The impact of different rosters on employee work and non-work time preferences

Australian organizations are extending the 8-hour shift in response to market demands. The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of working time arrangements on employees who work shiftwork. A survey was developed to investigate preferred work and non-work time and to determine the potential impact of two rosters (mining and transport). A total of 256 shift-workers working either 8- or 12-hour shifts were matched on age, gender, marital and parenting status. Both groups placed higher value on work time during the day, Monday to Friday and preferred weekend work to night work. Furthermore, the two imposed rosters suggest that the benefits cited concerning 12-hour rosters and social time are more a reduction in the loss of preferred time than an absolute gain.