"Evaluation and design of working time arrangements gain importance due to economical changes and overall reduction of working time. Especially outside the industrial area, a variety of innovative arrangements of working time have been established. These processes underline the need for ergonomic criteria for the evaluation and design of shift schedules. There is general agreement that, due to varying side conditions, it is impossible to devise the one best shift schedule. Planning of shift schedules must reconcile diverse intentions and goals. Although the one best shift schedule does not exist, under the pre-condition of certain organizational, staff- and work-related features, different schedules could be ergonomically compared. A proposal is presented based on theoretical considerations following the lines of destabilization theory comprising of 10 comparative laws and 10 related principles for design and evaluation of working time arrangements. Because of varying and complex conditions found in the diverse economical sectors down to single plants and facilities, these principles must be complemented by a co-operative implementation strategy."

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