Working Nights

Positive Benefits of Working Shift Work

Let’s face it, many people who work shift work only talk about the negative. But for some, it’s the positive aspects that lead the way. There are certain lifestyle benefits that can come from working shifts. For example, some people choose to work shift work for social, financial, or lifestyle reasons. Read this article…

Mental Health Conditions are on the Increase…and Shift Working Companies Should Take Notice

According to a report in the August 2009 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals, treatment for mental health conditions is becoming more common in the US. The article has several explanations for why this may be, including patient and medical providers having a broader understanding of the need for mental health treatment, recent significant outreach by nonprofit groups promoting mental health care, and the growing public acceptance of mental health treatments. A related outcome – antidepressants are now the most commonly prescribed class of medications in the US. Read this article…

Americans Spend Huge Amounts on Alternative Health Care

Americans spent $33.9 billion out of their own pockets on complementary and alternative health care products and services (complementary alternative medicine – CAM) during a 12 month period leading up to 2007, according to a government survey. CAM includes products and services like herbal supplements, meditation, chiropractic, and acupuncture. The majority of the spending went to the purchase of non-vitamin, non-mineral, natural products ($14.8 billion) such as fish oil, glucosamine and Echinacea. The US National Institutes of Health lists three conditions for which fish oil and other omega-3 sources are the most highly recommended: hypertriglyceridemia, secondary cardiovascular disease prevention (associated with sleep disordered breathing – something shift workers may be more susceptible to) and high blood pressure (people working shift work and rotating shifts need to pay attention to heart health to avoid cardiovascular disease). NIH also lists 27 other conditions for which there is less evidence that fish oil can help, but some evidence nevertheless. It also lists possible safety issues resulting from overdose.

U.S. adults also spent approximately $11.9 billion on an estimated 354.2 million visits to CAM practitioners such as acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage therapists, etc. Shift workers are at increased risk for musculoskeletal disorders which are often treated by CAM practitioners.

To look at the relevancy of these statistics, the $14.8 billion spent on nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products is equivalent to approximately one-third of total out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs, and the $11.9 billion spent on CAM practitioner visits is equivalent to approximately one-quarter of total out-of-pocket spending on physician visits.

Clearly these cost are above and beyond health care spending reported by insurance companies and businesses. Everywhere you look, the costs are adding up…..and at an economic time that we can’t afford them. Prevention is critical and individuals, businesses, insurance companies, medical providers and state and federal government agencies need work together on this. Easier said than done, obviously. But, if collectively we can succeed, we’ll all be better off.

The Expensive Recession: Managing Costs During Difficult Financial Times

Money’s low, stocks are down, workers and employers on all sides of the board are struggling to make ends meet. In this recession people are counting on their jobs more than ever, yet many companies view layoffs as the quickest way to get out of the red. But by focusing on root causes of money loss, management can make long-term changes to boost the profit of operations. Shift worker absenteeism bleeds company money, and frequent worker turnover requires more basic worker training and more money hunting for replacements. Increased preventative health care and management training would cut down on illness and injury, saving money on health costs and reducing absenteeism, as well as helping workers feel more connected with the company to slow worker turnover. This article focuses on the personal pain of layoffs and alternative ways to cut costs while saving jobs. Read this article…

Health Insurance – Costs and Opportunities

Shift work brings more health and safety dangers than normal hours work, and so the rising costs of health care are reaping huge consequences among shift workers. Today, patients pay far more of the medical cost themselves than they did in 1990, when employers took up more of the slack. Coupled with a rapid growth of medical bureaucracy, which shoots up costs, the greater responsibility for their own payments is hurting many shift workers. Health care costs hurt companies, but so do sick or injured workers who come into work because they can’t afford not to, or who miss work more often because they can’t afford better medical care. Health care system reform boosts health and productivity in the workplace. Read this article…

Improving Workplace Safety and Security

As if shift work’s threat of injury, increased rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes weren’t enough, as well as the potential for cancer hanging over your head, it turns out shift work can kill you much faster than any of those options. The good news is that taking care for your safety, simply paying attention, and getting enough sleep so drowsiness doesn’t hit you at the wrong time can hugely lower your risks on the job. In fact, the danger that causes the most shift worker fatalities is something that almost every person- day worker, night worker, shift worker, or unemployed- does every day. This danger is simply driving on the highway. Other dangers include working with machinery and robbery and homicide, especially for people coming home after a night shift. Read more to learn about surprising dangers and how to keep yourself safe. Read this article…