shift work. The second type – “work overflow” – is characterized by long working hours, overtime, taking work home, and having variable working hours.Using a fixed-effects model based on panel data, we show that both types of FWTA have a negative impact on workers' self-rated general health and mental health, as measured by the WHO-5 index. The study also finds that workers who have more control – both individual and collective – to face these demands demonstrate better health. Workers with control over their working hours report better health and are less negatively affected by FWTA. Moreover, workplace-level practices have ambiguous relationships with workers' health. However, those involving social dialogue and workers’ participation have more favorable effects: the positive effect of health and safety committees is especially clear.To improve workers’ health in the context of increased flexible working time arrangements, public policies should promote the development of control over working time and participation of workers to social dialogue on working time related issues.

Construction of PARI public health education programs for Chinese undergraduates: a Delphi study.

The objective of this study is to develop a consensus among experts on a comprehensive and scientifically sound physical activity-related injuries (PARI) public health education program specifically tailored for undergraduates. This study designed three rounds of expert consultation by using a Delphi method. A panel of 30 experts from the fields of public health education, sports medicine, anesthesia pain, emergency medicine, and emergency nursing participated in the study. This study successfully established a consensus among experts on the goals, content, teaching methods, and time allocation for the PARI Public Health Education Program for undergraduates. The program encompasses 10 objectives divided into 2 main categories: professional knowledge and skill goals. In terms of content, it includes 5 primary indicators, 22 secondary indicators, and 56 detailed tertiary indicators. Six teaching methods were identified as suitable. Additionally, a typical 60-min educational session was segmented into eight parts, with a proposed time arrangement for each, ensuring comprehensive coverage of all topics. The consensus achieved in this study on the PARI Public Health Education Program for undergraduates lays a crucial foundation for the advancement of health literacy and proactive health management within this demographic. We presented a comprehensive framework for PARI public health education, integrating diverse learning methods and content areas. This systematic approach not only enriched the resources available for undergraduate health education, especially of PARI but also had the potential to significantly impact the implementation and effectiveness of health promotion strategies.

ILLUMINATING THE IMPACT OF PERSONALITY FACTORS AND SELF EFFICACY ON COLLEGE EDUCATORS' JOB SATISFACTION: A CORRELATION STUDY

This cross-sectional study examined the combined effects of personality factors and self-efficacy on job satisfaction among college teachers in Sargodha, Pakistan. The study, conducted with n= 300 participants, aimed to explore how personality traits openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism and self-efficacy influence job satisfaction in the educational sector. Data was collected using purposive sampling and self-report measures, including the Big Five Personality Scale, self-efficacy scale and job satisfaction questionnaire. Results revealed positive correlations between extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness, self-efficacy and job satisfaction. However, neuroticism showed no significant correlation with job satisfaction. The findings suggest that individuals with certain personality traits, such as being open-minded, cooperative and conscientious, along with high self-efficacy, are more likely to experience job satisfaction in the college teaching profession. Recommendations for education sectors include implementing activities to enhance job satisfaction by focusing on recruiting individuals with stable personalities and high self-efficacy. Additionally, efforts could be made to address gender-specific timing arrangements for teachers to promote equal opportunities and satisfaction. Limitations of the study include the small sample size, limited geographical scope and reliance on self-report measures. Future research could explore longitudinal studies and incorporate qualitative methods to complement quantitative findings. Despite these limitations, the study contributes valuable insights into the relationship between personality, self-efficacy and job satisfaction in educational settings.

Relative Sowing Time and Spatial Arrangement in Upland Rice/Legume Intercropping Systems

Relative Sowing Time and Spatial Arrangement in Upland Rice/Legume Intercropping Systems

High-conflict custody disputes as perceived by young adults who were the child in dispute

Divorce is a prevalent life-changing event for parents and children that may negatively impact children’s well-being. Parenting time arrangements are crucial for the lives of both children and parents; therefore, examining the influence on young adults who sometimes, as children, cannot speak or think about those influences is critical. The study’s main objective was to explore how young adults who were formerly “the child in dispute” position themselves in their narratives and how they construct their past experiences. Twenty young adults were interviewed about their past experiences and current perspectives on its outcomes. According to van Manen’s principles, the interviews were analyzed using a phenomenological approach. The three main themes that emerged were as follows: living under the shadow of parental conflict, coping strategies with the continuous conflict, and the professionals’ roles in the custody dispute.

Robust spatiotemporal organization of mitotic events in mechanically perturbed C. elegans embryos

Early embryogenesis of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans progresses in an autonomous fashion within a protective chitin eggshell. Cell-division timing and the subsequent mechanically guided positioning of cells is virtually invariant between individuals, especially before gastrulation. Here, we have challenged this stereotypical developmental program in early stages by mechanically perturbing the embryo without breaking its eggshell. Compressing embryos to about two-thirds of their unperturbed diameter only resulted in markedly slower cell divisions. In contrast, compressing embryos to half of their native diameter frequently resulted in a loss of cytokinesis, yielding a non-natural syncytium that still allowed for multiple divisions of nuclei. Although the orientation of mitotic axes was strongly altered in the syncytium, key features of division timing and spatial arrangement of nuclei remained surprisingly similar to those of unperturbed embryos in the first few division cycles. This suggests that few, very robust mechanisms provide a basic and resilient program for safeguarding the early embryogenesis of C. elegans.

The sexual function of female medical staff at Nam Dinh General Hospital in 2023

Objective: To describe female sexual function among health care workers at Nam Dinh Provincial General Hospital in 2023 and analyze some factors related to female sexual dysfunction in them Methods: A Cross-sectional descriptive study was used on 312 female medical staff at Nam Dinh Provincial General Hospital in 2023. Results: The percentage of female sexual dysfunction among healthcare workers is 42.95%. The female sexual dysfunction forms from highest to lowest are decreased desire (55.77%), decreased excitement (54.17%), lack of vaginal lubrication (50.64%), dissatisfaction ( 49.04%), difficulty achieving orgasm (47.76%), and pain during intercourse (38.78%). Some factors related to female sexual dysfunction found in the study were age, occupation, education level, housing status, and health status of the research subjects (p<0.05). Conclusion: The overall rate of sexual dysfunction among female medical staff at Nam Dinh Provincial General Hospital is relatively high. Therefore, measures for improvement are much needed. For example psychological counseling in periodic health checks, reasonable working time arrangements, and human resources arrangements. Keywords: Function, medical staff, Nam Dinh.

Working hours and health - key research topics in the past and future.

This paper discusses the past and present highlights of working hours and health research and identifies key research needs for the future. We analyzed over 220 original articles and reviews on working hours and health in the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health published during the last 50 years. Key publications from other journals were also included. The majority of identified articles focussed on the effects of shift and night work, with fewer studying long and reduced working hours and work time control. We observed a transition from small-scale experimental and intensive field studies to large-scale epidemiological studies utilizing precise exposure assessment, reflecting the recent emergence of register-based datasets and the development of analytic methods and alternative study designs for randomized controlled designs. The cumulative findings provide convincing evidence that shift work and long working hours, which are often associated with night work and insufficient recovery, increase the risk of poor sleep and fatigue, sickness absence, occupational injuries, and several chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. The observed risks are strongly modified by individual and work-related factors. Although the observed health risks of shift work and long working hours are mostly low or moderate, the widespread prevalence of exposure and the hazardousness of the many associated potential outcomes makes such working time arrangements major occupational health risks. Further research is needed to identify exposure-response associations, especially in relation to the chronic health effects, and to elucidate underlying pathways and effective personalized intervention strategies.

Mental and physical health among ‘sandwich’ generation working-age adults in the United States: Not all sandwiches are made equal

ObjectiveThis research examined mental and physical health differences by (1) potential upward and downward care recipients and (2) heterogenous time and money transfer arrangements among working-age adults aged 35–64 in the U.S. who are considered to belong to the ‘sandwich generation’. MethodsData for this study came from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics 2013 Family File and Rosters and Transfers module (n = 4609). For the second study objective, we restricted the analytic sample to individuals with at least one living parent/parent-in-law and at least one child (n = 2228). We varied the sandwich generation experience by whether upward (i.e., to parent), downward (i.e., to children), or transfers at both directions occurred. We then fit a series of logistic regression models to study psychological distress and self-rated health status differences among various classifications of sandwich generation, controlling for basic sociodemographic factors and living arrangements. For both samples, we ran separate models for those without underaged coresident children. ResultsCompared to respondents without potential care recipients, sandwiched individuals do not differ concerning severe psychological distress or poor/fair health. Conditional on being sandwiched between parents/parents-in-law and adult children, providers of both upward and downward time transfers have almost twice the odds of having severe psychological distress while money providers to parents/parents-in-law have about 1.6 times higher odds of reporting poor/fair health status. ConclusionThis study dispels the notion that being part of the sandwich generation is automatically deleterious to mental and physical health. Rather, it is the provision of certain transfers whilst being sandwiched that is associated with worse health outcomes.

Tinjauan Pemberian Kompensasi Terhadap Produktifitas Kerja Petugas Rekam Medis Di Rumah Sakit Tere Margareth Tahun 2022

An employee can be said to be productive if he is able to produce goods or services as expected in a short or precise time. The population of this study is medical records officers in the medical records room at RSU Tere Margareth. The sample size is 5 RM employees. The instrument in this research used interviews with respondents who were RM officers at RSU Tere Margareth. The research results showed that the distribution of respondents' answers based on interviews showed that the identification of the Main Duties of Officers in the Hospital Medical Records Unit. Tere Margareth already has a medical record service manual No. Kep/095/I/2019 as follows regarding working time arrangements at Tere Margareth Medan Hospital, divided into 2 work shifts. The performance of medical records officers at Tere Margareth Hospital has two meanings, where first, compensation and performance are directly proportional to the implementation of the quality of work of medical records officers, where from the results of interviews it was found that officers felt very happy, enthusiastic and eager to carry out their responsibilities if their work compensation was increased. However, in the second aspect, whether or not there is compensation for medical records officers, they are still enthusiastic about doing their work because it is their responsibility to do daily work without having to be lured by high compensation. This indicates that awareness of the work responsibilities of medical records officers in Tere Margareth Hospital is good. Based on the results of the research conducted, it can be concluded that RSU.Tere Margareth should pay attention to officer compensation, so that it can help in increasing the productivity of medical records officers at Tere Margareth Hospital, Medan City and officers must also be aware that without compensation, officers continue to work and are responsible for his job.

The Non-Agricultural Labour Productivity Effects of Working Time: South Africa’s Case

The purpose of the current study is to assess the impact of working time on non-agricultural labour productivity in the South African economy. To achieve this objective, the study utilised the Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model (ARDL) and correlation analysis to analyse the effects of different working time arrangements on labour productivity. The results of the study indicated that weekly working hours have a significant influence on worker productivity. Working between 30 and 39 hours per week was found to greatly enhance productivity both in the short and long term. Additionally, working between 15 and 29 hours per week showed a slight positive effect on productivity. Conversely, working more than 39 hours per week (between 40 and 45 hours) only increased productivity in the short term, while working less than 29 hours and exceeding 45 hours per week had a negative impact on labour productivity. These findings suggest that an optimal working schedule to maximise labour productivity is between 30 and 40 hours per week, with overtime not exceeding 5 hours per week. Establishing a proper schedule of weekly working hours is crucial for maximising labour productivity and reducing work-related stress, which can impede productivity.

When reality falls short of preferences: a response surface analysis of working time arrangements and older employees’ work ability expectations

In times of labor shortages and rising regular retirement ages it becomes increasingly important to maintain older employees’ work ability. In this study, drawing on person-environment fit theory, we assume that when working time arrangements do not meet older employees’ preferences this is negatively related to their expected work ability. We operationalize expected work ability as the age until which older employees believe to be physically and mentally able to work in their job. We use a subsample of 4347 employees aged 50 to 65 of the BAuA-Working Time Survey 2017. Results of polynomial regression analyses and response surface analyses reveal that expected work ability is lower when a) actual working hours exceed preferred working hours, b) provided flextime, that is the possibility to control one’s daily beginning and end of the workday, falls short of flextime preferences, and c) work-nonwork segmentation possibilities, that is the possibility to separate work from private life, fall short of the work-nonwork segmentation preferences.Practical Relevance:Our study is of practical relevance, especially to organizations who aim to keep their older employees in the workforce. The findings indicate that not only actual working time arrangements themselves but also the fit with older employees’ preferences can play an important role to keep them in the workforce.

Differentiated Assessments for Learners with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities in Inclusive Elementary Schools in Tanzania

Differentiated Instructions and modifications in curriculum and assessments are considered a prerequisite for the successful inclusion of learners with disabilities in general education. This qualitative study assessed the current provisions and the aspired changes in the curriculum, assessments, and transition plans for learners with Neurodevelopmental Diversities such as Autism in Tanzania. A total of 21 participants partaken in this study. The participants were obtained through purposive and snowball sampling methods. Data collection methods included in-depth interviews, documentary reviews and non-participant observation. Data were analyzed thematically, aided by the vivo 12. Participants were of the opinion that there is a limited provision with regard to only time (an additional twenty minutes in every hour for mathematics and ten minutes in each hour for other subjects) within the subsidiary legislation of the Examination regulations released by the National Examination Council of Tanzania (NECTA) in 2016. The provision, however, does not mention any neurodevelopmental disabilities in the categories of disabilities and the special provisions entitled to them. Lack of reasonable accommodations in the type and structure of questions, rigid modality of responses to the examination questions for learners with learning disabilities and limited flexibility in time and room arrangements have been mentioned as barriers to proper assessments for such learners. The study concludes that there is a need to embrace the evidence-based practices of responsive education, instead of the “one-size-fits-all” kind of education. This will help to improve the curriculum for all learners instead of the approach to “fix” the deficits of learners with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Flexibility for equality: Examining the impact of flexible working time arrangements on women's convergence in working hours

AbstractDespite the rise in women's education and their increased participation in the workforce, there is still a lack of gender convergence in working hours. This study explores how flexible working time arrangements (FWTA) affect the convergence of women's working hours to those of men with similar job‐related characteristics. Using the German Socio‐Economic Panel and innovative methods to address endogeneity, the analysis suggests that FWTA, compared to fixed schedules, positively influence women's convergence. This is particularly pronounced among those working full‐time, the more educated, and those aged between 30 and 45. Transitioning to FWTA is associated with increased overtime and childcare hours but it is not related to more housework.

Teachers’ closeness of professional relationship and its role in learning perception after reciprocal peer observation

Extant literature on reciprocal peer observation has reported teachers’ perception of positive effects on interpersonal relationships. However, pretest-posttest evidence is missing (first aim), and its role in teacher learning has not been examined (second aim). 364 teachers participated in this study. First, it provides pretest-posttest evidence of increased closeness of professional relationship, as well as exploratory teacher interpretations via group interviews. Educational stage might affect this increase. Second, it shows that, rather than initial closeness as a prerequisite, it is final closeness which significantly affects teacher learning perception. Statistical analyses also show the relevance of school time arrangement.