of 4260 ATTITUDES AFFECTED

‘ MOST NINE-to-five workers complain about the
Strain and tedium -of working the same hours five

‘That means that within
30 days a worker will have

Canadians work shifts, rela-
tively little research has pro-

Doctors, nurses,
policemen, firemen, journal-

‘ days a week bed shift work’s ists and many blue-collar completed three different
¥: : ; psychological and physical workers must work rotating shifts," says Jamal.
, However, studies show fessor of Management effects. shifts. In most cases, there His surveys indicate that
. workers on rotating shifts Muhammad Jamal has con- Jamal’s interest in the are three shifts—roughly 8. shift work negatively affects
‘ are under greater stress than ducted five major studics of subject was sparked when he a.m. to 4 p.m., 4 to mid- workers’ mental attitudes.

shift workers since 1976.
Jamal says that, although
approximately 25 per cent of

those working regular fixed
hours.
' Concordia University pro-

worked in a lumber camp
one summer and experienced
the drain of working shifts.

night, and midnight to 8
a.m.—and workers change
shifts every 10 days.

They are not as active physi-
cally or socially as fixed-
hour workers, he says.

Few shift) workers par-
ticipate in club or volunteer
organizations, and television
was listed as their most pop-
ular pastime, Jamal adds.

these characteristics are less
common in the general pop-
ulation, he says. :

DONST VISIT

Socially, shift laborers, did
not visit often with friends
or family. This is a vital fac-
tor because “the family
usually provides its members
with social and emotional
support,’’ states Jamal.

Physical side effects of
shift work include loss of
appetite, headaches, insom-
nia, dizziness and nausea on
awakening, Jamal says. The
extent to which they affect
an individual varies, since it
takes anywhere from four to
20 days for body functions

| Delectable \
i Capilano’ ¥
delicacies f¥

Other studies have shown

_Shiftwork strains workers

In addition, frequent
changes in shifts may mean
the body never adjusts.

Nurses, of whom about 95
per cent work shifts, seem to
feel the largest. amount, of
stress from shift work.

Surveys conducted in three
~Montreal hospitals asked
nurses about job  satisfac-
tion, job performance, men-
tal -health,. loyalty to
employer and how shifts af-
fected their social life.

The nurses were. satisfied
with their jobs, believing
they were providing an
essential service. ‘'Their
commitment to their job was
strong,’’ says Jamal. :

But shift work took a toll
on them. Their job perfor-
mance was low, according to
their supervisors. As well
there Was a higher rate of
absenteeisra and turnover of
staff among nurses on shifts.

Loyalty to the employer
was not high. If a nursing
employment opportunity
arose that did not require
rotating shifts, they would
not hesitate to gv to it, the
nurses said, oe,

“Phere was a great deal of
difference in the attitude and
performance of nurses work-

See Shifts

; NEWS photo Stuart Devis
WHAT'S COOKING, wonders Reed Hilton, right, watching as Angus Evans stirs up Italian macaroni casserole. The two
youngsters were taking part in the West Van Recreation Centre's Diner’s Club. The program is for children over the age
-of 6 and features cooking an evening meal together, than relaxing with cartoon shorts and a feature film. The Diner's Club
is run every Friday night from 5 to 7 p.m. until December 13. Tickets must be purchasede on previous Wednesdays at the
Recreation Centre office. One evening drop-in is $6. For more information call Tracy at 926-3266.

[West Van Rec Centre

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