Managing Shift Work

Shift Work --- How Can It Be Manageable?

Around one fourth of the American workforce, according to a popular magazine, are working in night shifts or around the clock rotations. Often, shift workers work more hours per week and per year than normal day workers. But the perpetual schedule changes and the tendency to take weekends or days off on a "normal" schedule so as to share time with family members results in a near-constant state of sleep deprivation for many shift workers. Errors at work are much more likely to be made by night shift workers than day shift workers. Job dissatisfaction and marital or family difficulties are more likely in shift workers even in the face of better hourly salaries than for day workers.

The solutions that are recommended for workers who must be on job rotations around the clock are not always suitable to management but the long-term dividends in productivity and job satisfaction ought to make incorporation of these ideas more routine:

1. Try to rotate no more frequently than once every three weeks, going from day shift to evening shift to night shift.

2. Have bright lighting in work areas during all shifts.

3. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverage from the end of the shift on if you are planning to sleep on arrival home.

4. On days off before a shift change, work up to the new schedule gradually.

5. After working all night, wear dark glasses home to avoid a biologic clock induced wakefulness response to the sun.

For above workers and those on constant night shifts 5 days a week:

• Maintain as much as possible the same sleep and wake and eating schedule throughout the week, even on days off.

• Maintain a quiet and dark room during the sleeping hours; inform family and friends of your preferences in wakeful time.
   

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