NIOSH Training for Nurses on Shift Work and Long Work Hours

Impacts on Employers

Negative Impacts of Shift Work and Long Work Hours for Employers^98-103

• Reduced productivity: Thomas and Raynar¹⁰⁰ reported efficiency decreased by 10% to 15% for 50- and 60-hour work weeks.
• Increases in worker errors
• Increased absenteeism
• Increased turnover
• Increases in healthcare costs, workers’ compensation costs, and early disability
• Loss of nurses who leave their job because of demanding work hours¹⁰¹

Circadian, a shift work consulting firm, estimates that extended hours^a of operation cost the employer over $10,000 per employee per year in healthcare costs, excess turnover costs, as well as high costs related to absenteeism, lost productivity, and accidents.¹⁰²

Similarly, Rosekind et al.¹⁰³ estimated annual fatigue-related productivity losses for employers were almost $2000 per employee.

^a24/7 operations and long work shifts.