The double-edged sword of rotational shift work: a qualitative study of worker perceptions in Saudi Arabia

Background Rotational shift work is a defining feature of 24/7 industries, yet its psychological consequences remain poorly understood, particularly outside Western healthcare contexts. Methods Grounded in the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) framework, this qualitative phenomenological study examined how rotational shift schedules shape the psychological well-being, work-life balance, and occupational outcomes of 16 shift workers in Saudi Arabia’s petrochemical sector, selected through purposive sampling and interviewed using semi-structured in-depth interviews; data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2019) six-phase reflexive thematic analysis. Results Three overarching themes emerged: significant health effects including chronic sleep disruption, circadian rhythm misalignment, physical exhaustion, and erosion of healthy behavioral routines; complex work-life balance negotiations shaped by financial necessity, personal flexibility, social isolation, and uniquely in this cultural context, disruption to religious obligations including prayer schedules and Ramadan practices; and mixed occupational outcomes whereby rotational shifts enhanced decision-making autonomy and experiential learning while simultaneously constraining career progression, undermining professional visibility, and creating tension in workplace relationships. Conclusion These findings extend JD-R theory into a non-Western, non-healthcare shift work context, revealing that culturally specific demands, particularly religious and social obligations, constitute a distinct and underexamined category of psychosocial burden, with implications for organizational policies addressing sleep hygiene, religious accommodation, and structured career development for shift workers.