The Influence Of Shift Work And Occupational Stress On Job Satisfaction Among Police

For people working in group and shifts like the police, stressors need not exist in isolation. If they exist jointly, a worker must contend with their additive or interactive effects. For police work that involves constant exposure to heat, cold, danger and working at difficult terrain, the employer in this millennium 2006, should see the urgent need to provide adequate and special protective equipment like rain coats, sweaters, bullet proof vests; to curb the potential hazards associated with the work. Hence, police and other paramilitary organizations most often, are exposed to situations that tasked their psychological well-being and persistence daily work experience (Heady & Wearing, 1992). Work conditions that required constant exposure to dangers, according to Borg (1990) are stressful. Thus, it is generally believed that policing is inherently stressful because of the dangerous and unsavory tasks that are part of everyday police work (Singler & Wilson, 1998) Thus, dealing with such incidents as road transma, violent offenders, armed robbers, vehicle snatchers, mobile set snatchers, uncompromising public, poor public image, poor working conditions and distressed victims might be stressful to police officers (Hart, 1994). Hart, Wearing and Conn (1995) showed that the organizational context in which the police operate is more distressing than the actual job itself. This adverse work experiences result in psychological distress and thus an absence of well-being; a view that is typically adopted in the occupational literature (Quick, Murphy and Hurrell, 1992). Again, the idea that psychological distress and well- being lie on the same continuum which in the words of Hart  (1994)  does  not  account  for  the  fact  that  a  person‟s psychological response to his work environment has affected positively (morale) and negatively (depression, anxiety and psychosomatic systems) dimensions.

Most reports and researches into police stress relied heavily on single response and are not linked to other factors. This researcher finds it necessary to integrate shift work and stress, ad their impact on job performance amongst police officers. More especially as most police shift workers develop „sleep debt‟. Hence, studies in the United State of America and Europe for instance, indicate that shift workers get seven hours or less sleep per week than their day-working counterparts. Further studies also show that those working rotating shifts average only 5.5. hours of sleep when work night hours. The aggregate loss is sometimes, particularly recouped only on off-days. Thus, until this compensation occurs, if it does at all, the mood and performance of the shift workers is routinely affected.

Hence, Aveni (1999) states that sleep deprivation amongst police shift workers must be considered a serious component of another potential killer-job stress‟. The cumulative effect of sleep deprivation upon the shift-working policeman appears to aggravate job stress, and/or, his ability to cope with it. Thus, even more troubling is the prospect that the synergy of job stress and chronic sleep indebtedness contribute mightily to a diminished life expectancy of 73 years. While policemen on the other hand, are said to have a life expectancy of 53-66 years, depending on which research one decides to embrace. According to National institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in America, from studies of 22,000 workers across over 100 occupational groups; labourers, secretaries, lab, technicians, first-line managers, waiters/waitresses and machine operators belong to the most stressful occupations. In support of this claim, Dipboye, smith and Howell (1994), posit that the helping professions are also considered to be stressful, especially the job of police officers, nurses and social workers. Hence, in a study of more 2000 worker across 23 occupations French, Caplan, and Harrison (1982), found occupational differences not only in the amount of stress, but also in the type of stress experienced by workers.

In Nigerian environment however, most workers (police officers inclusive) are observed to experience one from of stressor or the other, in their places of work. Hence, stress is seen here, as a sign of active life which is absent, makes life become a passive journey to boredom. Thus without stress, the accompanying motivation and striving to accomplish life ambition and conquer the environment become illusive (Nweze, 1995). Furthermore, there is mental and emotional homoeostasis

attained through the process of adaptation which the individual applies to the external environment including such contexts as … work, friendship through the manipulation of the environment or the use of ego defense mechanisms (Ezeilo, 1995). Hence, the conditions of stress that we experience often depend on the outcome of the appraisals we make in our transactions with the environment. Stress is however, a normal component of life, which if in mild or moderate degrees; may be helpful as a constructive force, which mobilizes our resources to achieve effectiveness and well-being. According to Ifeagwazi (1995), stress appears a prevalent clinical problem and a concomitant of all clinical pathologies. Hence, chronic emotional stress can lead to such psycho-physiological illnesses as ulcer, asthma, cancer, hypertension (the forerunner of stroke) and heart diseases. Consequently, the cost of stress in terms of human suffering social and occupational impairment and illness are enormous.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Great  number  of  variables  may  interact  to  affect  workers‟ job satisfaction in Nigeria Police Force. Bohle and Tilley‟s (1998) found  that  shift  workers‟  attitudes  were  significant  predicator, affecting satisfaction; because of rigidity of sleeping habits and vigour – as the ability to overcome drowsiness. Negative attitudes to shift work have also been linked to elevated physical and psychological symptoms.

Certain factors therefore, cause organizations and industries to adopts shift work schedules for their personnel. Reasons mostly adduced in such circumstances, are mainly to cover the operational costs, which should result from shutting down the machines in these industries. This is usually estimated to cost millions, if not billions of naira before these engines are started once again. In the same vein, the cost of running only one shift work in Nigeria Police Force shall be enormous, considering the fact that the police station houses all the detained suspects at any given time, the police arms and ammunitions, all the vital exhibits in connection with cases under investigations, and all other vital documents/property belonging to the government.

Based on this, the welfare and job satisfaction of the police may be affected by this unusual work schedule.

Thus, these research problems will addressed in this study: 

1. Does shift work affect the job satisfaction of police officers?

2. Does stress associated with the work affect the job satisfaction of police officers?

PURPOSE OF STUDY

It is a common knowledge that here in Nigerian Civil/Public service, workers tend to be dissatisfied with all variables contributing to job satisfaction. The purpose of this study is therefore, to:

1. Examine the influence of shit work on job satisfaction of police.

2. Examine the influence of on job satisfaction among police.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

Shift Work: Means the rotatory deployment of officers on weekly basis to:

a. morning duty – from 0600 hours to 1400 hours;

b. afternoon duty – from 1400 hours to 2200 hours: and 

c. night shift – from 2200 hours to 0600 hours – from Sunday through Saturday.

Stress: Means pressure from an adverse environment that imposes unusual demands on officers while on shift work.

Job satisfaction: Refers to officers attitudes or orientations toward their job. Job dissatisfaction on the other hand, is the negative attitudes of officers towards their jobs.

Police officers: Here means the Inspectors, and rank and file members of Nigeria Police Force.

Inspectors, Rank and File Members of the Force: are the non- commissioned officers in this force.