Schichtarbeit unter Veränderungsdruck

Abstract

An increasing number of people do shift work, including night shifts. These shifts structure their daily and private lives and, in turn, affect their social lives. Companies, on the other hand, are faced with the questions of how they can maintain their shift workers’ ability to work in the long term and how they can organise productive shift work with ageing employees. Case studies from a variety of sectors reveal that shift work does not necessarily equate to shift work and that shift workers’ ability to work develops differently. Some remain healthy and contented doing shift work until they retire, while others find the work is detrimental to their health and quality of life. As companies’ options for relieving staff of shift work for health reasons are limited, they are continually looking for innovative ways in which they can sustain their employees’ ability and motivation to do shift work in the long term.