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Thesis Statement: There are benefits and drawbacks in choosing to work during the day versus working during the evening. Day and night shifts present a different set of challenges to employees and also make available a different set of advantages. For many employees, choosing which shift to work is not always an option. For those who are able to choose, there is research data available to determine which option is best for each person. Comparing and contrasting day and night shift work should consider variables such as the employee’s family situation (kids, spouse working a certain shift), other obligations (school, caretaking responsibilities for a loved one), and the psychological/medical disposition of the employee (those who generally perform better in the evenings than they do during daylight hours, effects on physiology). There are often rewards outside of the general opportunities to choose one shift over another. Depending on the needs of the employer, certain shifts may come with compensation benefits that should also be considered when choosing. Choosing a shift choice should take into consideration all or most of the variables that come with each option and be chosen based on which shift provides the best chance for the employee to succeed.
Choosing to work the day shift or the night shift is just one of the considerations an employee will have to confront. Though the choice is not commonly thought of as a make or break decision, there are several aspects of choosing the best shift that can make a significant difference in the employee’s ability to perform well. Part of the choice that has the most impact on an employee is the effect of shift work on the employee’s health.
Health Impacts of Working Different Shifts
One area of health that can be affected by working various shifts is metabolic function. Specifically, beverage consumption during different shifts has been shown to influence various health conditions related to metabolic function. A clinical study on diabetes and metabolic syndrome suggests that those who choose night shift work are more likely to consume sugary beverages. Those who consume beverages high in sugar are usually the same group of people who consume the least amount of water during a given period. This lack of water intake contributes to a greater than average risk of developing diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
The clinical study was conducted as a cross-sectional comparative study and accounted for employees working different shifts, their drinking habits, and the results on their overall health. Information was collected consistently among employees who worked between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. as well as those who worked essentially the opposite hours. Among the data collected over a three-day period was an assessment of dietary intake. This enabled researchers to understand both the prevailing habits of the subjects and the effects of those habits on the subjects’ health. [“Write my essay for me?” Get help here.]
Ways that employees can reduce the risks of negative health impacts while working the night shift includes being diligent about maintaining proper eating habits, avoiding stimulants, and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule to improve cognition and overall health.
Psychology of Shift Work
The American Psychological Association cites risks of night shift work that include several factors worth considering. One risk of working the night shift is a disruption of the body’s natural rhythms. The assessment of the APA is not an indictment on night shift by itself, but rather the other habits shared broadly by those who work the night shift and how those habits affect the psychology of the workers. For example, poor planning and failure to adhere to a set sleep schedule contributes greatly to the negative psychological effects of working the night shift. Added to this is a failure to maintain a proper eating schedule and balanced diet. Combined, poor sleep, inconsistent eating, and poor menu choices play a role in the negative psychological effects of working the night shift. [Need an essay writing service? Find help here.]
Added benefits of Working Later
While there are several reasons to consider the risks associated with working the night shift there are benefits. Many organizations offer a nighttime differential in compensation to entice workers to choose less-desirable shifts. If an employee is able to mitigate the negative effects of working the night shift, there are often opportunities to reap financial rewards unavailable to daytime employees. [Click Essay Writer to order your essay]
Other reasons to choose working a later shift is an added sense of autonomy. Oftentimes, the main portion of management staff works during the day. This leaves the night shift with a greater level of freedom to fashion a work environment that reduces stress and can lead to greater production. Similarly, in fields other than healthcare, the workload overnight is often less than that of a day shift. This tendency, coupled with the potential for an increased rate of pay for working the night shift, means nighttime workers are effectively being compensated in two ways for their choice.
References
Mashhadia, Nafiseh Shokri, Saeed Saadatb, Mohammad Reza Afsharmanesh, Saeed Shirali (2016). “Study of association between beverage consumption pattern and lipid profile in shift workers.” Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews
Price, Michael. (2011). The risks of night work. American Psychological Association. 42.1 p. 38
A Comparison Between Shifts
I. There are benefits and drawbacks in choosing to work during the day
A. Comparing and contrasting day and night shift work should consider variables
B. Obligations
C. Psychological/medical disposition
D. Rewards outside of the general opportunities
II. Health Impacts of Working Different Shifts
A. Metabolic function.
B. Sugary beverages
C. Lack of water intake
III. Ways that employees can reduce the risks of negative health impacts
A. Being diligent about maintaining proper eating habits
B. Avoiding stimulants
C. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule
IV. Psychology of Shift Work
A. Disruption of the body’s natural rhythms
B. Poor planning and failure to adhere to a set sleep schedule
C. Failure to maintain a proper eating schedule and balanced diet
V. Added benefits of Working Later
A. Nighttime differential in compensation
B. Added sense of autonomy
C. Lighter workload
