Employers are doing too little to support their night shift workers. This is evident from a research published Thursday of the public health institute RIVM and research institute TNO. The Netherlands has about 1.2 million employees who sometimes or regularly work at night. The researchers advocate, among other things, for more customization from the companies to reduce the negative consequences that employees have to deal with.
Night workers, the study shows, are more than twice as likely to have a poor work-life balance as people who work during the day. They indicate that their night work allows them to spend less time with their family or partner. They see fatigue as the biggest barrier to this. Night workers also feel less of a need to invest in social contacts on days off.
According to the researchers, companies should gain more knowledge about possible solutions to reduce complaints about night work. An increased focus on night work and the possible health consequences among employers “could be the starting point for reducing the negative consequences”. Night workers have different preferences, is one of the conclusions, “so customization is important”. Among other things, solutions such as optimal scheduling and setting power naps are mentioned in the study.
Health risks
Employers and employees cite both economic and practical reasons for night work. For example, because production is necessary at night, or because it concerns a 24-hour profession. Companies see limited possibilities to limit the large part of the night work that is currently done in the Netherlands. Nevertheless, 17 percent of employers think that part of the night work can certainly be replaced, 29 percent are unsure, and more than half (53 percent) do not see any possibility to do so.
Night shifts are most common in logistics, healthcare and industry. It is known that night work entails health risks. In 2017, research by the Health Council showed that people who work at night run a greater risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and sleeping problems.
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