Nonstandard work schedules and family life

Data on 1,090 workers from the 1977 Quality of Employment Survey (R. P. Quinn and G. L. Staines, 1979) show that working a nonstandard pattern of days (e.g., weekend work and variable days) was associated with less time in family roles, higher levels of specific types of conflict between work and family life and, in one instance, lower levels of family adjustment. Working a nonstandard pattern of hours (shiftwork) was associated with more time in one family role, housework, yet also with more conflict between work and family life. Findings indicate that the problems shiftwork poses for family life concern the scheduling of available time rather than the amount of time available for family activities. (23 ref)