Night shifts explained

Night shifts are essential in an array of industries and businesses ranging from health care and 24-hour call centers to grocery stores and restaurants. Certain businesses must spread team tasks over day and night shifts to ensure deadlines are met, while others simply remain open 24 hours a day. You may find employees who prefer working the night shift because it frees up time during the day to work additional jobs, take care of family members and children or complete daily errands.

Circadian rhythm disruption

People working graveyard shifts usually have to sleep during daytime hours. This can interfere with the body’s circadian rhythm, which is the internal clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Disruptions in this natural process can lead to fragmented and interrupted sleep and affect an individual’s immune system and overall health.

Adjusting to night shifts

Research has shown that it can take some people up to 3 years to adjust to working night shifts, which may result in hindered performance and decreased production. Alternatively, night shift work may actually be preferred over day shift hours by people who are naturally more nocturnal or consider themselves night owls. These individuals often find it more difficult to wake up early and get right to work, and if they lack sleep due to staying up late, this can also cause production issues.

Typical night shift hours

While specific hours can vary, day shifts typically begin between 7-9am and end between 3-5pm. Evening shifts can begin anywhere from 2-5pm and end between 10pm-midnight. Graveyard/night shifts usually start at midnight and run until 7-8am. Individuals who prefer graveyard shift work may appreciate the benefits of having a full day to rest before going back to work, while day shift employees may prefer the regularity of a standard 9 to 5 routine.

Common jobs that require night shift workers

Night shift workers help keep businesses running on a 24-hour basis, and these positions can be found in a wide variety of industries. Common jobs that require night shift and graveyard shift work include:

• Hospitality workers: Night shift hospitality jobs include hotel front desk clerks, cleaning crews and bartenders, and servers and kitchen staff in 24-hour restaurants and diners.
• Medical workers:Staff in the medical field who work evening and graveyard shifts include nurses, emergency room physicians, orderlies, emergency medical technicians and hospital front desk associates.
• Public safety workers:Police officers, firefighters, security guards, 911 operators and corrections officers are needed at all hours of the day and night, as emergency situations can occur at any time.
• Warehouse workers:Warehouse employees who work night and graveyard shifts include inventory clerks, shipping clerks, warehouse supervisors, forklift operators and package loaders and unloaders.
• Television/film/news production crews: TV/film and news production staff members are often required to work night shifts to keep maintain a consistent cycle. Employees who may work night and graveyard shifts include production assistants, editors, transcribers and social media managers.
• Customer service workers: Call center representatives who work for answering services, retail establishments and technical support companies often take phone calls from all over the world, which means night shift and graveyard shift work is essential to ensuring all calls are answered. Dispatchers for trucking companies and taxi and/or limo services also work these shifts.

Helpful tips for supporting night shift workers

The need for night shift workers is unavoidable in many businesses due to the overall nature of the work involved and the needs of the company. As a business owner, there are various ways to support your night crew and help them stay productive and focused throughout their shifts. Here are some helpful tips to ensure a healthy, positive work environment during night and graveyard shifts:

• Adjust computer screens based on time of day:If your staff members work on computers during their shifts, the blue light from the screen mimics the sun, which can inhibit the serotonin levels in the body and cause eyestrain. Certain operating systems have built-in apps that automatically adjust computer displays as the sun sets, and there are also multiple free apps and programs available that are easy to implement into your existing systems. The softer display can contribute to a more balanced sleep/wake cycle, so your workers may find it easier to rest when their shifts are finished.
• Make sure scheduling is consistent: Night shift workers can adapt easier if their schedules are consistent. For example, if an employee works the 4pm-midnight shift Monday through Friday, doing your best to maintain that schedule allows them to adjust to their routine. According to OSHA , eight hours of rest between shifts is considered standard, and any deviation from this should be avoided. If an emergency occurs, and you need a night shift employee to cover a day shift, make sure there’s at least an eight-hour interval between the time they last clocked out and the time they start the next shift.
• Consider paying a higher wage:Night shift and graveyard shift workers are sometimes offered extra compensation when working late or overnight hours. If your budget allows for this, consider giving your night workers a bump in pay to show your appreciation for their commitment.

Night shift FAQs

Are night shifts part of the three-shift system?

In a three-shift system, the night shift is the third shift . While specific start times may vary, third shift typically starts at midnight and ends at 8am, unless overtime is implemented.

Why should employers be transparent about night shift hours during the interview process?

Transparency about night shift hours is essential during the interview process, as certain individuals simply can’t work at night due to scheduling conflicts or family obligations. If a potential candidate is made aware of the shift required for the position either before or during the interview, they have a chance to decline an employment offer if the hours don’t work for them.

Is an afternoon shift considered a night shift if the hours are half day and half night?

The term afternoon shift typically refers to shifts that begin in the afternoon and end before midnight. Evening shifts are those in which an employee works four or more hours between 6pm-midnight. Therefore, an afternoon shift that ends after 6pm would be considered an afternoon/evening shift as opposed to a night shift, which generally starts at midnight.