When The Days Get Shorter
Fatigue doesn’t always look like fatigue.
By mid-October, the change is hard to miss.
The mornings are darker. The evenings arrive earlier. Temperatures are dropping. And for people working long shifts, rotating schedules or physically demanding jobs, seasonal changes can add another layer to something leaders should already be watching closely: fatigue.
In field environments, we tend to think about fatigue as a safety issue—and it absolutely is.
But it’s also a people issue.
Fatigue can show up as irritability, slower decision-making, difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness or someone simply not seeming like themselves.
It’s easy to interpret those behaviours as disengagement or a poor attitude.
Sometimes, someone is just tired.
As leaders, we can’t eliminate every long day or demanding shift. But we can pay attention.
Are workloads realistic? Are people taking their breaks? Has overtime been creeping up? Are we seeing mistakes from people who normally don’t make them?
And perhaps most importantly, are people comfortable saying “I’m tired” before fatigue becomes a safety concern?
Changing seasons remind us to adjust how we work.
Good leaders notice when their people may need to adjust, too.
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