Shift work is regularly under review because there is evidence that this type of working arrangement can see workers at risk of developing serious health issues because they fail to get enough sleep. One of the causes of disruptive or 'short' sleep is that sleeping times may not be aligned with the body's natural circadian rhythms.

In this article, we explore shift work, sleep time preferences and the link to chronic diseases such as obesity, cancer, musculoskeletal disorders and declining mental health. The research is limited, but overall, there is a potential association between shift work and poor health.