Author(s):
Karl-Heinz Fittkau & Thilo Teske

Institution:
Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin

Title:
Health-promoting leadership in shift work

Abstract:
What are the consequences of shift work for the emplo­yees concerned? And can possible negative consequences be mitigated by appropriate leadership behavior or by tar­geted organizational measures? This paper discusses two self-conducted studies in the Berlin police force. Study 1 (N = 203) examined work-life balance, social stress, and burnout propensity among shift workers. Study 2 (N = 163) focused on the effectiveness of transformational leadership in shift work. Using hierarchical and moderated regressions, we were able to show that shift work does not necessarily have a negative impact on the perceived work-life balance or the propensity to burnout. Only the perceived social stress is able to increase the burnout tendency. In addition, the po­sitive effect of transactional leadership should not be underestimated. The results indicate that managers in particular can counteract the negative effects of shift work.

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