'Bright Nights' Q&A with the Co-Heads of Night Club

‘BRIGHT NIGHTS’ Q&A WITH THE CO-HEADS OF NIGHT CLUB

To celebrate the launch of our new Bright Nights employer guide – which is packed with information and inspiration for employers to better support healthy, engaged and productive night workers – we’ve interviewed Ella Reynolds and Ben Lumley, Co-Heads of Night Club, to find out why things need to improve for shift workers, and how making a change can benefit your business.

Why should employers care more about their night shift workers?
Night workers face unique challenges – from poor sleep to long-term health conditions – and they often feel unseen. But this isn’t just a moral issue; it’s commercial. Healthier night staff means lower absence, better retention and higher productivity. This guide helps employers turn insight into action – even small changes can have a big impact.

How can this guide help a busy employer make real change?
We know employers are stretched, so we’ve kept things practical – from vending machine swaps to rethinking rota design, the guide offers clear ‘quick wins’ as well as longer-term strategies. We’ve also included real case studies from companies who’ve done the work already – proof that change is possible at any scale.

What’s a myth about night work that this guide busts?
That workers can ‘get used to’ night shifts. Science shows that 97% don’t adjust, no matter how long they’ve been doing it. We need to move from expecting workers to adapt, to adapting how we support them – with strategies like listening to their challenges, smarter rotas, and providing training in health and wellbeing.  

What’s one thing employers often overlook about night shifts?
The work environment itself. Once leaders actually visit their sites at night, they see how much difference thoughtful design can make. Spaces can be colder, darker and feel a bit forgotten at night. But that’s fixable. Lighting, temperature control, rest spaces, healthy food access – these will all boost alertness and morale. Our guide walks you through what good looks like after dark. 

What’s your message to employers reading this guide?
You don’t have to fix everything immediately, but your night workers will appreciate you listening to their challenges as a first step. In this guide, we’ve combined science, lived experience and employer insight to show what’s possible. If you’re ready to start thinking about how to improve health, performance and retention, then this is your playbook. Let’s stop treating the night shift as the forgotten shift.