Nonstandard work schedules such as shift work and night work tend to trigger problems for workers in different areas. To illustrate the diversity of areas affected and the relative interest of the scientific community, we conducted a literature review of the effects of shift work and night work on workers. In particular, we intended to identify the main variables addressed in the field of health, the family sphere, and the organizational context. The literature review was carried out using the Web of Science with the following terms: “shift work”, “rotating shifts”, and “night work”. Inclusion criteria incorporated empirical studies and articles written in Portuguese or English published in 2019. We selected 129 of the 619 articles identified. Regarding the impacts of shift work and night work, there existed a high discrepancy of focus between the three defined areas: health, family life, and organizational context. Specifically, health-related variables were the most studied (83.4%), followed by organizational variables (9.2%), and, lastly, family variables (7.4%). Based on these results, it is essential to extend the study of the two underrepresented impacts to other crucial areas, not only for the worker but also for organizations.

A investigação tem privilegiado o estudo dos impactos do trabalho por turnos na saúde dos trabalhadores considerando a perspectiva dos próprios. Em contraste, o presente estudo avaliou os impactos dessa modalidade horária na vida familiar e social dos trabalhadores, segundo a perspetiva dos cônjuges/companheiros(as). Compararam-se também os impactos de dois horários de trabalho diferentes (trabalho por turnos vs. horário normal) na vida familiar e social. Participaram no estudo 515 cônjuges de policiais portugueses. Verificou-se que o trabalho por turnos tem impacto de moderado a elevado em todas as áreas avaliadas da vida familiar e social, tendo os cônjuges de trabalhadores por turnos relatado maiores impactos na reorganização familiar e na vida social conjunta. Quanto aos dois horários, foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas em todas as áreas avaliadas, tendo os familiares de trabalhadores por turnos relatado maiores impactos do horário de trabalho do cônjuge do que os familiares de trabalhadores diurnos.

Shift work, especially if it involves night work and/or weekend work, may represent disadvantages for workers and their families at the level of family, social life, and health. The present study evaluates the impacts of three work shifts (morning, afternoon and night) on sleep, family and social life as well as satisfaction with work schedules. In total, 373 Portuguese textile workers participated in this study; all were men. The results indicated that night shift workers had greater sleep disturbances and less satisfaction with their work schedules. On the other hand, morning shift workers were most satisfied with family and social life in association with their work schedules. Based on the results, implications of the practice have been reflected.

Safety culture (SC) can play a key role in workers’ health and well-being, as well as in organizational performance. The literature has demonstrated a positive relationship between SC and organizational indicators such as safety performance. However, there is still a need to understand the impact of contextual factors and to identify strategies that promote employee well-being and organizational effectiveness. This cross-sectional study aims to analyze the relationship between different components of SC—management commitment, safety management systems (SMS), and worker participation in safety—and to explore the moderating role of perceived barriers to the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the physical demands of the job in these relationships. The study involved 473 Portuguese workers from the construction and industrial sectors. Correlation and moderation analyses were performed. The results revealed positive correlations among the main SC components, highlighting their interconnection within the organizational context. A moderating effect—albeit of small magnitude—was also found for both perceived barriers and physical demands in the relationship between management commitment and the other dimensions of SC. The results are discussed in light of their implications for safety management and the promotion of healthier and more sustainable workplaces.

Job satisfaction (JS) is a key indicator in health-related professions. This variable can be crucial to the performance of healthcare workers as well as to patients’ perception of the care provided. However, JS can be influenced by personal and organizational variables and the variables that interface between these two domains, such as work–family conflict (WFC), organizational support, and work–family support programs. In this sense, the main objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between family-friendly practices (FFPs) made available by organizations and used by workers, WFC, and JS. To this end, the present study uses mixed data (quantitative and qualitative) obtained from healthcare workers in Portugal. A total of 1495 workers participated in the study. The results indicate that the number of FFPs made available and used by healthcare workers is very small. There is a negative relationship between FFP availability and WFC as well as between WFC and JS. Conversely, FFP availability is positively associated with JS. Finally, FFP availability partially mediates the relationship between WFC and JS. Qualitative data support the importance of practices that help reconcile work and family life, which may have an impact on occupational indicators such as JS.