Research on Childcare Worker’s Stress at the Workplace:

Break Time Duration and Take-home Work

Abstract

This study clarified the reasons for work stress causing burnout among childcare workers, and suggested work environment improvements. The results were as follows: 1) the shorter the break time, the more exhausted the childcare workers were, and a break time of at least 30 minutes during the workday was essential; 2) burnout resulted if childcare workers brought work home for five days per week or more; and 3) when work that was brought home should have been accomplished during regular work hours, the childcare workers felt stressed, whereas if they believed the take-home work helped them improve their skills, the work was perceived as rewarding rather than stressful.