Shift work the ups and downs

[thinfourth2]

Looking at a new job and it involves shift work which I have not done before. So what are the ups and downs of shift work?

[Dupont666]

Do you like a social life?

If not then the world is your oyster, if so, then shift work is not for you?

Or do you mean off shore rigs and shift work of 12 hours on 12hours off for a period of 4 weeks?

Bit more info needed

[FraserLFA]

You could always get a temp job at an agency for a few weeks. No commitment if you dont like it

[NewNameNeeded]

It'll depend on the rota, and it wouldn't be unreasonable for you to ask for it. I did shift work for a few years. It worked for me as i'd just become a Dad. I averaged a three day week, on very strong money, and got to spend a huge amount of time with my new born. Also leaving Liverpool St station at 8am to head to bed and watching everyone else coming to work was somehow immensely satisfying! As was doing the weekly chores such as the supermarket run on a week day when everyone else was at work. Watching people preparing for a decent Friday night out with friends and family when i was heading to work was hard. My social life was also pretty much nil. But it suited me at the time.

[Fork in hell]

Dupont666 said:

Do you like a social life?

If not then the world is your oyster, if so, then shift work is not for you?

Or do you mean off shore rigs and shift work of 12 hours on 12hours off for a period of 4 weeks?

Bit more info needed

TBF.. this statement is a long long way aay from being true...

yup, it takes a while to adjust, but all it means is you have to take control of your social life and organise your nihgts out/mates etc etc for when you are not working..

pretty easy to do, and once you get used to it, you can avoid most of the 'damn, can't make it I'm working' answers...


forgot to add, upside is you'll be loaded too....


Ps.. i worked shifts for 12 years, so know it works....

Edited by Fork in hell on Monday 23 November 19:14

[Rob13]

I would agree with Dupont. I've done shifts on and off for the last 4 years and during the periods which I'm working them, I generally lose touch with my mates. I have a weekend free about every 5-6 weeks and tying that in with other family commitments means it can be months between a good night out. Unless you like to hang out with other shift mates, you need to get used to your own company because you will find that you will be on your own a lot. I think I hate shifts, hence looking to get off them again.

[simonej]

Plus sides for me are;

1. The lack of traffic on the roads going to and coming home from work.
2. Not having to wake up and go straight to work (ie. No need to set your alarm and you can have a nice leisurely breakfast/lunch etc...)
3. More money (though in my case I don't get extra).
4. Generally less stressful working environment.

Downsides;

1. Only seeing a couple of hours of daylight in the winter.
2. Getting woken up by effin' TMoble texts and cold callers at 0930 in the morning just after I've got to sleep!

[ribenavrs]

agree with them ^^^^

my time off is rota'd so I don't get holidays but important dates I can shift swap easily

I love my me time to do what I want all day but then enjoy the time with family when the weekends come round

whats your home life like? is it peaceful in the day? little ones running around?

what will your rota be?? 12's 8's continentals?

[Who me ?]

My times of shifts (Continentals) -which involved two out of four weekends on -were great .Apart from the dreaded backshift (2 -10) -which everybody hated .
In those days we had two kids (6 & 2) -so I had plenty of time around kids .It seemed we had plenty of time most weeks ( except for the dreaded backshift week ,when I got in at 2300, got to bed at around midnight and got up around 11 , little time to anything elsethan get ready for work) .
Weekends ,I worked two out of four on 12hour shifts - occasionally an extra one or two -to get some extra/request from another shift ,because some one had gone on holiday .
Life was great .The came along another little mouth .And I can tell you that a baby and dayshift ( 6am -1400) don't go well. Nightshift in your early days is a breeze -you don't seem to need sleep .

Now in my later years - for past few years I've done a few shifts ,and as before 2-10 is a non shift .But nights are almost as bad ( sleep is something at 55+ you NEED).Only one I like is 6-2 and now it means a lot earlier to bed .
So if young -enjoy it and the extra cash .Me -I'm now a gent of leisure -I get up when I want (or her indoors/dog starts pestering).
Each to their own I say . Some ,like me take to shifts like a duck to water ,others seem to need a more than average rest period to recover .

[johny105]

in my job i'll also add that most managers go home around 5ish so 5-10 is 'steady' i use that word sparingly as the work still needs to be done but like was said less stress



also if like me you'll be working 6-2 2-10 (no night shift )
then sunday morning is an absolute killer this morning was horrible


johny

Edited by johny105 on Sunday 29th November 14:38

[shirt]

i'd love to work the shifts at our site. 12hrs [6am-6pm] 2 days, 2 nights, 4 days off. every 5 rotations you get 10 days off.

most guys on it are better paid than most managers, have second jobs, second houses, drive tvrs's....

[ribenavrs]

shirt said:

i'd love to work the shifts at our site. 12hrs (6am-6pm) 2 days, 2 nights, 4 days off. every 5 rotations you get 10 days off.

our shifts are the same as that apart from we get 10 off every 3 rotations and 18 off in the summer

[Legend83]

Utterly naive / stupid question here, but what sort of jobs are we talking here?

Manual labour, security guards, airport staff?

[Dupont666]

Legend83 said:

Utterly naive / stupid question here, but what sort of jobs are we talking here?

Manual labour, security guards, airport staff?

Im guessing IT support jobs and other jobs like rig workers, etc where you live on the rig for x days and that is how it works.

My father is the latter and does 12 hour shifts for anything upto 4 weeks (before he gets grumpy) and then comes off rig for 2 weeks minimum before starting again.

Though I dont think they complain much when they are on the equivilent of £750 a day for his job and when off the rigs its £35k basic for sitting on his arse.

[monty1]

ive done 23 years on shifts in the chemical industry,its a known fact working shifts reduces life expectancy fooks up your social life and family life,hobbys cant be activly enjoyed because of the amount of weekends you work,the moneys good but thats it,the time off is plenty but all your mates will be at work so you wont have much to do unless you like your own company,i did my bike test and got myself a crotch rocket to get me out of the house,your hobbys will be enjoyed on your own,if i could turn back the clock would i do something different- definatley shiftwork is ste.im coming off shifts in febuary and cant wait

[Rob13]

I think shifts are only any good if you can work and play with workmates. Personally, I like to keep the 2 separate. If the money aint no better, I would look to stay on 9-5. I'm looking for another career at the moment just to get out of shifts.

[UpTheIron]

Rob13 said:

I'm looking for another career at the moment just to get out of shifts.

I'm not going to disagree with your reasons, but I think part of it is "the grass is always greener". I'd see shifts or anything that wasn't 9-5 as a bonus when looking for my next contract, but sadly it doesn't really happen with the work I do.

[AndrewTait]

My last job was shifts, on a stupid 5 week rota.

Didn't affect my social life too much, and I enjoyed having the time at home during the day, and got to spend more time with the children/be involved with their school life.

Then my marriage fell apart, partly due to the shifts, and her being on her own at night so much. Working the shifts then let me use the time to spend quality time with the children, and do things during the school holidays without using up too much of my own holidays.

There were a few times when I needed to swap shifts for things like birthdays etc, and that was always a ball ache. Then there was the working over Christmas - fortunately, it was unoffically agreed that those of us with children would not work Christmas Eve night, or Christmas Day (day or night shift) but we would be expected to cover the New Year shifts, which suited me, as I/we didn't do much at New Year anyway.

You get used to doing silly things such as I worked the night shift, went to bed for 3 hours, and then went down south for a friends wedding. 3 hours sleep is not enough!

I've also done silly things like stayed up for 36-40 hours at a time, just due to fitting things in.

Shifts can be a god send or they can be a nightmare. It's what you make of it.

[deevlash]

Ive only ever worked shifts, I hate them with a passion, theyre utterly utterly st.

[addsvrs]

I've done shifts (12hrs) and love them. My place is thinking of changing next year to 8's, which i hate, at work more etc etc. Depends on what industry you are in really, i work in factory, dosent sound great but we get paid quite well really, time off is really good, i love sleeping in the day, and weekend work is all overtime. downsides include, being a little bit grumpy (ok quite a lot) when coming off nights, can go awhile without having 'quality' time at home and in the winter you dont see much daylight. Given a choice of 9-5 or shifts, i'll choose shifts everytime.