Did You Know?
Shiftworkers have a greater incidence of marital breakdown.

In one group of 13 male shift work employees, 11 were divorced! The two who were still with their long-time partners were considered very much the exception. Everyone in this group understood the major impact has on personal relationships.

Though rates of marital breakdown are usually not as high as in this particular group, the rates among shift workers are still higher than the norm. If you have been a shift worker, you are well-aware that it is much more difficult to sustain a relationship with the extra stress of irregular sleep and wake times. Add to this, the fact that even when the shift worker is at home and awake, they may be fatigued and not in the best frame of mind to give energy to their family and partner.

The best strategy for maintaining relationships through shift work is to put a premium on learning and practising effective communication skills. It is also very useful for the spouse to learn about shift work and the impact it has on the worker. This will help them to be more empathetic with their partner.

To learn more, plan a Family Forum at your workplace.

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