FIVE IDEAS TO SUPPORT YOUR SHIFT WORKERS' SLEEP AND WELLBEING THIS WORLD SLEEP DAY

FIVE IDEAS TO SUPPORT YOUR SHIFT WORKERS THIS WORLD SLEEP DAY

 
 

Night shift workers are the backbone of sectors that operate 24/7, from healthcare and security to logistics and manufacturing, keeping crucial services running while most of the world sleeps. However, working through the night can significantly disrupt sleep patterns and impact overall health, wellbeing and productivity. 

This World Sleep Day – on Friday 14th March – is the perfect opportunity to give your night working staff some extra support, using these five key strategies:   

  1. Talk to your night teams
    Having the opportunity to feel heard and connected to the wider team can help night workers feel less forgotten. Encourage leaders in the business to work a night shift and talk to staff about their experience of working at night, their sleep and any other challenges. And if your company has more than one site, consider a night roadshow. 

  2. Ask “How are you sleeping?”
    At Night Club, this is our favourite question as everyone sleeps and most people enjoy telling you about it! We also find it can open up wider conversations about wellbeing and allow people to talk about how they are feeling without being put on the spot.  Hang our free downloadable poster in your staff room or canteen as a conversation starter.

  3. Encourage staff to share their tips 
    Sleep is deeply personal, and often those who have worked nights for longer have developed coping skills and practices that work for them. Encourage staff to ‘share a sleep tip’, either on your online staff chat or by setting-up a physical board in the staff room with post-it notes. Even better if you can offer a prize for the best tip! From listening to history podcasts to help you nod off, to using a ‘cold water bottle’ in summer, we’ve heard so many new and useful ideas over the years from the shift workers we deliver our programme to.

  4. Recognise the challenges of night work
    Working at night is hard on the body and mind, so it’s important to show appreciation for your night shift employees. You might start acknowledging their hard work through incentives, team-building activities or even small gestures such as free healthy snacks can help them to feel more supported. But remember to ask them what support they need first, and provide it if possible (see idea number 1). 

  5. Promote healthy sleep practices 
    Educate employees on how to get better sleep when working shifts and consider offering wellness programmes tailored to shift workers – Night Club is our unique support programme for night workers that is delivered live and in-person at night. Sleep experts share information and practical tips so night workers know how to manage their lifestyle, exposure to light, diet and routine to get better sleep and feel better when working shifts. Find out more at night-club.org

Don’t forget to share your sleep support activities on socials using #WorldSleepDay and #TheForgottenShift. And for more help with how to bring sleep support to your night shift staff, please contact us on info@night-club.org

Sarah Douglas