A New Approach for Evaluating Flexible Working Hours

Giebel, Ole; Janssen, Daniela; Schomann, Carsten; Nachreiner, Friedhelm

doi:10.1081/cbi-200036917

Cited by 20 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…This question, however, would have to be addressed by a different methodological approach, e.g. collecting data on independent and dependent variables from different sources, preferably from independent observations of working hours, their desynchronization with normal working hours, 8 some index of physiological and psychosocial desynchronization and effect variables, in order to get a more complete picture of the assumed causal chain. But whatever the answer to this question will be, the effect of the variability of working hours will most probably remain.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health and psychosocial effects of flexible working hours

2004

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ObjectiveTo examine whether any impairments in health and social lives can be found under different kinds of flexible working hours, and whether such effects are related to specific characteristics of these working hours. Methods Two studies -a company based survey (N=660) and an internet survey (N=528) -have been conducted. The first one was a questionnaire study (paper and pencil) on employees working under some 'typical' kinds of different flexible working time arrangements in different companies and different occupational fields (health care, manufacturing, retail, administration, call centres). The second study was an internetbased survey, using an adaptation of the questionnaire from the first study. ResultsThe results of both studies consistently show that high variability of working hours is associated with increased impairments in health and well-being and this is especially true if this variability is company controlled. These effects are less pronounced if variability is self-controlled; however, autonomy does not compensate the effects of variability. ConclusionsRecommendations for an appropriate design of flexible working hours should be developed in order to minimize any impairing effects on health and psychosocial wellbeing; these recommendations should include -besides allowing for discretion in controlling one's (flexible) working hours -that variability in flexible working hours should be kept low (or at least moderate), even if this variability is self-controlled. Resumo Objetivo Investigar se ocorre prejuízo à saúde e à vida social com diferentes tipos de horas de trabalho flexíveis e se há relação entre estes efeitos e características específicas das horas de trabalho. Métodos Foram realizados dois estudos, uma pesquisa em uma empresa (N=660) e outra pela Internet (N=528). O primeiro estudo consistiu de um questionário (papel e lápis) aplicado a funcionários sujeitos a diferentes ajustes "típicos" de horas de

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health and psychosocial effects of flexible working hours

2004

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“…This is in contrast to the now frequently desired flexibility of shift schedules, which if the selection is irregular, may be unfavorable for the health of the shift worker [104][105][106]. These considerations have to be weighed against the favorable aspects of flexibility for the worker, his/her family and social needs.…”

Section: Adaptation Of Circadian Time Organization To the Night Shiftmentioning

confidence: 98%

Biological Clocks and Shift Work: Circadian Dysregulation and Potential Long-term Effects

Haus

Smolensky

2006

Cancer Causes Control

329

216

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Long-term epidemiologic studies on large numbers of night and rotating shift workers have suggested an increase in the incidence of breast and colon cancer in these populations. These studies suffer from poor definition and quantification of the work schedules of the exposed subjects. Against this background, the pathophysiology of phase shift and phase adaptation is reviewed. A phase shift as experienced in night and rotating shift work involves desynchronization at the molecular level in the circadian oscillators in the central nervous tissue and in most peripheral tissues of the body. There is a change in the coordination between oscillators with transient loss of control by the master-oscillator (the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, SCN) in the hypothalamus. The implications of the pathophysiology of phase shift are discussed for long-term health effects and for the design of ergonomic work schedules minimizing the adverse health effects upon the worker.

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“…On the other hand, the knowledge of how shift workers select work hours (where possible) is very limited. Some authors have claimed that they might give too much priority to short-term social needs, which result in compressed work hours, and that work hour variability increases 14,15) . As a consequence, self-determined shift systems might increase the frequency of quick returns, long work shifts and many work days in a row, which increase the risk for disturbed sleep, sleepiness, accidents, and poor health 16) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sleep, Sleepiness and Health Complaints in Police Officers: The Effects of a Flexible Shift System

Eriksen

Kecklund

2007

Ind Health

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The aim of the study was to study the effects of a flexible shift system (based on selfdetermined work hours) with respect to sleep/wake complaints and subjective health. The comparison group was a rapidly rotating shift system, with frequently occurring quick returns. A secondary aim was to examine the relation between work hour characteristics indicating compressed or difficult rosters (e.g. number of workdays in a row, frequency of quick returns and long work shifts) and subjective sleep and sleepiness, within the flexible shift system group. The sample of the analysis included 533 randomly selected police officers, of which 26% were females. The participants answered a questionnaire. The results showed that the flexible shift system group did not differ with respect to sleep/wake complaints and subjective health. However, the flexible shift group obtained more sleep in connection with the shifts, probably because of longer rest time between shifts. Thus, they worked less quick returns and long work shifts. The association between work hour characteristics and sleep/wake complaints was weak in the flexible shift group. Instead, sleep/wake problems were mainly associated with the attitude to work hours.

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A New Approach for Evaluating Flexible Working Hours

Cited by 20 publications

References 2 publications

Health and psychosocial effects of flexible working hours

Health and psychosocial effects of flexible working hours

Biological Clocks and Shift Work: Circadian Dysregulation and Potential Long-term Effects

Sleep, Sleepiness and Health Complaints in Police Officers: The Effects of a Flexible Shift System

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