The Working Hours Act slowed down the increase in sickness absences
The award-winning article demonstrates in concrete terms how legislation can be used to improve the well-being of shift workers. The Working Hours Act, which entered into force in 2020, guaranteed employees performing irregular shift work an uninterrupted rest period of at least 11 hours during the 24 hours following the start of each shift.
The results are significant: the legislative amendment resulted in a 13 per cent decrease in sickness absences in units where working hours were changed compared to workplaces where the working hour arrangements remained unchanged. This is particularly significant, as sickness absences have increased in recent years in the health care sector, where shift work is known to be very prevalent.
“Shift work cannot be stopped, but it is possible to limit its harmful characteristics and their effects,” says Senior Specialist Jarno Turunen.
Research based on a combination of top know-how and unique dataset and motivated by the wishes of labour market parties
Turunen highlights three key elements that made the study possible. Firstly, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health’s working time research group is among the best in its field worldwide.
Secondly, the researchers had access to the working time records of tens of thousands of people engaged in shift work in hospital districts from 2014-2021. The dataset is completely unique, even internationally, and it can be used to conduct diverse research and draw highly reliable conclusions.
As the third factor, Turunen mentions the research group’s strong links to the tripartite labour market stakeholders, who initially proposed studying the effects of the amendments to the Working Hours Act. In fact, the significance of the study extends far beyond the academic world.
“This information is valuable to both employees and employers and will be reflected in the lives of many people and families,” Turunen emphasises.
Machine learning models change the planning of shift work
Turunen considers there is still a lot to be studied when it comes to working time.
"The topic of working time will never be completely exhausted. For example, the use of machine learning models in shift planning has become more prevalent. That field offers constantly more topics for study.
The current study and the international recognition it has received demonstrate that well-prepared legislation can bring real benefits to the daily lives of employees and promote health - and that Finnish occupational health research is at the forefront of its field internationally.
See also
- The article: The Time-Varying Effect of Participatory Shift Scheduling on Working Hour Characteristics and Sickness Absence: Evidence from a Quasi-Experiment in Hospitals (mdpi.com)
- 25th International Symposium on Shiftwork and Working Time (shiftwork2025.com)
Further information
Jarno Turunen, Senior Specialist, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, jarno.turunen [at] ttl.fi, tel. +358 (0)43 825 2569
