Inflexible work hours linked to poorer physical health for workers, research finds

Lack of flexibility for workers to attend healthcare appointments during work hours had knock-on effects on health-related quality of life, research from the University of Manchester found. 

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (ARC-GM), the study looked at how restricted access to GP and screening appointments impacted employees.

Jobs where staff could not attend healthcare appointments during normal hours were linked to poorer health, mainly affecting physical wellbeing. 

Anna Wilding, research fellow in health economics at the University of Manchester, said: “Working full time presents challenges for many workers whose jobs don’t offer the flexibility needed to take time away to attend healthcare appointments. 

“This has significant implications for early diagnosis and management of long-term conditions. 

“The findings of our research make it clear that population health could be significantly improved by removing barriers during typical working hours to allow workers to access primary care services, such as GP and screening appointments.”

Wilding added that out-of-hours appointments helped, but there was a wider discussion about the role employers played in supporting staff health without requiring paid leave or lost income.

Luke Munford, deputy theme lead for economic sustainability at ARC-GM, and senior lecturer in health economics at The University of Manchester, said: “Work shouldn’t be a barrier to remaining healthy. 

“But this research shows that for some people working in inflexible jobs where they aren’t able to attend healthcare appointments during the typical working day, it can have an impact on their physical health. 

“These challenges are particularly pressing in the context of our ageing population and the more frequent need for routine healthcare among older age groups.”

Munford added: “We’d welcome further investigation into the impact of this barrier to accessing healthcare, and the cost-effectiveness of different policy approaches.”