You leave for work when everybody is about to turn in. You creep back in at the crack of dawn. You aren?t likely to meet your family, as when the rest of them are headed out for the day, you are catching hard-earned forty-or-so winks.

This might not be your idea of a perfect job, but it has become the reality for countless people across the world. The BPO (business process outsourcing, just in case you have been napping the past few years) boom has turned time on its head for workers everywhere.

Call centres that handle global clients in different time zones have to work round the clock to meet demands. With Calcutta getting quite a bit of call traffic, young men and women ? and employers ? are still learning to cope with night shifts.

Share the load

Most BPOs make employees work in rotations, so everybody takes turns working at night. But there are call centres that hire only for the dark hours. ?We only hire people who are willing to work night shifts,? says a spokesperson for Vishnu Solutions on Camac Street.

Learn to cope

Most BPOs have a training plan in place to educate new entrants. Irregular timings can cause health and adjustment problems. Companies brief recruits on how to manage their day, so when they report to work, they can put in their best. Dealing with health and safety issues are high up on the agenda as is stress recognition and reduction.

Perks pay

Most companies which require employees to work nights provide transport to and from work. To counter the effects of sleep deprivation, work spaces are often done in vibrant colours. Recreational facilities, good lighting and ventilation are ensured on all shifts.

Dinner is usually provided by the company. ?Catering is outsourced and it is a vegetarian diet. The food has to be fit for consumption late at night,? says the Vishnu Solutions spokesperson. ?Whenever I stay in office at night, the company gives a dinner allowance,? explains Joydeep Bhowmik, a software professional with a leading IT major. Telecom players like Hutch and Airtel also have their own canteens.

Tick-tock

The midnight work culture is spreading. Entertainment industry professionals also keep late nights. Arijit Mondal and Srija Haldar are radio jockeys who present their show from midnight to 6 am.

While the live programme hardly leaves time for a cup of coffee, they are dropped off in the morning after hours, says a spokesperson for 106.2 Amar FM.

DJ Girish, who churns out music at Shisha Bar till the crack of dawn, has it better. ?I start out with dinner at The Grain of Salt. My drinks are on the house too,? he smiles. But nothing, he stresses, can be better than a good night?s sleep.

Always on call

If your work place is not well equipped, night shifts can be a real strain. However, if you are a medical professional, comfort is the last thing on the list. ?Medical officers are on call 24 hours. Skilled labour can?t easily be substituted,? explains Arpan Choudhari, a doctor at a city hospital. Holidays are few and socialising a distant dream.

It gives the words night life a completely different spin.