This document discusses the impacts of atypical working hours. It defines different types of atypical schedules like shift work, extended hours, flexible hours, and telework. It notes the negative mental impacts of shift work like disrupted sleep and increased fatigue, as well as negative physical impacts like increased health issues. Flexible hours can increase stress and decrease focus. However, atypical schedules can also provide benefits like improved work-life balance and productivity. The document provides case studies on flexible programs and concludes that organizations should limit night work, avoid excessive overtime, and regularly assess atypical schedules to minimize negative impacts.

1. The impacts of Atypical Working
Hours
Group 6
Izabella Andersson
Toyoaki Higashi
Sarah Pittenridge
Ilknur Salaun

2. Introduction
• Different types of atypical working hours
• Negative mental impacts of shift work
• Negative physical impacts of shift work
• Negative impact from flexible working
hours
• Positive aspects of atypical working hours
• Case studies
• Implementing a Flexible Work Program
• Obstacles to a Flexible Work Program
• Conclusion

3. Different types of atypical working hours

4. Main Characteristics of Shift Work
 Work outside of normal day hours
 Work within normal day hours means:
 A work day within a spread starting at 7 AM and ending before 7 PM
 No more than 8 hours per day and/or 40 hours per week
 Hours worked as a continuous on-duty period

5. Main Characteristics of Extended Working Hours
 More than 48 hours per week
 Exceptions to this rule
 Sea farer (fishing men, cruise ships…)
 Mobile worker (travelling sales man…)
 Offshore work (military divers, oil platform…)
 Fire & Police service
 Health care
 Transportation (train, ferry, anything with a timetable)

6. Main Characteristics of Flexible Working Hours
 Irregular working hours
 Not scheduled, rather very varied
 Variability in length
 Variability in predictability
 Variability in influence on arrangement

7. Main Characteristics of Teleworking
 Not a job description
 A way to organize work using ICT
 Work is performed elsewhere
 Most common types of teleworkers:
 Workers who work at home full time or part time
 Workers who divide their time between home and office
 Mobile workers using their home as an administrative base

8. Negative mental impacts of shift work

9. Negative physical impacts of shift work
 Disruption of circadian rhythm
 Physical, mental & behavioural changes during 24 hour cycle due to light
and darkness
 Negative effect on sleep and alertness
 Insomnia
 Fatigue-related accidents
 Three-mile island, Chernobyl, car accidents
 Reduction in productivity

10. Potential negative impacts from flexible working hours
Anxiety
Tension,
Headaches irritability
Negative
impact
Digestive Fatigue
problems
Loss of Decreased
arousal vigilance

11. Positive aspects of atypical working hours
 Flexibility to manage life’s different roles
 Positive work-life balance
 Increased productivity
 Increased service to customers
 More time spent with family (summers)
 Reduces need for non-parental care
 Increased income

12. Flextime Case Study Applications
• ARUP Laboratories
o Seven On/Seven Off Schedule
o Business Needs
o Flexible Schedule for family or education
• Aflac
o 4 by 10 work week or 3 by 12 work week
o More Productive Employees
o Reduced Turnover

13. Flextime Case Study Applications, Continued
• Cisco
o Telework option for employees
o Saves time on commute, reduced need for commercial office space
o Realized $195 million by increased employee activity
• Dell
o Virtual Call Center
o Attracted more qualified employees
o Productivity increased by 20%

14. Flextime Case Study Applications, Continued
• RSM McGladrey
o Flexyear option or “teacher’s contract”
o Strategic Business Tool
o Meets needs of business partners
o Increased Employee Retention

15. Obstacles to a flexible work program
Employee
Resistance
Closed
Management Customer
Resistance Corporate Impact
Culture
Technology
Issues

16. Implementing a Flexible Work Program
Compelling Support of Create
Management
Business Human Customized
Commitment
Case Resources Program

17. Conclusions
Although there are many negative affects on mental and physical health
of irregular work hours, if one must (or wants to) work atypical hours
we suggest:
o Allow the employee freedom to decide:
• the amount of hours worked overtime
• which flexible hours to work
• manage the shift work on a clockwise rotation

18. Conclusions
Implement
Customized
Limit Night Flexible
Work or Work
Avoid It Program
Excessive Regularly
Overtime Assess any
Should be Atypical
avoided Work
Schedules

19. Questions?