Lavin G, S J P (2019) Implementing a compressed working week in the Irish construction industry: Perceived impact on health and well-being of employees. In: Gorse, C and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 35th Annual ARCOM Conference, 2-4 September 2019, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK.
Abstract
Irish construction professionals have long been acknowledged for working a traditional 5 daywork pattern, with inflexible work hours, while commuting extended hours, to and from work each day.The aim of this study is to investigate the compressed work week is an alternative work schedule, increasing hours worked per day and reducing working days, while still achieving the standard number of hours worked, under the lens of the impact on health and wellbeing of these professionals.To ascertain the impact, six in-depth semi-structured interviews are conducted with managers and workers in the Irish construction industry. The results are transcribed, coded and themes highlighted under two overarching concepts; positive and negative impact of the introduction of compressed working week on health and wellbeing.The results indicate that the positive impacts on health and wellbeing include; more time with family/friends, more time for and better-quality rest and recuperation, less commuting time, increased leisure time and, longer weekends. However, several negative impacts on health and wellbeing emerged; potential exhaustion, particularly those with physically strenuous tasks, poor diet due to longer time on-site, increased difficulty working in winter months (cold/daylight), exhaustion post commute home after a long (12hr) day and, not seeing family/friends due to late arrival home.Subsequently, the findings indicate a divergence of opinion with those interviewed, based on two core factors; the age of the interviewee and their profession; that is, if they experienced physical exertion, carrying out their daily tasks. Those of a younger age showed a preference for the introduction of a compressed working week, while those of an older age, and, carrying our physical tasks, were far less enthusiastic on the adoption of the revised working week.The results indicate that the introduction of a compressed working week has the potential to increase employee well-being; however, due to the increased working day, the adverse effects of diet and exhaustion, both on-site but also when commuting home, must also be given due consideration.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | compressed working week, exhaustion, health and well-being, stress |
| Index terms: | preference, construction industry, profession, construction professional, well-being, health and wellbeing, winter, interview, manager |
| Subjects: | mental health and wellbeing, data collection methods, climate science, practitioner, institututions, decision-making and reasoning, professional development, industry analysis |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Research Practice, Information Management, Roles and Professions, Sustainability |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here