Living the 14/14 Schedule: Qualitative Analysis of the Challenges and Coping Strategies among Families of Offshore Wind Workers

Abstract

Offshore wind workers in Germany usually spend 14 days offshore, alternating with 14 days of spare time at home. The offshore lifestyle may considerably affect offshore workers’ partners and families. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the psychosocial adaptation among offshore wind couples living the 14/14 schedule. The present study intended to offer a contemporary view on the topic from the perspective of the women of offshore workers. Our aim was (1) to examine the perceived features of living the 14/14 schedule, (2) explore women’s coping strategies, and (3) investigate their views on the reconciliation of offshore work and partnership/family life. The women reported differentiated views on the benefits and costs associated with their living situation, and stated various coping strategies that facilitated psychosocial adaptation. Despite some burdens, overall, most of the women seemed to have adapted relatively favourably to their lifestyle. This was particularly eased by recent sociological and technological advances, e.g., improved communication technologies.

Work-life balance policies in high performance organisations: A comparative interview study with millennials in Dutch consultancies

“…Extreme work contexts, as experienced by lawyers, consultants, architects or physicians, are known for perceptions of work-life conflict (Friedman and Greenhaus, 2000; Keeton et al, 2007; Scholarios and Marks, 2004). Such conflict can lead to stress (Greenhaus et al, 2003), clashes with family members (Mette et al, 2019), decreased job satisfaction and increased personnel turnover (Deery, 2008; Morrell and Simonetto, 1999). Such outcomes are deleterious for individuals and organisations (Beauregard and Henry, 2009; Geurts and Demerouti, 2002; Konrad and Mangel, 2000; Lambert, 2000).…”

Family Resilience in a Resource‐Cursed Community Dependent on the Oil and Gas Industry

“…Flexible gender roles, however, and shared household and parenting responsibilities (as evident in our data) may prevent the negative impact of changing economies on families in communities that depend on resource extraction industries (Pippert & Zimmer Schneider, 2018). In many ways, this reflects patterns of resilience found among families in occupations with similar work schedules to the O&G industry (e.g., mining, off‐shore wind workers, or military personal; Mette et al., 2019; Riggs & Riggs, 2011; Rossetto, 2013; Taylor & Simmonds, 2009). It also echoes many of the themes reported by Walsh (2016) in her model of family resilience (see Table 1).…”

“…There is a paucity of research investigating family resilience to the stressors associated with living in rural, resource‐cursed communities that depend on the volatile O&G industry. Research that focused on occupations with similar work schedules to the O&G industry (e.g., mining, off‐shore wind workers, or military personal) shows that when workers are away from their families for extended periods of time, relationships are maintained by regular and frequent contact, as well as mutual trust and understanding (Mette et al., 2019; Riggs & Riggs, 2011). When workers return home, it is important that they re‐engage in family and household responsibilities and plan uninterrupted family time (Mette et al., 2019).…”

“…Research that focused on occupations with similar work schedules to the O&G industry (e.g., mining, off‐shore wind workers, or military personal) shows that when workers are away from their families for extended periods of time, relationships are maintained by regular and frequent contact, as well as mutual trust and understanding (Mette et al., 2019; Riggs & Riggs, 2011). When workers return home, it is important that they re‐engage in family and household responsibilities and plan uninterrupted family time (Mette et al., 2019). Generally, it is advantageous for families to be flexible in the roles assumed by earners and caregivers, and to tolerate necessary changes in rules and routines when one or both partners are home.…”

Differential Analysis of Adaptation Strategies of Fly-In-Fly-Out Personnel

“…Previous studies have established that the professional activities of fly-in-fly-out workers in the Far North and the Arctic require the creation of conditions for physiological, psychological and sociopsychological adaptation (Adams et al, 2019;Albrecht & Anglim, 2018;Khasnulin & Khasnulina, 2012;Korneeva et al, 2017;Korneeva & Simonova, 2018;Mette et al, 2019;Miller et al, 2019;Vojnovic & Bahn, 2015). Activities in extreme conditions impose special requirements on the professional adaptation of workers, which is due to a combination of many adverse environmental factors and the unpredictability of stressful or emergency situations (Velasco Garrido et al, 2018;Mette et al, 2018;Gardner et al, 2018;Rebar et al, 2018;Sibbel et al, 2016).…”