Examining paid sickness absence by shift workers.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Epidemiology
• Workforce Health Management

Background:

• Shift work is associated with increased psychological and physical health risks.
• Limited research has explored the connection between shift work and sickness absence.
• Previous studies may have been confounded by organizational and individual factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between shift work and sickness absence.
• To control for confounding variables in shift work research.
• To provide evidence-based insights into workforce health and productivity.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of large-scale Canadian national survey data (over 20,000 employees, 6000 firms).
• Inclusion of 14 diverse occupational groups to ensure broad applicability.
• Statistical analysis using chi-squared tests and hierarchical regressions.

Main Results:

• Shift workers reported less paid sickness absence than day workers.
• No significant differences in sickness absence duration were found between shift and day workers.
• Job tenure, union presence, and rotating shifts were predictors of sickness absence in shift workers.

Conclusions:

• Shift work is not generally associated with higher sickness absence rates.
• Rotating shifts may be a specific predictor of sickness absence.
• Recommendations include considering scheduled time off between shift changes to mitigate potential negative impacts.