Concerned About Night Shift Safety: What Are the Rules for Women Working Alone?

Hi All, I am a female. I joined my current company about 2 years ago, agreeing to work in 24-hour rotational shifts. I was told by HR that I might have to work with a team of only male employees at night as they did not have any female employees in the team at that time. I agreed to it, thinking I would be safe with a team. However, later, a few changes happened, and I was asked to work night shifts only with one other male team member, the rest of the office being empty of employees at night. I did that for 2-3 months, insisting that I couldn't do it much longer as it was not a comfortable condition to work in. I was then put on the day shift.

Now, again, I am being forced to do a night shift with only one other male team member in the whole office. There will also be times when I have to work alone in the whole office. There is only one security guard who stands outside the premises and comes for checking once an hour. We are also not provided cab pick-up and drop.

It is a very uncomfortable situation to work in. Moreover, our office is located in an area where no other companies work during nights.

Rules about women working alone during night shifts

Please let me know what the rules are about women working alone or only with one other male member during night shifts and also about the cab facility in night shifts.

Thanks a lot for your help!

Issues with Night Shifts and Transportation

There are two issues involved in your post. The first is two employees working the night shift who have opposite genders, and the second is the non-availability of transportation facilities. However, the latter has no bearing on the former. Even if transportation is provided, the fear in the minds of the female employees may not be reduced.

You have not mentioned what type of job you do. It is possibly related to customer service or dealing with customers in Europe or the USA. Regardless of the nature of your work, if you hesitate to work with a male employee, have you submitted an application to the MD expressing your concerns? If your concerns are not addressed, the simple option is to resign from your employment, especially since you have completed two years in your current job.

Despite your concerns for your security, trust is also a significant factor. If any mishap were to occur, it could happen regardless. A female employee working during the daytime at Infosys in Pune was tragically killed. An Indian employee at Microsoft in the USA had assaulted his female colleague even during the day.

When you joined, your company's HR briefed you on the employment conditions, and you accepted them. However, rather than becoming accustomed to or gaining confidence in the situation, how is it that two years later, fear has crept into your mind? Have you heard rumors or gossip related to the night shift that may have influenced your perception?

"Wrong trust is as detrimental as wrong distrust." The line that divides trust and mistrust is thin or blurred, and third parties, like members of this forum, cannot comment on it. Therefore, make a judicious decision regarding the continuation of your employment.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

This forum has discussed the issue of employing females during night shifts. There are provisions both for and against this. Modern India is relying on IT/ITES services to maintain its economic stability and to employ educated youths. There have been inevitable circumstances for small and medium entrepreneurs to recruit and employ more and more youths, especially females coming out of the ever-increasing number of engineering and other colleges, for night shifts, which we cannot find fault with.

However, your case is very worrisome. It's easy to quote some rule and get away with it, but the fact remains that you were informed this was the only option, and initially, you prepared for it. However, the current happenings do not bode well for ensuring your safety. I share your anxiety and understand your problems, but raising this issue with your administration is not going to help you in any way. At worst, they might switch you to the day shift temporarily and then revert back to the night shift again. It seems that they also have no other options. Therefore, your only choice may be to seek a better work environment elsewhere.

You may go through these links where this forum discussed this issue, which will give you some insight into the various facets of this vexed problem.

https://www.citehr.com/510833-condit...ght-shift.html

https://www.citehr.com/440388-can-an...hts-about.html

Please don't panic and blame yourself; there are thousands like you. Have courage and look for a better job; that could be the ultimate solution.

Madam, as suggested by a learned member, you can write to the higher management for help. You can also take an appointment with HR or another senior manager and brief them about your issues. If you are worried, you may not be able to concentrate on job requirements, resulting in errors at work. Therefore, the best option is to speak up.

Seek help from other colleagues. Is there a practice of changing shifts amongst employees? If so, you can inquire about changing your shift with another worker from the day shift. Someone may respond to your request and agree to switch to the night shift.

Regards

Shops and Commercial Establishments Act and Rules made thereunder shall apply if it is not a factory. The safety of female employees and the obligations of the employer are mentioned there. Please take a look at that.

Dinesh, thanks for your answer. Yes, I work for the customer support team in my company. When I was hired, I was informed that I would work with a team of male team members (not just one), to which I agreed. Later, a few male team members were terminated, and I was put on the day shift as there was only one other guy with me on the night shift. The management at that time agreed, thinking that if the other male team member takes a leave, then I would be alone in the office. Since then, I have been on the day shift. Now, the management has changed, and the team members on the night shift have complained to HR that they have been on the night shift since they joined, and the shifts are not rotating as stated during their hiring. As a result of this, myself and another female colleague are being forced to start rotating shifts and working night shifts, allowing the male team members to work the day shift.

There is no point in taking this to HR as the HR head himself is forcing the management to implement shift rotations. I am worried not just about working with only one other male member but also because if that male member is on leave, I will end up alone in the whole office. It is a very scary situation for me.

I understand your point that HR may not support your views. However, there are other superiors, including directors, who would not introduce something when female employees are concerned.

Furthermore, there are governmental rules on safety. If your concern is that you are alone in the office during the night shift, the higher management should be made aware of your concern. It is difficult for the higher management, including HR, to ignore your concern. You may forward your concern in writing if a personal meeting with higher-ups is not possible.

Thanks & regards

Why don't you talk to your manager about the possibility of working from home when you are required to work the night shift?

Dear Lady and all learned Members,

I understand the seriousness, as per my view and experience in dealing with such cases during my long career. It would be better if all of you consider the following points in your judgments:

1. Is she the only expert employee who needs to work at night?
2. If the lady is married, does she have children, or is she married without children?
3. What is the security position guarding the office?
4. What are the timings she needs to work?
5. Are the office and workplaces covered under CC surveillance?
6. Has the office set up a WOMEN CELL as per the law?
7. Has the lady employee signed any agreement covering the shift duties?

However, the management is completely responsible and answerable to the law in the following conditions:

1. If the employee is married and has small children, then the law clearly restricts night shift work.
2. Management cannot impose the rule or ask a single lady employee to work alone or with other genders without providing proper security working conditions.
3. If a WOMEN CELL is set up in the office, the cell can appraise the issue to the BOD to find a solution and make an alternative.

If the office is not guarded by proper security, management can be questioned about manning the night shifts with lady employees without proper security. The lady employee may approach the "Women Protection Cell" set up as per the state laws.

Regards,
MRN