Group 6Izabella Andersson

Toyoaki HigashiSarah Pittenridge

Ilknur Salaun

The impacts of Atypical Working Hours

Introduction

• Different types of atypical working hours

• Negative mental impacts of shift work

• Negative physical impacts of shift work

• Negative impact from flexible working

hours

• Positive aspects of atypical working hours

• Case studies

• Implementing a Flexible Work Program

• Obstacles to a Flexible Work Program

• Conclusion

Different types of atypical working hours

Main Characteristics of Shift Work

Work outside of normal day hours

Work within normal day hours means: A work day within a spread starting at 7 AM and ending before

7 PM

No more than 8 hours per day and/or 40 hours per week

Hours worked as a continuous on-duty period

Main Characteristics of Extended Working Hours

More than 48 hours per week

Exceptions to this rule Sea farer (fishing men, cruise ships…)

Mobile worker (travelling sales man…)

Offshore work (military divers, oil platform…)

Fire & Police service

Health care

Transportation (train, ferry, anything with a timetable)

Main Characteristics of Flexible Working Hours

Irregular working hours

Not scheduled, rather very varied

Variability in length

Variability in predictability

Variability in influence on arrangement

Main Characteristics of Teleworking

Not a job description

A way to organize work using ICT

Work is performed elsewhere

Most common types of teleworkers: Workers who work at home full time or part time

Workers who divide their time between home and office

Mobile workers using their home as an administrative base

Quality of life is negatively affected

Family life and social life suffers

Decreased sex drive

Increased risk of divorce / separation

Loneliness > depression

Negative mental impacts of shift work

Negative physical impacts of shift work

Disruption of circadian rhythm Physical, mental & behavioural changes during 24 hour cycle

due to light and darkness

Negative effect on sleep and alertness Insomnia

Fatigue-related accidents

Three-mile island, Chernobyl, car accidents

Reduction in productivity

Potential negative impacts from flexible working hours

Negative impact

Anxiety

Tension, irritabilit

y

Fatigue

Decreased

vigilance

Loss of arousal

Digestive problems

Headaches

Positive aspects of atypical working hours

Flexibility to manage life’s different

roles

Positive work-life balance

Increased productivity

Increased service to customers

More time spent with family

(summers)

Reduces need for non-parental care

Increased income

Flextime Case Study Applications

• ARUP Laboratorieso Seven On/Seven Off Schedule

o Business Needs

o Flexible Schedule for family or

education

• Aflaco 4 by 10 work week or 3 by 12 work

week

o More Productive Employees

o Reduced Turnover

Flextime Case Study Applications, Continued

• Ciscoo Telework option for employees

o Saves time on commute, reduced need for commercial office

space

o Realized $195 million by increased employee activity

• Dello Virtual Call Center

o Attracted more qualified employees

o Productivity increased by 20%

Flextime Case Study Applications, Continued

• RSM McGladreyo Flexyear option or “teacher’s contract”

o Strategic Business Tool

o Meets needs of business partners

o Increased Employee Retention

Obstacles to a flexible work program

Closed Corporate

Culture

Employee

Resistance

Customer Impact

Technology Issues

Management Resistance

Management Commitment

Compelling Business

Case

Support of Human

Resources

Create Customized Program

Implementing a Flexible Work Program

Conclusions

Although there are many negative affects on mental and

physical health of irregular work hours, if one must (or wants

to) work atypical hours we suggest:o Allow the employee freedom to decide:

• the amount of hours worked overtime • which flexible hours to work• manage the shift work on a clockwise rotation

Limit Night Work or Avoid It

Excessive Overtime Should be avoided

Implement Customized

Flexible Work

Program

Regularly Assess any Atypical

Work Schedules

Conclusions

Questions?