The Role of the Work Environment in the Relationship Between Shiftwork and Sickness Absence

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Organizational Psychology
• Sociology of Work

Background:

• Shiftwork is prevalent in healthcare, posing risks to employee well-being.
• Sickness absence is a significant concern in hospital settings.
• The interplay between work environment and shiftwork-related absence requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how team-level work environment factors mediate and moderate the association between shiftwork and sickness absence.
• To identify specific work environment resources that may influence sickness absence in shiftworkers.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal cohort study design.
• Data from 11,842 employees in a Norwegian hospital.
• Generalized structural equation modeling.

Main Results:

• No evidence supported moderation of the shiftwork-sickness absence relationship by work environment factors.
• Partial mediation was observed: participation linked shiftwork to short-term absence.
• Control linked shiftwork to long-term absence, while commitment showed a negative association with long-term absence.

Conclusions:

• Work environment resources, including participation, control, and commitment, partially explain increased sickness absence among shiftworkers.
• Targeting these team-level factors may mitigate sickness absence in shiftworking populations.
• Findings highlight the importance of supportive work environments in healthcare settings.