Friday, May 26, 2006
[IWS] ILO: COMPRESSED WORKING WEEKS (2006) Conditions of Work & Employment Series No. 12
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Compressed working weeks (2006), Conditions of Work and Employment Series No. 12,
by P. Tucker
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/condtrav/pdf/12cws.pdf
[full-text, 64 pages]
This study provides a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge regarding the effects of compressed working weeks on a broad range of outcomes, including: productivity and job performance; absenteeism and turnover; sleep and recovery periods; safety in the workplace; occupational health; and workers job satisfaction, attitudes, and preferences. The paper also considers a variety of factors that can affect these outcomes, including potential differences between industrialized and developing countries. It concludes that, while there are clearly increased risks to health and safety associated with compressed workweeks, even with the use of longer (e.g. 12-hour) shifts these potential risks can often be reduced considerably if these shifts are properly structured and include adequate rest periods. Towards that objective, the paper also provides a set of practical recommendations regarding how to implement compressed workweeks to counter fatigue and improve performance.
The sweeping diversification in working time arrangements such as the increasing use of compressed workweeks poses a number of challenges to decent work as it applies to working time. Nevertheless, the rise of arrangements such as compressed workweeks also offer new opportunities for simultaneously meeting the needs of both workers and employers. It is hoped that this study will assist them, with the support of governments, to seize these opportunities and create win-win solutions.
Contents
Page
Preface.................................................................................................................................... v
Executive summary.......................................................................................................................... vii
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................ 1
1.1 Definitions.................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Prevalence of CWWs.................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Rest and recovery......................................................................................................... 2
1.4 CWWs and fatigue........................................................................................................ 3
1.5 Chronic health effects and organizational effects......................................................... 3
1.6 Sleep and circadian rhythms......................................................................................... 4
1.7 Methodological issues................................................................................................... 5
1.8 Outline of the review.................................................................................................... 7
2. Research findings.................................................................................................................... 9
2.1 Sleep and recovery........................................................................................................ 9
2.1.1 Questionnaire surveys........................................................................................ 9
2.1.2 Sleep diary studies.............................................................................................. 10
2.1.3 The effects of shift start and finish times........................................................... 11
2.1.4 Quick returns...................................................................................................... 11
2.1.5 Conclusions........................................................................................................ 11
2.2 Productivity and job performance................................................................................. 12
2.2.1 Industrial studies................................................................................................. 12
2.2.2 Studies of health-care workers and police officers............................................. 12
2.2.3 Factors other than fatigue................................................................................... 13
2.3.4 Conclusions........................................................................................................ 14
2.3 Fatigue......................................................................................................................... 14
2.3.1 CWW schedules that involve longer shifts......................................................... 14
2.3.2 Fatigue, rest breaks and recovery....................................................................... 17
2.3.3 Conclusions on fatigue....................................................................................... 19
2.4 Safety........................................................................................................................... 20
2.4.1 Methodological issues........................................................................................ 20
2.4.2 Extended shifts................................................................................................... 20
2.4.3 Quick returns...................................................................................................... 22
2.4.4 Conclusions on safety......................................................................................... 22
2.5 Health........................................................................................................................... 23
2.5.1 Early research..................................................................................................... 23
2.5.2 Recent evidence.................................................................................................. 23
2.5.3 Conclusions........................................................................................................ 25
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Compressed working weeks (2006), Conditions of Work and Employment Series No. 12,
by P. Tucker
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/condtrav/pdf/12cws.pdf
[full-text, 64 pages]
This study provides a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge regarding the effects of compressed working weeks on a broad range of outcomes, including: productivity and job performance; absenteeism and turnover; sleep and recovery periods; safety in the workplace; occupational health; and workers job satisfaction, attitudes, and preferences. The paper also considers a variety of factors that can affect these outcomes, including potential differences between industrialized and developing countries. It concludes that, while there are clearly increased risks to health and safety associated with compressed workweeks, even with the use of longer (e.g. 12-hour) shifts these potential risks can often be reduced considerably if these shifts are properly structured and include adequate rest periods. Towards that objective, the paper also provides a set of practical recommendations regarding how to implement compressed workweeks to counter fatigue and improve performance.
The sweeping diversification in working time arrangements such as the increasing use of compressed workweeks poses a number of challenges to decent work as it applies to working time. Nevertheless, the rise of arrangements such as compressed workweeks also offer new opportunities for simultaneously meeting the needs of both workers and employers. It is hoped that this study will assist them, with the support of governments, to seize these opportunities and create win-win solutions.
Contents
Page
Preface.................................................................................................................................... v
Executive summary.......................................................................................................................... vii
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................ 1
1.1 Definitions.................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Prevalence of CWWs.................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Rest and recovery......................................................................................................... 2
1.4 CWWs and fatigue........................................................................................................ 3
1.5 Chronic health effects and organizational effects......................................................... 3
1.6 Sleep and circadian rhythms......................................................................................... 4
1.7 Methodological issues................................................................................................... 5
1.8 Outline of the review.................................................................................................... 7
2. Research findings.................................................................................................................... 9
2.1 Sleep and recovery........................................................................................................ 9
2.1.1 Questionnaire surveys........................................................................................ 9
2.1.2 Sleep diary studies.............................................................................................. 10
2.1.3 The effects of shift start and finish times........................................................... 11
2.1.4 Quick returns...................................................................................................... 11
2.1.5 Conclusions........................................................................................................ 11
2.2 Productivity and job performance................................................................................. 12
2.2.1 Industrial studies................................................................................................. 12
2.2.2 Studies of health-care workers and police officers............................................. 12
2.2.3 Factors other than fatigue................................................................................... 13
2.3.4 Conclusions........................................................................................................ 14
2.3 Fatigue......................................................................................................................... 14
2.3.1 CWW schedules that involve longer shifts......................................................... 14
2.3.2 Fatigue, rest breaks and recovery....................................................................... 17
2.3.3 Conclusions on fatigue....................................................................................... 19
2.4 Safety........................................................................................................................... 20
2.4.1 Methodological issues........................................................................................ 20
2.4.2 Extended shifts................................................................................................... 20
2.4.3 Quick returns...................................................................................................... 22
2.4.4 Conclusions on safety......................................................................................... 22
2.5 Health........................................................................................................................... 23
2.5.1 Early research..................................................................................................... 23
2.5.2 Recent evidence.................................................................................................. 23
2.5.3 Conclusions........................................................................................................ 25
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 12:42 PM
