Productive ageing: shift plan reform at Polyfelt (now TenCate)

At the start of the project the average age of shift workers was 47 years and their traditional early retirement age was 52. An internal survey showed that shift work was the top problem (shift roster with short rest period, standby shifts and high stress levels). Stimulated by works council, management decided to carry out an age-adjusted re-organisation of shift work.

The shift planning group set the following goals: adjustment to age, safeguarding of jobs, stress reduction, maintaining productivity, quality of private life.

The group consisted of shift workers, leading staff members, workers’ representatives, occupational physicians, and working time experts from a consultancy service.