Coping with Shift Work

foundU knows shift work is tough. Staff have to work outside normal work and sleep hours. 16% of all Australian employees (1.4 million people) work a shift in their main job. Working a shift can mean great pay and interesting job hours but can also put stress on staff and their families. foundU looks at some issues and offers some solutions.

The main issue faced when working a shift is an interruption to the circadian rhythm (natural sleep pattern). It is known as shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) and is characterised by insomnia or excessive sleepiness, something no staff member wants to have.

Appetite can be exacerbated by working in shifts. Working in a shift has been correlated with a higher risk of developing nutritional issues and obesity. Staff may not have access to regular meals on long shifts and are usually tired and hungry after coming off shift.

Relationships with family and friends may also be pressured when staff work in shifts. It is important for staff to stay connected and try and find time for family and friends.

Solutions

At foundU we are all about offering solutions. Many of the problems faced by staff working shifts can be avoided with careful management and strategies.

Staff
Health - Maintaining a proper diet and exercise plan. While this may be hard to implement due to the nature of shift work it is the single biggest factor for working a shift effectively. This also means watching alcohol intake and not relying on stimulants to stay awake and sedatives to sleep.
Sleep Environment - It is important that staff maintain a proper sleep environment. This means allowing enough time for sleep. Staff should avoid caffeine and stimulants before sleep and make sure their room is quiet and cool.

Employers
Education - Staff need to be made aware of the issues raised above. Having well rested and healthy shift workers means improved productivity. Education can be as simple as having a discussion with staff and directing them to relevant information.

Shift Schedule and Plan - A schedule and shift plan is essential for any business that has staff working shifts. A good schedule takes into consideration shift overlap, shift change times, training and holidays. A good plan optimises the sequence of work and free days within a shift system.

At foundU clients have the ability to set job times and find staff who are available to work those times. With the ability to hire multiple candidates, clients can avoid staff burn-out by having an adaptable and scalable workforce.

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