22 year old Manoj took up a job in a BPO, hoping to finance further studies and be independent. He was earning well and enjoyed his work. But, four months down the line, he was facing digestive problems and fatigue. He couldn't sleep properly during the day and found it difficult to concentrate on work or studies. As for his social life - it was almost non-existent. He has now decided to quit.
Does this sound familiar? With the increasing presence of call centres and other BPOs, the number of people working in shifts, especially night shifts, have increased. People from age groups 18 to 60 years can be seen working in this industry. Most companies offer lucrative salaries and a great work atmosphere.
Yet we have also seen a high attrition rate across the industry and it is not just because of the lure of higher monetary benefits. Many are leaving because, like Manoj, they just can't handle the pressure and impact of odd working hours.
There are many physical and psychological implications of working in shifts especially prolonged night shifts. Understanding these implications and practicing skills to cope with them will help shift workers in handling their lives better.
Human beings are diurnal creatures - we tend towards daytime wakefulness and sleep at night. Our bodies operate on an internal 24-hour body clock, on cycles known as circadian rhythms. The body clock regulates a number of physiological functions such as body temperature, hormone secretion, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, digestion and mental alertness. It lets us know, among other things, when to sleep and when to eat. Disruption of these rhythms is a major cause of the harmful effects of shift work. Complete adjustment to changing cycles is rare and the ability to do so declines with increasing age.
Research done on people working in the shifts system has shown that major health effects, which may be manifested after a few years, could include:
Apart from health problems, shift workers find themselves pressurized by lack of time for family and friends. It is difficult to find the time and energy for recreation and social life and as a result may feel increasingly isolated from the people who matter in their lives.
While all these problems exist, the fact is that the BPOs are here to stay and the opportunities are plenty. If one can cope with the adverse effects of shift work, then there is a lot to gain. If you work on shifts, you need to take care of your sleep, diet and physical fitness to gain control of your shift life and enjoy it.
We have done extensive research on the impact of shift work and conducted several workshops for shift workers. Should you have any queries on how to cope with shift work or any related query, do write to us through e-counseling. We are here to listen ... and help you.
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Working late: What happens to the Family?
The Battle for Daytime Sleep