Sleep, not the hours
The work is often lighter at night. Sleeping during the day, reliably, is the part that decides whether people stay.
Night Shift Work: What the Differential Adds, and What It Costs
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A shift differential is extra pay for working unsociable hours — often expressed as an extra amount per hour, sometimes as a percentage. It is not overtime and it is not a bonus; it is part of the rate for those hours.
It is usually the fastest way to raise your hourly rate without changing employer or role, which is why night shifts are worth taking seriously. It also has costs that do not appear in the offer.
Working out what it is actually worth
Take the differential per hour, multiply by the hours per shift, then by shifts per week. That gives the weekly figure — which is usually more meaningful than the hourly one, because the hourly difference sounds small and the weekly one rarely does.
Then subtract what the shift adds in cost: transport when transit is not running, childcare at unusual hours, and food if nothing is open. What is left is the real number to decide on.
What people find hardest
Being out of sync
Appointments, family time and anything scheduled for daytime become harder to reach.
Rotating patterns
A fixed night shift is generally easier to adapt to than one that rotates between days and nights.
Common questions
Is a differential required by law?
Generally no. It is something employers offer to fill shifts, so it varies by employer and by how hard the shift is to staff.
Does it count toward overtime?
In many cases shift premiums are included when calculating the overtime rate, but the rules depend on jurisdiction and how the premium is structured. Payroll is the right place to ask.
Can it be removed later?
It can change if the shift changes. Getting the rate and the shift in writing at offer stage is the practical protection.