A Qualitative Exploration of Shift Work and Employee Well-Being in the US Manufacturing Environment

Objective:Describe manufacturing workers' perceptions of the effect of shift work, following the Framework for Worker Well-Being.Methods:Eight focus groups and 43 interviews were conducted across four large manufacturing plants. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data within each of the five domains of the Framework: physical environment and safety climate; workplace policies and culture; health status; work evaluation and experience; and home, community, and society.Results:Respondents described shift work as detrimental to well-being across four of the five Framework domains. The exception was in the workplace policies and culture domain, where some respondents described shift work as necessary, fair, and financially beneficial.Conclusions:Shift work negatively influences worker well-being in a holistic way. Employers could consider reconfiguring workplace wellness benefits to transcend the boundaries of the workplace and better support workers and their families.