The Effects of Flexi-Time Schedule on Physical and Psychological Ailments and Leisure Time Activities of Professional Workers

Page: 219-226
Monika Rikhi and Sanjana Mehta (Department of Applied Psychology, Sri Aurobindo College (Eve), University of Delhi, Delhi)

Exploratory research was conducted on a sample of 165 young professionals working in the private sector of age 20-30 with 3 -5 years of experience. Due to a diversity of lifestyles, the changing character of the workforce, and the current COVID-19 pandemic situation and the fundamental competitive demands of productivity, we are under increasing pressure to be more flexible with our work schedules. Work flexibility is becoming the new normal for most creative and intellectual employees. Employees with a flexible daily schedule have more variability in terms of work and other informal and formal activities in their life spaces. Several studies claim that there is a correlation between shift schedules and physical and mental health problems, which is often the result of persistent misalignment between the endogenous circadian synchronization system and behavioral cycles such as sleep / wake and fast / feeding. Obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus, mood disorders, depression, cancer, and cognitive decline are likely the result of this disruption of the normal circadian cycle. They have little or no time to socialize while they work all night and catch up on sleep throughout the day. Not spending time with loved ones and engaging in human relationships, according to research, may have a huge impact on their health. In the long term, this subtle isolation might have a negative impact on their mental health.