People who work at night are more than 2.5 times more likely to have a poor work-life balance. They find it more difficult to combine their jobs and private lives than people who only work in daytime. This is one of the results of a study by RIVM and TNO.
The researchers interviewed 50 night-shift workers. Most workers said working at night means spending less time with their families or partners. One reason for this is that they feel tired. They also feel less like socialising on their days off. But this only applies to some people who work at night. Some mentioned that working at night actually makes it easier for them to manage their private lives.
Solutions to reduce adverse health effects
The researchers also explored solutions to reduce the adverse health risks of working at night. Employers, night workers and occupational physicians saw few opportunities to reduce night work. Solutions mentioned were, for instance, new technology (automation) and stand-by shifts. Most night workers however, do not prefer such shifts, as these are perceived as bad for their sleep quality and work-life balance. In conclusion, all stakeholders interviewed felt it would be difficult to reduce night work. This makes it extra important to find solutions and ways to implement them. Night workers themselves also had ideas: fewer tasks at night and sharing experiences with each other.
Giving a good example
Occupational physicians and employers indicated that the implementation of measures is more successfully promoted when managers are enthusiastic about the measures and adopt them themselves. Occupational physicians also said that it is important if they can explain the added value to employers, for example in terms of sustained employability. They also emphasised that measures do not need to lead to less productivity. For employers, it is important that there is enough budget for the implementation of measures. At the same time, they indicated that applying for funding sometimes takes a long time.
About the study
RIVM and TNO carried out this study on night work with subsidy from Institute Gak. They interviewed 50 night workers and interviewed employers and occupational physicians. The researchers also used survey data from almost 400,000 employees and 127 employers. More information about this study can be found in the brochure.The brochure is available on this RIVM web page about working at night(only in Dutch).
FAQs
On average, people who work night shifts are 2.5 times more likely to have “a poor work-life balance,” the researchers calculated. However, this does not apply to everyone.
How does shift work affect work-life balance? ›
However, some employees' shift patterns have proven to prevent a healthy lifestyle. Working irregular hours requires shift workers to adapt to frequent changes in their social schedule and biological clock. This can lead to a variety of health problems, which has become a big concern for industries worldwide.
Which problem is likely to occur with night shift employees? ›
There is an increased likelihood of experiencing a sleep deficit during subsequent night shift work; this is most heightened during the second half of the shift which occurs in the early morning, resulting in a greater risk of errors and accidents, especially while traveling.
Does being a night shift work affect your health and life expectancy? ›
Shift work can kill you 15 years sooner, warns Whoop's chief scientist, while dramatically raising your risk for depression and suicide. Essential staff who work night shifts are more vulnerable to mental health issues.
Are night shifts bad for your health? ›
Night shift work increases the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. It disrupts the body's circadian rhythms—the 24-hour internal “clock” that controls when you sleep and wake. Studies have shown that eating at night alters the body's metabolism.
Which work shift is most damaging to work life balance? ›
People who work at night are more than 2.5 times more likely to have a poor work-life balance.
What is the best shift pattern for work-life balance? ›
Another effective shift pattern is the Pitman schedule. Employees work two 12-hour days, have two days off, work three 12-hour days, and then have two days off. This cycle repeats with a shorter set of two-day work periods and a longer rest period after the second cycle.
Does working night shift age you? ›
Preliminary findings have underlined a possible relationship between shift work and aging by showing an association between duration of NS work and reduced telomere length [5,6], although its use as a potential index of biological aging is still controversial [7].
What is the healthiest shift work schedule? ›
In general, clockwise shift rotations should be used (day–evening–night). Ideally, a rotational schedule should include no more than 3 night shifts in a block, with 3 days of recuperation after the night shift work.
What is the most frequent health problem for night shift workers? ›
Shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder that can affect people who work nontraditional hours. It causes issues with falling asleep, staying asleep and sleepiness at unwanted times.
Night-shift work can disrupt circadian rhythms, which can alter the synthesis and concentration of melatonin, a hormone that is synthesized circadian-dependently and has neuroprotective/antioxidative roles, thus increasing the risk of neurodegenerative disorders (Fig. 2).
Is night shift bad for your eyes? ›
Therefore, it seems that people with a relatively long history of night shift work report more dry eye signs and symptoms compared to subjects with a negative history.
Is it worth working night shift? ›
A higher salary: Many companies offer shift differential, or more pay, for working hours outside of the first shift. WSI is not an exception, as most of our clients offer $1-2 more per hour to work overnights. It adds up quickly. $16 extra dollars per day over a 52-week calendar year is more than $4000 in extra salary.
What are the negative effects of shift work? ›
A shiftworker is at increased risk of health problems, such as digestive upsets, obesity and heart disease, and accidents due to excessive daytime sleepiness.
How working hours affect work-life balance? ›
For workers, working hours have a direct bearing on standard of living, work–life balance and the overall sustainability of working life. For employers, working time is a key element in the assessment of costs, productivity and competitiveness.
What are the factors affecting work-life balance? ›
Factors such as working environment, people at work, job security, and work responsibilities majorly impact an individual's job dissatisfaction levels. With better job satisfaction comes an improved quality of work life. An employee who is satisfied with his position at the company is more likely to do good work.
What are the side effects of working different shifts? ›
"Researchers have found that shift work is linked to an increased risk of heart attacks, ulcers, depression, obesity and high blood pressure, along with sleep problems, such as trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep and excessive sleepiness," he said.
