When Thomas Edison invented the light bulb in 1879, it allowed people to work late into the night. But it’s not Edison or the light bulb’s fault as to why working 24/7 has become popular in many industries. Rotating shifts and long work hours in general are the result of a growing, global economy. As more businesses and workforces operate and compete in multiple time zones across countries’ borders, the 24-hour workday has taken its hold almost everywhere. Today, American society has become a 24-hour society, and businesses have adapted quickly to the change. The attraction of 16 more hours of operational time is just too much for many businesses to pass up. In many industries like oil and gas, medical, transportation, healthcare, law enforcement, etc., 24-hour operation is essential. Shift work is economically beneficial from an operations standpoint, but it has an effect on employees that should not be ignored. Having personally performed shift work for 15 years and having spent 100-plus days on the road per year for many years, I know firsthand if you don’t prepare yourself and your family for shift work or being away from home for an extended period, there are all sorts of scenarios that can happen.
When I first worked shift work, it was typically by seniority, making it very difficult for newer employees to have work-free weekends. Over the years, industry adopted different scheduling that we refer to as every other weekend off (EOWO). EOWO allowed you to have more off time but you worked longer hours, typically 12-hour shifts instead of eight hours.
If you’re working shift work, there are negatives that come with it such as difficulty planning events and family activities and sleep and schedule disruptions. This not only affects the shift worker but everyone in the household. But there are also positives including extra pay for the family, the freedom of working nontraditional hours and the ability to spend more time with the kids during the day.
Whether you’re working on a construction site, a turnaround or rotating shift in a refinery or chemical plant, or the emergency room at a hospital, one major factor to look at with shift work is the lack of sleep, which results in drowsiness. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 100,000 crashes each year are the result of drowsy driving. Some studies reveal roughly one-quarter of shift workers reported having at least one crash or close call within the past year.
It is important for business leaders and the shift workers themselves to become familiar with the possible positives and negatives working evenings and nights may have on employees and their families. The following is a list of challenges and benefits of shift work:
Challenges of shift work
- Shift workers can be away from family on special events and holidays.
- Some studies have shown shift work disrupts body and sleep habits.
- Shift work can lead to temptations such as gambling, alcohol or drugs during idle time away from work.
- Shift work can lead to pressure from family and others.
- Shift work can shrink your social circle and create a “me against the world” mentality.
Benefits of shift work
- Shift work usually offers higher pay.
- Shift work teaches time and sleep management.
- Shift work can provide the opportunity to earn extra money, go to school or, in my case and many other entrepreneurs’ cases, start a business.
- Shift work offers time for reflection and solitude on and off the job.
- With shift work, time with loved ones and family members becomes greatly appreciated.
- Shift work can create what I like to call a “money clip moment.” Shift workers, like truck drivers or traveling sales executives, spend plenty of time in quiet solitude. A “money clip moment” is an idea or thought that creates a pivotal moment in your career.
I’m very blessed and fortunate because shift work is what helped and allowed me to launch BIC Alliance. Shift work was crucial for my personal life and professional career, and I want to share this story with others. I’ve experienced the benefits of shift work but I also know the challenges because I’ve had near death experiences from fatigue. There’s been a lot of interest in the industry from companies that may want to partner to produce a video with an instructor’s guide about the benefits and challenges of shift work. BIC Media Solutions (BMS) has already started writing a script for a video and is working with other organizations to produce it. This video will be about the benefits and challenges of shift work to many industries, but BMS can also help create a custom video for any operation.
For more information, contact Earl Heard at (800) 460-4242 or email earlheard@bicalliance.com.