Whether Doctors, nurses, police officers or bakers: In some professional fields, night work is required. Two percent of all employees in Germany work even during the night. How this affects the health and private life, has examined the Federal Institute for occupational safety and health (BAuA) in a survey.

Employees who work permanently during the night, are dissatisfied with their Work-Life Balance and their health is worse than other Employees. Particularly full-time employees period are at risk of night work end, the work with an average of 46 hours per week, significantly longer than other full-time employees. The most common duration of night work, work in the health and social sector, the manufacturing sector and the transportation and storage industry.

Who at night works fühlt less fit

A total of 77 percent of all employees say they are satisfied or very satisfied with the fit of your work and private life. In the case of employees in continuous night shift these are only 61 percent. Only every second employee in duration of night work (51 percent) believes that in addition to the own state of health as good to very good, while in the case of all employees, 62 per cent. Duration of night work goes according to the survey, often with health complaints: most often, employees complain of pain in the lower back (60%) and General tiredness, fatigue or exhaustion (56 percent). Often, the respondents also report physical fatigue (44 percent), and nocturnal sleep disturbances (43 percent).

Total duration of night work from a work science perspective, are not in favour of leave, since the work against the biological clock and social rhythms is associated with high health risks. Especially Employees with long working hours are at risk here.

BAuA/NK