Abstract

        Weekend work is significant in Canada. Weekend workers comprise 44% of all Canadian workers, and this varies from 38% in Québec to 56% in Newfoundland.

        Of all working parents 39% work weekends, and this ranges from 30% in Québec to 52% in Newfoundland.

        Employers may note that among both weekday and weekend workers, the total and parents, those having characteristics that most would consider undesirable for success in work and life tend to be under-represented in weekly worship.

        For example, among weekend workers, the following groups are under-represented among weekly worshippers: job supervisor was helpful: -- strongly disagrees, not satisfied at all with job, often copes with stress by smoking more than usual, often/sometimes copes by drinking alcohol, never copes by praying/spiritual help, "poor/fair" ability to handle day-to-day problems, rarely felt at peace with myself past month, regular drinker, drunk at least once at work, etc, in life, drunk at least once at work/school/child care in the past year, used marijuana more than once in life, used illicit drugs (excluding marijuana) at least once past year, low-risk or problem gambler, has seriously considered suicide, has attempted suicide, mental health is "fair" or "poor", spiritual values are unimportant in my life.

        Religious leaders may note that worship frequency is not deterred by weekend work. Within Canada, the weekly worship rate of those working weekends exceeds the rate of other workers by quite a margin in Québec, 21%, and by a small amount also in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

        Among working parents the weekly worship rate of weekend workers exceeds that of weekday workers in three provinces, Québec, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland, and New Brunswick, in that order.

        The analyses conducted of 36 subpopulations yield results that suggest that for most groups, weekend work is less likely the older the worker, and the higher the level of education.

        Analyses also reveal that many groups of workers in Québec are less likely than their counterparts in Ontario to work weekends, whereas many groups in the Atlantic region are more likely.

        Religious leaders may note that among all subpopulations of workers and working parents analysed, worship frequency is unrelated to the likelihood of weekend work.

        Details concerning working women and men are provided in the companion Monograph 21. Regression results for women and men, mothers and fathers, and single mothers are relevant to it, and appear in Chapter 5 of this study.