What is shift work?

Shift working is increasing in the UK, and more workplaces are identifying productivity advantages of employees working a variety of schedules.

There is no specific definition of shift work in law. It usually means a work activity that begins, or ends, outside of the standard daytime working hours of 7am to 7pm.

Shift work can involve working:

early mornings
late afternoons/evenings
nights
at the weekend
extended work periods of 12 hours, or more
rotating hours of work
split shifts
overtime
on standby/on-call duties

Some roles that require shift schedules include jobs in:

supermarkets
petrol stations
call centres
hospitality
manufacturing
those workplaces that allow flexible hours

When addressing shift work issues, it is important to remember to include temporary workers and other workers such as:

sub-contractors
agency workers
volunteers
those who have more than one job