Low-skilled women are increasingly exposed to atypical working hours, according to INED. Problem: practicing one’s job early in the morning, in the evening, at night, on Saturdays or Sundays is not without risks and can have serious repercussions on the health of workers. Explanations.
- Between 2013 and 2019, night and evening work fell slightly. But Saturday, Sunday and morning work (from 5 to 7 a.m.) has increased for certain categories of employees who appear to be more exposed.
- Night workers are more likely to suffer from digestive problems, manifesting as stomach pain and bloating.
In France, 36% of employees work staggered hours. From now on, women are proportionally more numerous than men to exercise their profession at so-called “atypical” hours, namely early in the morning, in the evening, at night on weekends, even if they do not carry out the same types of work. ‘schedule.
For less qualified women, exposure to staggered working hours has increased
The latter work more often on Saturdays and Sundays, and the share of women exposed to this type of schedule has increased over the last decade unlike that of men, according to a recent INED monthly bulletin. “The share of female executives working atypical hours decreased by 23% between 2013 and 2019, while it increased by 11% for unskilled workers, the category that suffered the greatest deterioration”, can we read in the report.
According to the study, the conjunction of two phenomena seems to be at the origin of this exacerbation of social differences in terms of working hours. On the one hand, “the work-family reconciliation policies implemented in large companies have been able to contribute to improving the working conditions of the most qualified.” On the other hand, low-skilled women are overrepresented in trades and distribution, where working on Sundays has increased, as well as in care and personal services trades, “where atypical schedules are structural and not subject to improvement”.
What are the consequences of “atypical” working hours on the health of employees?
According to National Institute for Research and Security (INRS), the disruption of biological rhythms, caused by staggered working hours, can have harmful effects on physical and mental health. Working “atypical” hours can cause sleep disturbances. These latter “Result in drowsiness, and a decrease in alertness which can be the cause of accidents occurring at night”, indicates the institute.
Another repercussion of staggered hours: metabolic disorders (obesity, diabetes, arterial hypertension) and coronary diseases (heart attack and coronary ischemia). The risks of suffering from depression, mood disorders, anxiety, cognitive decline and personality disorders are also higher among these workers. “Shift and/or night work would increase the risk of spontaneous abortion, premature delivery and intrauterine growth retardation”, specifies the INRS.
