OUTSOURCING AND STRESS: PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS ON BUS DRIVERS

This study aimed to evaluate the physiological effects of changes in work organization due to the outsourcing of bus routes. 20 bus drivers served as the study group. They were voluntarily transferred to another bus company after this company had won a tender offer from their former employer. 20 drivers from the former employer served as controls. At baseline, 1 month before the transfer, all were monitored for 2 days; blood pressure was measured every 2 hours while awake. On the 1st day, urine samples were collected and blood samples were taken. Eight and 12 months later, a similar data collection took place in the study group. During the follow-up period, 7 drivers in the study group left their job due to dissatisfaction with working conditions and the remaining 13 drivers changed their attitude to the workplace. In accordance with this, the drivers scored worse on questions regarding job satisfaction. Physiological changes measured at 12-month follow-up, showing increases in systolic blood pressure and DHEA-S, suggest that outsourcing and other radical changes in the psychosocial work environment may lead to prolonged stress among employees.