National Shift Worker Survey Fact Sheet

More than half (52%) would only consult a doctor about being tired if it made them physically ill – far more than those who would take similar action if it took a toll on their lives in any other ways.

One potential health impact of working non-traditional shift is shift work disorder, which affects up to 25% of night or rotating shift workers and has potential consequences including decreased productivity and trouble focusing, an increased susceptibility to intestinal and heart diseases

Shift work disorder is a recognized and treatable medical condition that occurs when an individual's internal sleep-wake clock is out of sync with their work schedule. Because of this disruption in the body's natural rhythm, people with shift work disorder may struggle to stay awake during their working hours, known as excessive sleepiness, or have trouble sleeping during their sleeping hours, known as insomnia.

It is important that people experiencing excessive sleepiness and/or insomnia take the time to see a doctor and mention that they work nontraditional shifts, as shift work disorder can often go undiagnosed. To learn more about shift work disorder, visit www.TheWakeUpSquad.com.

About The Survey
The survey was conducted by Kelton Research and Cephalon as part of a disease awareness program called The Wake-Up Squad. The survey was fielded online and was completed by 1,565 shift workers between May 25th and June 1st, 2011. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results.