Effects of on-call work on well-being: results of a daily survey.
BACKGROUND
Flexible work schedules and on-call work are becoming more and more common in working life. However, little is known about the effects of on-call work on health.


METHODS
Using a daily survey method, 31 employees from an Information Technology Service Organisation filled out a questionnaire four times a week while they were on call and another four times a week while they were not on call. An evaluation of cortisol levels was included. Multilevel analyses were used to evaluate the data.


RESULTS
Results showed increases in irritation and negative mood and decreases in social activities, household activities, and low-effort activities. No effects were found concerning the secretion of cortisol. There were no significant differences between those employees who were actually called in to work during the on-call period and those who were not.


CONCLUSIONS
Flexible work schedules like on-call work have effects on well-being. The mere possibility of being disturbed by calls shows negative consequences, regardless of whether the employees are actually called in or not.
University of Hamburg, Germany             Gesundheitswirtschaft GmbH, Germany             Beiersdorf AG, Germany.
Eva
E
Bamberg
Jan
J
Dettmers
Hannah
H
Funck
Birgit
B
Krähe
Tim
T
Vahle-Hinz
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D059031:Anticipation, Psychological; D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007508:Irritable Mood / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance
D006854:Hydrocortisone