Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2016 Nov;89(8):1205-1214. Epub 2016 Jul 13.

Higher risks when working unusual times? A cross-validation of the effects on safety, health, and work-life balance.

Greubel J¹, Arlinghaus A^2,³, Nachreiner F², Lombardi DA^4,⁵.

Author information

1: GAWO (Gesellschaft für Arbeits-, Wirtschafts- und Organisationspsychologische Forschung e.V.), Achterdiek 50, 26131, Oldenburg, Germany. jana.greubel@gawo-ev.de.
2: GAWO (Gesellschaft für Arbeits-, Wirtschafts- und Organisationspsychologische Forschung e.V.), Achterdiek 50, 26131, Oldenburg, Germany.
3: XIMES GmbH, Vienna, Austria.
4: Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
5: Center for Injury Epidemiology, Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, Hopkinton, MA, USA.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Replication and cross-validation of results on health and safety risks of work at unusual times.

METHODS:

Data from two independent surveys (European Working Conditions Surveys 2005 and 2010; EU 2005: n = 23,934 and EU 2010: n = 35,187) were used to examine the relative risks of working at unusual times (evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays) on work-life balance, work-related health complaints, and occupational accidents using logistic regression while controlling for potential confounders such as demographics, work load, and shift work.

RESULTS:

For the EU 2005 survey, evening work was significantly associated with an increased risk of poor work-life balance (OR 1.69) and work-related health complaints (OR 1.14), Saturday work with poor work-life balance (OR 1.49) and occupational accidents (OR 1.34), and Sunday work with poor work-life balance (OR 1.15) and work-related health complaints (OR 1.17). For EU 2010, evening work was associated with poor work-life balance (OR 1.51) and work-related health complaints (OR 1.12), Saturday work with poor work-life balance (OR 1.60) and occupational accidents (OR 1.19) but a decrease in risk for work-related health complaints (OR 0.86) and Sunday work with work-related health complaints (OR 1.13). Risk estimates in both samples yielded largely similar results with comparable ORs and overlapping confidence intervals.

CONCLUSIONS:

Work at unusual times constitutes a considerable risk to social participation and health and showed structurally consistent effects over time and across samples.