Keeping research on circadian rhythms in mind, HR should review overtime and split-shift policies, especially if the company employs students and others who are moonlighting or has many hourly employees who feel pressured to work overtime. Sleep isn t the only thing to suffer. Shift work debilitates your social life, says Sirois. That hits home when the company sponsors a Christmas party. HR needs to work out policies and educate managers about how to accommodate employees who need to attend family events like weddings and graduations.
Child care can be difficult to find, especially for workers who rotate shifts.
Because local services couldn t meet its workers day care needs, Saturn contracted with a provider to run a subsidized center open about 22 hours a day, six days a week. Companies that can t give this kind of assistance should try to provide employees with lists of child care services that support nontraditional hours. Steven Mardon, editor of ShiftWork Alert , a newsletter published by Circadian Technologies, believes HR can address most problems with appropriate training on how to manage a shift work lifestyle. Remember that whatever job they re learning or doing, employees are also learning to be shift workers, he says. Information on diet and sleep management, as well as suggestions on coping with a daytime culture and social isolation, can help employees adjust.