What the law owes you when you work nights.

Am I a night worker?

Most of these rights apply to night workers, not to everyone who sometimes works late. Each law draws the line its own way.

EU

Yes if, as a normal course, at least three hours of your daily working time fall in the night period, or if you work at night a share of your yearly working time set by national law or collective agreement.

Directive 2003/88/EC, article 2, point 4 (4 November 2003)

UK

Yes if you regularly work at least three hours during the night period, or if a collective agreement says your work is night work.

GOV.UK, Night working hours (read 15 October 2026)

Germany

Yes if you normally work nights on alternating shifts, or work at night on at least 48 days in a calendar year. Night work means work covering more than two hours of the night period.

Arbeitszeitgesetz §2, paragraphs 4 and 5 (read 15 October 2026)

France

Yes if, at least twice a week on your usual schedule, you work at least three hours a day at night, or if you work at least 270 night hours over 12 consecutive months, unless a collective agreement sets another number.

Code du travail (France), articles L3122-5 and L3122-23 (as amended 10 August 2016)

When the night period starts, country by country

Am I entitled to a free health check?

EU

Yes: a free health assessment before you start nights and at regular intervals after, covered by medical confidentiality. It may be carried out within the national health system.

Directive 2003/88/EC, article 9 (4 November 2003)

UK

Your employer must offer a free health assessment before you become a night worker, and then regularly. You do not have to accept.

GOV.UK, Night working hours: health assessments (read 15 October 2026)

Germany

An occupational medical examination before you start, then every three years, and every year from the age of 50. The employer pays, unless it offers the examination free through a company doctor.

Arbeitszeitgesetz §6, paragraph 3 (read 15 October 2026)

France

Regular individual monitoring of your health, under the occupational health rules.

Code du travail (France), article L3122-11 (as amended 10 August 2016)

Can I move back to day work?

EU

If you have health problems recognised as connected with night work, you are transferred, whenever possible, to day work you are suited to.

Directive 2003/88/EC, article 9 (4 November 2003)

UK

If a health professional confirms that night work has affected your health, your employer must find you other suitable work where possible. Employers cannot discriminate against a worker who does not want to work nights.

GOV.UK, Night working hours: health assessments (read 15 October 2026); GOV.UK, Night working hours (read 15 October 2026)

Germany

On request, your employer must move you to a suitable day job if an occupational doctor finds that night work endangers your health, if a child under 12 lives in your household and no one else there can look after them, or if you care for a seriously dependent relative whom no one else in the household can care for, unless urgent operational needs stand in the way.

Arbeitszeitgesetz §6, paragraph 4 (read 15 October 2026)

France

If the occupational physician finds that your health requires it, you are moved to a day job, for a time or for good. If night work cannot be reconciled with pressing family duties, such as looking after a child or a dependent person, refusing it is not misconduct or grounds for dismissal, and you can ask for a day job. You also have priority for day jobs in your category that come up.

Code du travail (France), articles L3122-12, L3122-13 and L3122-14 (as amended 10 August 2016)

General information, not legal advice.

These are the rules set by law. In France and Germany a collective agreement can replace several of the defaults above, so check yours, and for your own situation ask your trade union, your staff representatives or the labour inspectorate.