About one percent of employees work regular night shifts, and night workers can also be found at Murata’s MEMS inertial sensor factory in Finland.

While others are curling up under their blankets and drifting off to dreamland, Murata’s revolving doors spin briskly as the night shift crew greets each other with a cheerful “Enjoy the shift!” We asked some of our night-shift professionals why they are drawn to working nights, what they value about it, and what kinds of concrete challenges and solutions are involved.

What paths lead to night work?

At Murata, night shift workers operate in production roles across sensor element manufacturing, assembly, and testing. The path to night work can be a combination of chance and deliberate choice. Some end up at Murata through a friend’s recommendation, while others choose the night shift because it suits their life situation and personality.

Our night workers find many reasons to enjoy their work. While daytime brings a buzz from production to the office, the factory at night offers a calmer working environment. There are also opportunities for professional growth, as night shifts can present entirely new situations.

Humor is an important resource during the long night hours, and one of our night workers notes that those who end up working nights are often people who don’t stress about small things and have a slightly edgier sense of humor.

“We have a great team and a good sense of humor, and we help each other when needed, regardless of our work area,” one of our night shift employees comments.

Challenges of the night shift

The strain and health effects of night work have been widely studied, and night workers are entitled to regular health check-ups. As the rest of society operates on a different rhythm, night workers often need to be flexible if they want to run errands or meet friends. Challenges mentioned by our night workers include maintaining a social life, sleeping during the summer months, and difficulty participating in company activities held during the day.

Our night shift team’s best tips for everyday life:

• Make sure you get enough sleep – blackout curtains are a worthwhile investment, especially during the summer.
• Pay special attention to maintaining important social relationships within your own limits.
• Find a routine and rhythm that works for you and stick to it as consistently as possible.
• Listen carefully to your body so you can take care of your recovery.
• Many people who choose this type of shift consider themselves naturally “night owls,” and anyone considering night work should reflect on their own circadian rhythm. For early birds, adapting to night work can be challenging.

Deniz Hallapää
Operator