The Economics of Sleep
Shift Work and the Night Economy
Nurses, factory workers, call centre staff and delivery riders work at night, and their health and pay reflect the strain.
Some jobs run against the body clock.
Who works nights
Healthcare, security, manufacturing, transport, hospitality and outsourcing sectors.
Pay
Night shifts often carry a wage premium as compensation.
Health
Long-term night work is linked to higher risks of some health problems.
India’s BPO industry
Call centres serving Western clients shifted workers to night hours, creating a ‘graveyard shift’ culture.
A call centre
An agent in Gurugram works overnight to serve customers in the US morning.
Assuming higher pay fully offsets health costs
It may not.
Key takeaways
- Many jobs run at night.
- Night work often pays more.
- Health risks exist.
- Outsourcing created night shifts in India.
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