Shift Worker: Health and Coping Information - Term Paper Example

Shift Worker: Health & Coping Information Letter of Transmittal U. S. Air force United s February, 18, This paper is prepared on the topic, shift worker: health & coping information. The main purpose of this term paper is to offer a brief introduction about the concept of shift working within an organization. Along with this, it also highlights the ill-effects of shift working within the health of the employees. In addition, it also describes, the ways for which, the performance of an employee reduces within an organization. The paper will also talk how the organization might get affected in future due to worse performance of the employees. Moreover, it also clearly describes the chronic disorders as well as many other ill effects that may hinder the prosperity and productivity of the employee and the organization as well. Apart from this, it also describes, how the chronic disorders hinders the performance of an employee thereby enhancing his or her attrition or termination ratio among others. Other than this, in order to reduce the ill-effects of shift working, varied types of strategies might be used so that the employee might get rid from the trouble of job stress and excess psychological hazards such as headaches, tensions etc. Along with this, the paper also presents the ways to reduce the excess work load by spending time in social activities. Moreover, varied types of policies and strategies are also presented in this paper that might increase the awareness level of the employees towards the ill-effects of shift working so as to reduce its effectiveness. I hope this paper might satisfy the demands. Respectfully: Abstract This term paper mainly highlights the meaning and importance of shift working within a workplace. Along with this, the paper also describes in what ways the concept of shift working is harmful for the health of an individual. Along with this, it also includes the type of disorders that may be cause due to shift working and in what ways it might prove harmful for the individual. The term paper also describes the ways for which, the level of performance and reliability of an employee reduces within an organization and within its other co-workers. In addition, it also describes the alternative ways to reduce the stress of job so as to enjoy other occasions such as family functions, social gatherings etc. Apart from this, the paper also describes the varied types of disorders such as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and many others affect the health of an individual thereby hindering the career opportunities and productivity in the organization. Moreover, varied types of chronic disorders are also named, that might affect the body of the individual due to shift workings. In addition, it also highlights, the things to which, the shift workers gets prone to so as to reduce the impacts of job stress. Along with this, it also highlights the strategies, so as to reduce the ill-effects of shift working in an individual life. So that, the concept of shift working might be reduced entirely from its roots in order reduce the risks of accidents, conflicts, miss-confusions, dilemmas etc. Other than this, a brief conclusion is also provided at the end of the paper along with references and appendices. Introduction In this age of recession, profession is the most essential weapon to maintain the livelihood of an individual in an effective way. This is because; without a profession, it might become extremely hard to fulfill all sorts of changing demands and requirements of the family members in an effective way as compared to many others. Keeping this fact in mind, maximum extent of the individual tries to fulfill all sorts of demands of the profession such as shift work, overtime, long working hours, etc. In spite of the fact that, shift work offers insomnia and sleeping disorders, it is highly accepted by the individual of all age-group and races. Due to which, maximum extent of the organizations operates 24 hours a day and all round the clock, in order to fulfill the requirements of the clients in an effective way. What is Shift work? Shift work is described as the working schedules that include varying shifts or abnormal hours like 7:00 a. m to 6:00 p. m or day to night or late night shifts etc. Due to such types of abnormal timings or rotational shifts an individual had to bear extreme stress and strain. In spite of such type of physical and mental stress, the individual of this age had to undertake such type of professionals such as police and fire protection, health care, transportation, airlines, telephone, water and many others (VITA VR, 2014). Due to such type of working schedules, the performance and efficiency of the workers reduces thereby hindering the total productivity of the organization. Discussion How shift work affects the workers? In order to retain the competitiveness, maximum extent of the individual desire to perform their duties and responsibilities in abnormal hours of the day. As a result of such type of abnormal working schedules, the ‘biological clock or circadian rhythm’ of the body gets hampered. Along with this, at the night-time, blood pressure, heart beat, body temperature as well as breathing rate decreases to a significant rate, but all these schedules get hampered due to abnormal working times (Sullivan & Krieger, 2001). Moreover, the digestive system of the body also gets highly affected due to shifting works thereby resulting in numerous chronic disorders like anorexia, headache, hypertension, digestive system failures and many others. As a result of which, the level of performance of an individual reduces thereby enhancing the ratio of absenteeism by almost 45% as compared to others. Why shift work is so bad for the employees? Shift work is extremely worse for the individual of today’s age as it acts as the root cause for numerous hazards or disorders mentioned below: Health Hazards Family and social hazards Safety hazards (PPI, 2014). What are the health effects of prolonged shift work? Although, prolonged shift work offers huge amount of incentive or bonuses, but it effects the health of the individual to a significant way as mentioned below: Disrupted sleep- due to prolonged work, the sleeping hours gets hindered considerably that may cause severe headaches, general weakness of the body, ill health and fatigue in various parts of the body. Disruption in eating patterns- the eating patterns of an individual also gets disrupted due to excess work. As a result of which, the digestive system fails to absorb the food particles in an appropriate way thereby resulting in stomach upsets and in-digestion problems. Stress- excess work is also recognized as one of the important causes of stress. Stress is a psychological injury that leads to varied types of problems such as muscular pain, headache, high bold pressure, lack of concentration, lack of devotion over work and many others. Gastrointestinal problems arises due to prolonged shift work Apart from these impacts, prolonged work might also lead to gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers, which is extremely common among the youths. This is mainly due to the excess consumption of night time snacks and foods in the day time. As a result of which, the level of digestion gets hindered to a significant extent thereby making the body more prone to obesity. In addition to this, excess consumption of coffee is also another important reason for the development of ulcers within the body of the individual among others. Thus, it might be clearly stated that shifting working hours acts as one of the prime reason for the development of numerous disorders such as mental exhaustion, chronic fatigue, muscle pain, eye fatigue, dizziness and many others, that may decline the performance of an individual day by day (Monk & Folkard, 1992). Cardiovascular disorders and other illnesses Prolonged working hours also leads to cardiovascular disorders thereby making the body more prone to heart attracts, interrupted sleeping patterns, excess smoking, mental tensions and reduction of physical activities (National Sleep Foundation, 2013). As a result of these types of disorders, the level of dedication of the individual reduces thereby hindering the performance or output of the organization as a whole. In addition to these disorders, the individual might also get affected to asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, depression and many others thereby declining the strength of the body. Common use of drug and alcohol by shift workers Shift workers are more prone to drugs and alcohols in order to enhance their level of energy and vigor to work. Caffeine and nicotine are some of the popular drugs used in order to reduce sleepiness. As a result of which, the individual get infested to numerous above mentioned disorders thereby hindering his or her career goals or objectives. Such type of negative feelings arises in order to alleviate the passion associated with the stressful situation that may not be achieved. This is known as emotion-focused coping (Finn, 1981). Family and social issues Shifting work also impedes the well-being of the family and social life of an individual by numerous ways: Due to lack of time, a shifting worker fails to spend quality time with his or her dear and near ones. As a result of which, varied types of problems arises within the family due to such overwork or shifting work. Due to shifting work, an individual had to cancel his or her social activities that reduce his or her performance and productivity in the organization. As a result of which, the rate of conflicts enhances to a significant extent thereby hindering his or her inner morale and self confidence to perform his or her duties appropriately (Coleman, 1995). Not only this, due to extended working shifts, the ability of decision-making also deteriorates slowly and gradually, which may prove extremely harmful for an individual. In addition, due to sleepiness, the rate of consciousness might get decreased, thereby increasing the ratio of accidents, robbery, theft and others. So, its extremely essential for the employees to convince the management, about the ill-effects of extreme working hours or shift works. What can be done to alleviate the effects of shift work? In order to reduce the impacts of shifting work, the organization might try to follow the below stated strategies or policies. Organizational control- it is one of the most effective methods that may be used to reduce the impacts of shifting works. The organization might try to use the concept of shifting work in case of emergencies or essential deals (Tweedy, 2010). The management might order the staffs to complete the difficult jobs within the day time so as to avoid night time tensions. Along with this, in order to reduce excess working hours, experienced trainers or leaders might be recruited to help the inefficient workers in their works. Only then, the negative impacts of excess shifting works might get reduced significantly (Colligan & Rosa, 1997). Shift scheduling- it is another important procedure to reduce the effects of shift work. The organization might try to implement specific shift of work maximum for three days in the entire week in order to help the individual to attain freedom from back-pain and fatigue. Workplace design- in order to reduce the tension of excess working shifts, the management of the organization might try to implement various policies such as delicious food in canteen, music, good ventilation, temperature control and many others facilities. Only then, the organization might get rid from varied types of ill-impacts of excess shift works (Cox, 2006). Conclusion and recommendation Conclusively, it might be stated that shift working is the most common fact of the organizations in this age. In spite of numerous ill-effects mentioned above, the process and policy of shift works is implemented and used effectively. As a result of which, the level of performance of the employees are getting reduced thereby declining the total productivity and net income of the organization to a significant extent. Due to which, the quality of work is also declining thereby enhancing the scope of defects and interpersonal conflicts. The level of coordination and cooperation among the members and the higher authorities declines that increases the rate of attritions and terminations. As a result of which, the brand image and reputation of the organization also reduces thereby declining its portfolio of success. Apart from this, due to excess brain drain of talents from the organization, the intensity of presenting inventive products and services also reduces thereby hindering the reliability of the customers in the market. Therefore, in order to retain the employees for a longer period of time, the organizational management might try to offer flexible working hours. Not only this, due to excess work stress, or shifting works, the rate of absenteeism of the employees also increases thereby declining its profit margin certainly. Furthermore, due to absenteeism, numerous working hours gets wasted that enhances the risks of mistakes and defects as presented in the diagram (2) of appendix. In addition to this, the rate of coping strategies such as problem focused strategy or emotion-focused strategy are increasing in order to resolve the stress through alternate ways. Other than this, in order to reduce the impacts of shifting works, the management of the organization might to implement varied types of educational programs. With the help of these programs, the employees might become aware about the ill-effects of excess working hours, shifting works, so as to reduce its effectiveness. Along with this, such program might also highlights, negative impacts of irregular eating habits such as hypertension, in-digestion, stomach upset, general weakness, loose-motion, obesity and many others. In addition, due to shift working, the level of performance and inner morale of the individual also gets declined thereby hindering the productivity of the organization. As a result of which, the rate of retention of the employees also gets reduced thereby hindering the image and popularity of the organization in the market. As a result of which, the rate of conflicts also gets increased thereby reducing the rate of coordination and cooperation among the members of the organization. Therefore, in order to retain the level of mutual trust and evenness, its extremely essential to use flexible working shifts. Moreover, due to excess job stress and shift work, the ratio of social life also decreases significantly as compared to others. Due to which, it’s extremely necessary to use alternative options so as to reduce the stress of work effectively and might enjoy the social activities as well along with the family members and other friends. Only then, the ill-effects of shift-works might be reduced effectively. References Cox, J. (2006). Understanding Doctors Performance - Page 147. New York: Cengage Learning. Colligan, M. J. & Rosa, R. R. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (1997). Plain language about shiftwork. Retrieved from website: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/97-145/. Coleman, R. M. (1995). The 24-hour Business: Maximizing Productivity Through Round-the-clock Operations. Boston: Harvard Business School Press. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2014. Work Organization And Stress-Related Disorders. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/workorg/risks.html. Finn, P. Bureau of Labor and Statistics . (1981). The effects of shift work on the lives of employees. Retrieved from website: http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/1981/10/ art5full.pdf. Monk, T. H. & Folkard, S. (1992). Making Shiftwork Tolerable - Page 5. New York: Cengage Learning. National Sleep Foundation. (2013). Shift work and sleep. Retrieved from http:// www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-topics/shift-work-and-sleep. PPI . (2014). Night shift work dangerous for human health: research. Retrieved from: http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-135199-Night-shift-work-dangerous-for-human-health:-research. Sullivan, J. B. & Krieger, G. R. (2001). Clinical Environmental Health and Toxic Exposures - Page 611. New York: Springer. Tweedy, J. T. (2010). Healthcare Hazard Control and Safety Management, Second Edition. London: Sage. VITA VR. (2014). Managing night shift workers wellbeing. Vita vr. Retrieved from http://vitavr.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/managing-night-shift-workers-wellbeing/. Appendices 1) The Biological clock 2) Source: (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). 3) Loss of working hours Source: (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). Read More