New research finds ethnic minority workers are almost twice as likely to work night shifts than white colleagues

Black and minority ethnic workers are more likely to work night shifts than their white colleagues, a new study has found.

Analysis published by the publication Trade Union Congressfound that the number of black and minority ethnic workers regularly working night shifts has increased, while the number of white workers working night shifts has decreased.

Compared to 2014, more than 360,000 additional black and minority ethnic staff work at night.

Meanwhile, the number of white workers who regularly work night shifts fell by more than 570,000 over the same period.

This means one in six black and minority ethnic workers regularly work night shifts, compared with one in 11 white workers, the TUC said.

Health problems

For rail workers, the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said working night shifts was affecting workers’ long-term health and putting great pressure on family relationships.

TUC general secretary Paul Novak said: “Too many night workers have insecure contracts, which can often lead to exploitation, excessive fatigue and the breakdown of personal relationships.

“It is no coincidence that the burden of night work now falls disproportionately on black and minority ethnic workers. This is a result of persistent structural inequalities in our labor market.”

The Government’s new Work Rights Bill aims to strengthen protections for night workers, including banning zero-hours contracts and providing compensation for shift cancellations.

“Sleep deprived and constantly tired”

Sian Moore, professor of work and employment at Anglia Ruskin University, who helped with the research, said: “Research shows that night work has a significant impact on workers’ physical and mental health.

“Our interviews with night workers show that they are sleep-deprived and constantly tired, they have insufficient time to recover between shifts, and recovery eats into workers’ personal time.

“Women worked at night to be able to transport their children to and from school and to avoid childcare costs. There were reports of parents changing children in parking lots between shifts.”

Fatigue from back-to-back night shifts means many workers are unable to properly recover before the next shift, with recovery time unpaid and spent on personal time.