One in eight works nights

THE number of workers regularly doing night shifts has risen by 260,000 in the past five years, according to the TUC.

The 9 per cent increase takes the total to 3.2 million, meaning that one in eight now works nights.

Three out of five workers doing unsocial hours are male, the study found, while the North West and Yorkshire have the highest rates of night workers.

Working these hours is most com- mon in the security, logistics, manufacturing and healthcare sectors.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: ‘Night work can play havoc with family and social life, and have long-term health impacts. Many jobs are tough and often solitary. That’s why night workers deserve strong rights and protection to make sure they can get on with the job safely and happily.’