Does individual choice determine shift system acceptability?
- 1 January 1993
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Ergonomics
- Vol. 36 (1) , 93-99
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139308967859
Abstract
The relationship between individual control of hours of work and tolerance of shiftwork was examined in a group of nurses and midwives. Two levels of individual control were studied: (i) choosing to work on a regular shift system, e.g. a permanent night shift; and (ii) working on a flexible, rotating shift system where individual choice of shift-sequencing is taken into account. Greater tolerance to shiftwork was found to be associated with more control over hours of work. The advantages of flexible as opposed to irregular shift-rostering, and of choosing to work on a regular permanent night shift were highlighted clearly. The results offer some contribution to the permanent night versus rapidly-rotating shift system debate.Keywords
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