Improve Your Health by Finding a New Boss

The Industrial Revolution is long past, in general, working conditions have improved from year to year during the last century.  But that hasn’t stopped Cochrane Review researchers from examining the impact of present-day working conditions on the health of employees.

Ten studies reported on the health effects of different working conditions on over 16,000 workers were reviewed.  There were six different types of flexible working arrangements: self-scheduling (4), flextime (1), overtime (1), gradual retirement (2), involuntary part-time (1), and fixed-term contract (1).  Some studies were randomized controlled studies, while others were interrupted time series or before-and-after measurements. 

Primary endpoints or outcomes were systolic blood pressure, heart rate, tiredness, mental health, sleep quality and quantity, and alertness.  Positive effects on these factors were found in work situations where the employee had more control over their schedules.  Thus self-scheduling of shift changes and self-control of partial or early retirement were found to improve health, without any ill-effects.  On the other hand, there were no significant effects of differences in overtime working, flextime, and fixed-term contracts on physical, mental, or general health; these conditions were mostly employer-imposed.

Overall, flexibility in working patterns that are under the control or choice by the employee are likely to have positive effects on heath parameters, whereas tough, top-down decisions on working conditions did not improve heath patterns.  Thus employer-defined flexibility had no beneficial effects, but also no associated health deterioration.  (The studies didn’t measure sick-days, however.)

These results are not too surprising.  People will feel better when they have some control over their activities, rather than surrendering them to an employer.  But it’s a wise boss who recognizes this, and acts on it.  Work output will improve, too!