Looking After Your Shift Workers' Mental Health: A Guide for Line Managers

Shift work keeps the world running; especially within industrial, technical and warehouse environments. But let’s be honest: working odd hours can mess with your employees' mental health. As a line manager, you play a big role in helping them stay balanced and well. Here’s what you need to know and how you can make a difference.

The Mental Health Challenges of Shift Work

1. Messed-Up Sleep Schedules – Shift work can throw off natural sleep cycles, making people tired, cranky, and more prone to anxiety or depression.
2. Feeling Cut Off – It’s tough to have a social life when your work hours don’t match up with friends and family. This can lead to loneliness and isolation.
3. Stress – Long hours and constantly changing schedules can pile on the pressure, making work more exhausting than it needs to be.
4. Burnout is Real – Constant exhaustion with little recovery time makes shift workers more likely to hit burnout.
5. Health Knock-On Effects – Poor sleep, stress, and lack of routine can lead to weight gain, heart problems, and unhealthy coping habits, none of which help mental health.

How You Can Help

1. Provide Information on How to Sleep Better

• Share tips on getting good sleep like keeping their room dark and quiet and avoiding caffeine before bed.
• If possible, plan shifts so there’s enough rest time in between.
• Try rotating shifts in a way that’s easier on the body (moving forward in time rather than backward).

2. Keep the Conversation Open

• Make sure employees know they can talk about mental health without worrying about judgment.
• Check in regularly to see how they’re doing and help balance their workload.
• Be clear about schedules so there’s less stress and uncertainty.

3. Encourage Work-Life Balance

• Give employees predictable time off so they can actually plan their lives.
• Support flexible scheduling and encourage the use of paid leave.
• Suggest hobbies and social activities to help prevent isolation.

4. Provide Mental Health Support

• Make sure they know about employee assistance programs (EAPs) for professional counselling.
• Organise mental health awareness sessions for both managers and staff.
• Share helpful mental health resources when needed.

5. Watch for Burnout and Step In Early

• Keep an eye out for signs like irritability, exhaustion, or frequent absences.
• Adjust workloads and offer support when someone seems overwhelmed.
• Offer stress management programs or mindfulness sessions to help employees recharge.

Shift work is tough, but with the right support, your team can stay mentally and physically well. By creating a positive work environment, encouraging healthy habits, and making mental health resources easy to access, you can make a real difference in their well-being, and help keep your workplace running smoothly.