Pro's and cons of shift work?

Mrs_Arcanum

getmore4less wrote: »

Those shifts look like they may not comply with the WTD.

Check the holidays are done correctly.

The WTD has a fortnight to fit so 96 hours over a two week period with at least 12 hours between shifts is allowed.

FATBALLZ

It reduces your life expectancy by (allegedly) 10 years. Although to be fair the last 10 years are usually a bit crap anyway.

chubsta

I've done shifts for over 27 years and on the odd occasion where I have had to work 9-5 for a few weeks I have hated it! Being on shifts means no routine, I can't imagine waking up every Monday morning and knowing that's It until the Friday evening...

Sure, I get tired, but I tend to stay up after my final night shift and not go to bed until the evening, that way I get my sleep pattern back straightaway. Early shifts mean I get most of the afternoon free, and late shifts mean I can do stuff like gardening in the morning.

Not being in my other halfs wy every evening means we not only get Time away from each other but also value more the time we do get.

I hope to stay on shifts until I can retire...

cashbackproblems

Id hate that, how can you possibly live a normal life? Its not as bad if your just doing nights as you sleep during the day when everyone else is at work and you have that period in the evening (your morning) when you can meet people who are finishing for the day.

I currently do 8-4 or 10-6.

hcb42

what is a normal life?

I would love for some time off in the normal working week - to go to docs, take cat to vet, etc

Housework*Fairy

Thanks a lot for all the replies.

To be honest the distance to the job is the biggest stickler for me, even more so than the hours. It's 20 miles away which, I know wont be a lot for some, but is the farthest I have ever worked away from home. But I keep thinking due to the start and finish times I wont encounter (much) rush hour traffic.

Anyway re the shifts, the husband and kids have both said if I want to go for the job I should go for it.

I really do need my sleep though. We have a quiet room in the back where I would probably sleep after a night shift. There's no phone upstairs so wouldn't be disturbed by that ringing. However there's no way I would get a full 8 hour sleep after a nightshift.

I think I'd miss just hanging around the house when everyone is at home. Especially at the weekends when I would be on a late, or a night.

But I'd appreciate the time through the week just to do mundane things like tidy up when there's no one around, or nip to the bank, go to the shops when it's not busy.

I guess I don't know if I like it til I have tried it...

Emmzi

How old are your kids? old enough to be a bit self sufficient and keep the noise down? I think that would make a difference for me.

chubsta

a little tip for sleeping during the day is to record something like a continuous noise - or have a fan running etc- not only does this drown out the background noise, but ultimately can actually help you sleep; it works on the same principle as 'Pavlovs dogs' where a dog can be trained to salivate every time a bell rings - we are animals all the same and if you subconsciously get used to associating a certain noise with sleep then your body knows to switch off regardless of the time of day...

Molly41

Driving home after a night shift is a killer. I used to have to kip in the layby in order to get home safely.

Hated nights although my body was fine - it just hung over me all day. I slept badly and was woken by delivery men who saw my car in the drive and wanting me to take in my neighbours stuff. They got sent away with a flea in their ear. In the end I resorted to a strongly worded note on the door and once someone even ignored that:eek:

That is a tough and punishing rota and I for one would have to be desperate to do it - but I can understand why you are thinking about it x

hayhay2010

It really depends on what sort of person you I managed to do shift work for about a year but i found the constant change in shifts ie starting 4am some mornings an switching to evening shift a few days later a killer. However, my other half has done shift work for 7 years an has recently found it hard to adjust to a new job training doing day shifts. Also on a personal note with me now working day shifts its nice that i do have eveings to mayself and when we do have time together we normally enjoy it more as its not every day,