A better way to shift work

Modern society depends on a 24/7 workforce, yet human biology still runs on a circadian clock optimized for daytime activity and nighttime sleep. Today, roughly 40% of workers operate outside their optimal biological timing, creating a persistent misalignment between work schedules and the body’s internal clock.

This chronic circadian disruption, distinct from simple sleep loss, can impair alertness, decision-making, and reaction time, increasing the risk of errors, accidents, and long-term health consequences across safety-critical industries including healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, emergency services, energy, and defense.

This session translates decades of circadian research into practical strategies organizations can use to improve alertness, safety, and wellbeing among shift workers — without requiring major changes to existing schedules.

• Why shift-work risk is driven by circadian misalignment, not just sleep loss
• Practical interventions organizations can implement now, including circadian-informed scheduling, workplace lighting, and recovery timing
• How individualized circadian guidance around the timing of light exposure/avoidance, caffeine, naps, and melatonin improves alertness and sleep outcomes
• Why screening for undiagnosed sleep disorders is critical for workforce safety
• How circadian strategies are applied in real-world safety-critical environments like healthcare
• Hear first-hand how circadian science is applied in high-performance environments where safety and decision-making matter most.