Workforce Management Office (WFMO) Serving NOAA's Most Valuable Asset - People
The James D. Martin Employee Worklife Center
Shift Worker Information:
Shift workers can often be the forgotten employees. NOAA cares and provides resources to help shift workers adjust to working non-traditional hours. Amongst the biggest challenges for shift workers are gastrointestinal ailments, fatigue, and sleep disorders.
The life of a shift worker can be very different, often eating dinner past midnight and into the early morning hours. This behavior, of course, results in increased digestive problems such as the digestive system often shuts down at night and any food intake often does not secrete the normal enzymes as is the case during the daytime hours. Additionally, while most are fast asleep, shift workers are making noble attempts at nighttime productivity. If improperly rested, shift workers are subject to fatigue, lack alertness and compromise safety - both on the job and behind the wheel driving home from the end of a shift. Lastly, research proves that shift workers often have difficulty adjusting to life with such non-traditional hours at work. It is very difficult to maintain wholesome relationships with mates, friends and family when both parties pass like "ships in the night".
To ensure that shift workers live as productive of a life as possible, this page will provide helpful resources to manage your life. Here you will find articles and the latest research, and a list of websites which will provide other helpful tips to manage shift work. Lastly, the James D. Martin Worklife Center is compiling and will periodically post to this page a list of child care and eldercare providers that provide service after traditional business hours. Check back soon to see if there are services available in your areas.
SleepFoundation.org - This site provides useful information on sleep and the associated stages of sleep and their importance.
