Impact of worktime arrangements on work-home interference among Dutch employees.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the effects of different worktime arrangements on work-home interference while taking into account other work-related factors, private situation and health status, explored gender differences in this relation, and examined reciprocal effects between workhours and work-home interference.


METHODS
Data from the Maastricht cohort study on fatigue at work were used with 8 months of follow-up (N=6947 at baseline).


RESULTS
Worktime arrangements were related to work-home interference among the men and women, even after control for confounding. As compared with daywork, baseline shiftwork was associated with higher work-home interference over time. Within daywork, full-time work was prospectively related to higher work-home interference than part-time work was. For full-timers, baseline overtime work, hours of overtime work, change in number of workhours, and commuting time were related to higher work-home interference over time, whereas compensation for overtime work, familiarity with work roster, ability to take a day off, and a decrease in workhours at own request were associated with less work-home interference. For the part-timers, baseline overtime work and commuting time were related to higher work-home interference over time, whereas compensation for overtime, flexible workhours, and ability to take a day off were protective against work-home interference. Reciprocal relations between work-home interference and workhours were also found.


CONCLUSIONS
Worktime arrangements are clearly related to work-home interference. Because reciprocal effects exist as well, important selection processes may exist. Nevertheless, specific characteristics of worktime arrangements could constitute useful tools for reducing work-home interference.
Jansen
Nicole W H
NW
Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. Nicole.Jansen@epid.unimaas.nl
Kant
Ijmert
I
Nijhuis
Frans J N
FJ
Swaen
Gerard M H
GM
Kristensen
Tage S
TS
D000328:Adult; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D016272:Occupational Health; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000523:psychology*