Redefining Shift Workers and Recognizing Common Themes Across Industries
Americans have been known to complain about picking up the phone to call technical support and being greeted by a voice that is clearly from the other side of the globe. But shift workers, especially those who work frequent night shifts, should recognize a common colleague on the other end of the line. As more and more companies set up call centers and tech support in India and China, workers there learn to talk with American accents, make hip references to American pop culture, and most of all, to stay up long nights because of the time difference between our countries. This Chicago Tribune article shows how India is accepting the excitement and the difficulty of a new generation of shift workers. Having come along way from the mills and assembly lines of the 1800’s, ideas of shift work continue to evolve and globalize.
Defining Shift Workers Today
More and more employees in a growing number of industries are working night and weekend shifts, in multiple time zones. Today’s 24/7 global economy demands service around the clock across most industries and most global locations. It used to be that shift workers primarily worked in industrial settings or in emergency services (fire,
police and emergency medical services). But now they are working at call desks, in IT departments, as laboratory researchers or retail help. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, currently about half of the 28 million people working extended hours, outside the weekday hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., hold white-collar jobs.
A large number of workers outside the U.S. are now working extended hours. Many U.S. manufacturing jobs have been transferred overseas and those facilities are now being run 24/7. Software development, health care office administration (e.g. billing and collecting) research and call center support functions are growing offshore and in many cases the work being performed has to be coordinated with the daytime work hours in North America. These foreign workers are often working evenings or nights to support businesses and consumers in the U.S.
Common Challenges Across All Industries
Whether a shift worker is working at a manufacturing plant, a call center, a laboratory or in a billing department, the challenges of working extended hours are very similar. Same thing whether the worker is working in New York or in India. And, the management requirement to focus on the unique issues shift workers face or incur excess costs and risks is the same.
Some environments are less safe than others for all workers. Of course, driving a truck with hazardous material in it or working in a mine or on an oil rig involve more risk than working in a billing department or at a call center. While some industries have jobs with greater risks than others, the common themes behind these positions as they relate to shift work are the same.
In the U.S. we know from numerous studies that shift workers:
· Are absent from work more often than day time workers are.
· Incur greater health costs than day time workers so.
· Have more turnover in their jobs than day time workers do.
· Report making greater mistakes and falling asleep on the job than day time workers do.
· Sleep less than day time workers do.
· Have a greater risk of depression than day time workers do.*
We hypothesize that workers working shift work outside the U.S. experience many of the same challenges. More comprehensive studies need to be done in this area.
What Can Be Done to Improve the Situation?
So, what are some of the things companies and their employees can do to improve the lives of their managers and employees working shift work no matter what industry or geographic location they work in?
There are many things to think about and do. But at a minimum, companies should:
· Survey the employees and managers to get a better handle on what is working well and what is not working within the operation.
· Evaluate whether the employee’s work schedules accommodate the business’ needs but are also the best available for the particular employee base.
· Make sure all employees have access to human resources personnel; usually night or evening workers are supported by human resource staff that work during the day.
· Periodically reassess benefits provided by the company to make sure they apply to both daytime and extended hours workers or that there is at least a fair allocation of benefits available to these two very different populations.
There is also a lot for employees to think about. But at a minimum employees should:
· Show up for work prepared to work; had enough sleep, have eaten nutritiously, exercised recently and with a positive attitude.
· Understand the ramifications of what they do on the job and off that might lead to health and safety issues, e.g. pay attention to noise levels in the work place, avoid too much alcohol and don’t drink before work, don’t use “recreational drugs” and try and minimize smoking.
· Pay attention to work life balance; set the right expectations for work and family and focus on being a good communicator both at home and at work.
· Build a support system that can be reached out to when the challenges of working extended hours become too much and use it proactively.
Training programs are available for employees and managers working shift work. And, they have been proven to work. These sessions usually deal with circadian rhythms, sleep disorders, impact on family and social life, alertness strategies, nutrition, physical activity safe driving, and coping with stress. One very good training program is offered by Circadian Technologies, Inc. in both a stand up and DVD format. Go to www.circadian.com for information about this training.
* As reported in various press releases and studies released by Circadian Technologies, Inc.
© 2007 Circadian Age, Inc. ‘Working Nights’
