Experimental Changes in Shift Schedules—Their Effects on Well-Being

A questionnaire was given to 400 workers on different shift schedules (day, 2 shift, 3 shift (weekly rotation) and 4 shift (2-3 day rotation)), shortly before, and in the year after the work schedules of 131 of them had been changed to accommodate an overall reduction in the total amount of shift working. Those workers who had to change from 3 or 4 shift working to 2 shift working (without night work) showed a significant increase in well-being with respect lo sleep/mood, gastrointestinal functioning, and social factors, along with an improvement in attitude to their work schedules. Those who were switched from shift to day work reported greatly increased social well-being, a shortening of sleep-length during free days, and considerably improved altitudes towards their work schedule; their sickness absence rates were also reduced. Attitudes towards the change from fast rotation to slow rotation of shift cycles in those whose schedule was altered from 4 shift to 3 shift working were mainly negative. Questionnaire scores remained at their original levels in the 269 workers whose schedules were left unchanged, It is concluded that the abolition of night work results in a substantial improvement in mental, physical and social well-being.