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
