Interindividual differences in the subjective valuation of leisure time utility

This study reports no significant change in the pattern of the utility of leisure time in response to a change from a slowly rotating to a more quickly rotating shift system by shiftworkers in the German chemical industry. An experimental and a control group were surveyed. The experimental group of 80 shiftworkers completed time utility ratings before and after a change from a weekly continuous 4–shift system to a quickly rotating continuous 5–shift system. A control group of 23 shiftworkers remained on the weekly rotating system and completed time utility ratings at the same time points as the experimental group. Exploratory analysis of the experimental group's (n= 112) leisure time utility ratings prior to the shift system change is presented for subgroups (determined by age, marital status and the presence or absence of children in the home) and for the subgroup of 22 shiftworkers who indicated dissatisfaction with the weekly rotating shift system and strong satisfaction with the more quickly rotating system. The analysis suggests that leisure time utility may be a useful parameter for use in future studies of satisfaction with shiftwork systems.