Shift work (particularly split shifts) has been noted among the working conditions that hinder sustainable work. However, little is known regarding the effects of split shifts on health. This study aimed to investigate the association between split shift work and work-related injury and disease absence.

This study used data from the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey and included 4,042 paid shift workers. Shift work type and self-reported work-related injury and disease absence were investigated using a questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between split shift work and work-related absence with rotating shift worker as the reference group.

Of the 4,042 shift workers, 980 (24.3%) were split shift workers. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of split shift for absence due to work-related injury was high at 2.94 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.85–4.68) and the aOR of split shift for absence due to work-related disease was also high at 1.58 (95% CI: 1.09–2.29) compared to rotating shift.

Split shift work leads to an increased risk of absences due to work-related injury and disease.

Job insecurity and emotional labor are poor job-related factors that are known to cause sleep disturbances in customer service workers. This study investigates the combined effect of emotional labor and job insecurity on sleep disturbance.

This study used data from the Fifth Korean Working Condition Survey and included 15,147 paid workers who serve customers below 65 years. We re-classified into 6 groups based on whether the degree of emotional labor increased (Rarely/Sometimes/Always) or whether job insecurity (No/Yes) was present. We performed propensity score matching for several covariates and calculated odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for sleep disturbance by logistic regression models using only matched subjects.

Workers exposed to emotional labor and job insecurity had significantly higher risk for 3 dimensions of sleep disturbance (difficulty falling asleep, waking up repeatedly during the sleep, and waking up with feeling of fatigue) (OR [95% CI]: 1.44 [1.22–1.69], 1.18 [0.99–1.40], 1.52 [1.30–1.79] for emotional labor; and 2.00 [1.75–2.29], 2.20 [1.91–2.53], 1.67 [1.45–1.92] for job insecurity). Compared to those who were exposed to both emotional labor rarely and without job insecurity, when workers had both poor job factors, the OR (95% CI) for sleep disturbance for difficulty falling asleep, waking up repeatedly during the sleep, and waking up with feeling of fatigue were 3.05 (2.42–3.86), 2.89 (2.26–3.69), and 2.60 (2.06–3.29), respectively. The relative excess risk due to Interaction of job insecurity and emotional labor was significant only for difficulty falling asleep, but not the other 2 sleep disturbance dimensions.

Customer service workers suffered from severe sleep disturbances according to the existing degree of emotional labor and job insecurity. The combined effect of both could have an additive influence on serious sleep disturbance among customer service workers.