Extreme working hours

This chapter explores the literature on extended or extreme working hours and why, in the face of the evidence, such practices are being extended. It examines sveral case studies across different industries which lacked any pilot study to justify the extension of hours, or assess the fatigue and risk implication in high risk and dangerous industries. Issue identified include less downtime due to fewer shift change-overs with potentially reduced shifts from 3 x 8 hours to 2 x 12 hours. Looking at extended or extreme working hours from an ethical perspective can allow a more nuanced assessment of the impact of such work patterns and practices from the individual, organisation and societal perspectives. Superficially, the changing work patterns from normal hours to alternating extended shift patterns showed only a minor change in the number of hours worked per week, with apparent increased compensation for employees. There has been an increasing push to extended working hours, across a variety of industries.