The associations of working hour characteristics with short sickness absence among part- and full-time retail workers

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the associations of working hour characteristics with short (1–3 days) sickness absence (SA) among retail workers. METHODS: As part of “RetailHours-project”, 4046 employees of 338 Finnish retail stores were included. Registry-based data on working hour characteristics and short SA were utilized. A case-crossover design was used and the odds ratios (OR) were controlled for the clustering effect and working hour characteristics. RESULTS: There were strong dose–response relationships between percent of short (25% of work times. Weekly working hours >40 hours were associated with SA among part-time workers [odds ratio (OR) 2.22, CI 1.65–2.98], women (OR 1.62, CI 1.27–2.07) and among workers <30 years of age (OR 1.68, CI 1.20–2.35) as well as among workers aged ≥30 years (OR 1.43, CI 1.07–1.92). Furthermore, working mainly night shifts was associated with SA among full-time workers (OR 2.41, 95% CI 0.99–5.86) and women (OR 1.72, CI 1.02–2.89). CONCLUSIONS: A short shift interval is an important risk factor for short SA. Improving intervals between shifts and shortening long weekly working hours could reduce the risk of short SA among retail workers.

Keywords

• quick return
• working hour characteristic
• retail worker
• risk factor
• sick leave
• sickness absence
• night shift
• shift work schedule