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Do night shift jobs sound like the stuff of nightmares to you? We’re here to dispel the myths around this vital role, take a look at what industries employ night shift jobs and why, and dive into a few of the pros and cons. Now, who’s making some coffee?
What are night shift jobs?
A night shift job is essentially any role that falls outside the traditional 9-to-5 window, although they tend to be jobs that are carried out overnight. These shifts are designed to make sure that businesses or services continue to operate around the clock, catering to different time zones, customer needs, or production requirements.
Sometimes called the graveyard shift, night shifts typically start in the late evening and end in the early morning, ranging from 10pm to 6am - though specific hours can vary depending on the industry. In some cases, workers may rotate between day and night shifts, while in others, employees may work exclusively at night.
Night shift work is common in sectors where operations must continue non-stop or during peak demand periods, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and customer service
Common industries for night shift jobs
If you’re more nocturnally inclined, look no further than these industries:
Healthcare
Hospitals, nursing homes, and emergency services need medical professionals available around the clock to provide critical care and respond to emergencies. Doctors, nurses, paramedics, and support staff may all work night shifts as part of their regular rota schedule.
Transportation and logistics
The transportation industry operates on a 24-hour schedule to meet the demands of global trade and logistics. Airports, freight companies, and shipping services rely on night shift jobs to ensure that packages, passengers, and goods are delivered efficiently and on time.
Manufacturing and warehousing
Night shifts in manufacturing allow companies to maximise their production capacity, meet tight deadlines, and reduce downtime. Workers in factories, assembly lines, and warehouses often take on night shifts to keep the supply chain moving.
Call centres
Customer service and tech support call centers often have rosters that go around the clock to assist customers from different time zones, particularly for companies that have a global customer base.
Retail and hospitality
Night shift roles in retail and hospitality include positions in 24-hour stores, convenience stores, hotels, and restaurants. These workers ensure that customers can shop, dine, or access services at any time of the day or night.
Most common night shift jobs
If you prefer to be tucked up in bed at night, these jobs might not be for you:
- Nurses and doctors in hospitals and emergency rooms
- Truck drivers and delivery drivers transporting goods overnight
- Factory workers on assembly lines or in production facilities
- Customer service operators handling calls in global call centers
- Security guards monitoring buildings, warehouses, or public spaces
- Bartenders and hotel staff working in 24-hour establishments
- Technicians and engineers overseeing machinery or conducting maintenance
- Warehouse workers organising shipments and managing inventory overnight
The benefits of night shift jobs
Night shift jobs aren’t for everyone, of course, but there are benefits to ditching the 9-to-5 in favour of the 10-to-6(am).
Higher pay
Many employers offer a shift allowance - an extra pay rate for working non-standard hours, such as the night shift - meaning employees can earn 1.5 to 2 times their normal hourly wage if they work late-night hours.
Flexibility
Employees working at night have their days free, giving them time to manage personal errands, attend appointments and spend more time with family. This is ideal for people who need to care for children or others during the day - just as long as they find time to sleep!
A quieter workplace
They don’t call it the graveyard shift for nothing. With fewer people around and a (generally) peaceful atmosphere, there are fewer distractions and interruptions, allowing employees to concentrate better and complete tasks more efficiently.
A easier commute
Depending on your hours, working the night shift can mean there are far fewer people going to work at the same time as you. That means quieter trains, emptier roads and a generally more pleasant commuting experience.
Need to create a night shift schedule?
Planday helps you create smart rotas for day shifts, night shifts and everything in between. Start a free 30-day trial to find out how.
