Employees who work the night shift in the United Kingdom have reported a higher risk of having a heart attack, increased likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, and various other health issues. Other health problems include obesity, memory loss, and increased probability of miscarriage for pregnant workers. Twenty-seven percent of the UK’s workforce works the night shift, and working late hours also has negative effects on workers’ home lives, with some stating that it increases tensions with their partners and leads to divorce. Sleep researchers and psychologists came together and created the Night Club Initiative, to address night shift issues that are often ignored. The initiative focuses on providing night shift employees with advice regarding rest, and diet. Five trade unions also recently published a report on working the night shift, and are demanding the UK government to increase the minimum wage for the night shift and to provide paid recovery for night workers.
See "Sleep researchers, psychologists, and trade unions in UK work to reduce health dangers associated with night shift work", Yvonne Roberts, The Guardian, November 13, 2024