The non-social world of work - a personal view point. The effect of physical factors shiftwork and overtime on job performance

Abstract

Attention is drawn to the relative neglect by industrial psychologists in recent years of the effect of certain non-social factors in the work situation. These include physical conditions of work, hours, overtime and shiftwork. Recent South African research into shiftwork among Black and Coloured workers is described and it is suggested that worker reaction in the form of withdrawal should be regularly monitored through statistics of absenteeism and labour turnover. Data collected over a period of years have supported the hypothesis that patterns of withdrawal within particular organisations show stability and are related to "non-social" factors within the organisations. Opsomming Aandag word gevestig daarop dat bedryfsielkundiges relatief min klem lê op die invloed van sekere "nie-sosiale" faktore in die werksituasie. Dit sluit veral fisiese werksomstandighede, werksure, oortyd en skofwerk in. Onlangse Suid-Afrikaanse navorsing onder Swart- en Kleurlingwerkers word beskryf en daar word aanbeveel dat werkerreaksie teenoor die faktore gereeld gemeet word deur statistiek van afwesigheid en arbeidsomset te verkry en te ontleed. Data oor 'n tydperk van jare ingesamel, wys daarop dat patrone van onttrekking binne spesifieke organisasies min of meer stabiel is en steun die hipotese dat nie-sosiale faktore binne die organisasie grotendeels hiervoor verantwoordelik is