Human Resources and Operational Policies that Support Shiftworkers

Managers in 24/7 workplaces often face high levels of absenteeism, turnover, injuries and health costs.

In an effort to address these issues they may provide education for the shiftworkers on how to sleep better and reduce fatigue. This is a strategy that provides significant benefits.

However, this strategy is only one step towards achieving the goal.

For example.

Shiftworkers may have learned how to maximize their sleep. But their shift schedule does not allow sufficient rest time between shifts. Or they are required to work an inordinate amount of overtime.

They may, therefore, not be able to get the sleep they need but through no fault of their own.

To truly improve health and safety and reduce absenteeism, turnover, injuries and health costs managers must implement human resources and operational policies that support shiftworkers.

Managers

In order to create a high-performing 24/7 shiftwork workplace where shiftworkers thrive and performance is optimised a number of different factors must be considered.

How does your workplace rate?

Do You Have a High-Performing 24/7 Workplace?

1. Shiftworkers are alert while at work	YES	NO
2. Absenteeism reflects industry average	YES	NO
3. Turnover is low	YES	NO
4. Health costs are contained	YES	NO
5. Accident and injury rates are low	YES	NO
6. Little overtime is required	YES	NO
7. Managers/HR/Safety professional are available on all shifts	YES	NO
8. Shiftworkers are allowed regular rest breaks	YES	NO
9. Operations reflect 24/7 workplace, not daytime workplace with extra shift	YES	NO
10. Employees are screened for suitability for 24/7 shiftwork	YES	NO
11. Training is provided to help shiftworkers sleep better	YES	NO
12. Training is provided to help shiftworkers manage fatigue	YES	NO
13. Shift schedules reflect best practise	YES	NO
14. Shiftwork related risk and liability issues are addressed	YES	NO

The more ‘yes’ responses you have the higher your workplace would rate. Most 24/7 shiftwork workplaces find that they have room for improvement.

Would you like to:

Design a better shift work schedule?
Reduce absenteeism and accidents of shift work employees?
Reduce fatigue among those who do shift work or night work?
Ensure that all employees are alert at work?
Improve shift worker health and wellness?
Determine if an employee can continue with shift work?
Select appropriate employees for your shift work schedule?

Start with the 5 Essentials of Managing a 24/7 Workplace. Grab this valuable FREE Resource here.

Alert@Work helps human resource and operational managers implement human resources and operational policies that support shiftworkers.

Presentation

Managing ‘Round the Clock

In this presentation participants learn to plan schedules and implement human resource and operational policies that promote well-being and enhance performance in shift work environments.

Seminar Goal: to enhance the health and well-being of shift workers by developing appropriate self-care strategies. Participants in this session will be able to

Explain how sleep patterns are disrupted
Enhance the quantity and quality of their sleep
Plan schedule transitions
Plan sleep schedules
Make appropriate eating choices while on shift
Determine individual adaptability for various sleep and work schedules
Reduce mental and physical fatigue and increase alertness
Identify other factors that influence adjustment to shift work
Manage family life to support individual and family well-being
Accept the challenges and benefits of a shiftwork lifestyle

Participants will learn:

Why shift work issues are not managed
Benefits of managing shift work issues effectively
Requirements of OH&S regulations regarding shift work
The consequences of shift work for workers
Signs that workers are not adjusting well to shift work
Why some people can adapt to shiftwork more easily than others
Factors that influence the well-being of shift workers
Planning and implementing education for shift workers
How to do pre-employment screening
How to manage employees experiencing difficulty with shift work
How to design effective shift work schedules
How to manage other operational issues
When liability may result

Time Required: 6.0 hours

Tools

Pre-Employment Assessment

One’s ability to be successful with shift work involving nights is dependent on a number of factors such as appropriate self-care and family support. Most critical to success, however, is being well-adapted to the schedule one is working.

Determining this adaptability pre-employment allows for the employee to be either assigned to the most appropriate schedule or provided with the necessary education and supports for a healthy and safe outcome.

If you want to reduce absenteeism, turnover and health costs, the Pre-employment Assessment would be a valuable best-practice strategy.

If you would like to do Pre-employment Assessments, please contact us for further information.

Back-to-Work Assessment

Do you have employees who:

are not coping well with the challenges of shift work?
have major health problems?
have an addiction or are dependent on a substance for sleeping and/or waking?
are on sick leave or disability leave?

With these employees there is always a question about the extent to which shift work may be contributing to their symptoms or whether it is prudent for them to either continue with or continue with shift work.

This comprehensive assessment can help to determine the extent to which shift work may be contributing to the employee’s symptoms and whether it is prudent for them to either continue with or return to their shift work schedule. We can also recommend what other strategies may be appropriate.

If you wish to have an employee assessed, contact us for further information.

The High-Performing 24/7 Workplace Designation

Workplaces that qualify for this designation will be highlighted in traditional and social media platforms. This attention is an opportunity to showcase your organization and your efforts in creating a high-performance workplace.

This designation also

instills pride in your workplace
can promote retention
serves to attract new employees

To find out if you qualify for this designation download the Shiftwork Workplace Assessment which can be found here.

See how many of the things on the Assessment you do well and which you could improve to qualify as a High-Performing 24/7 Shiftwork Workplace.

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