Change of Shift Issue

Beancounter

I am currently working in a night shift post, have been in it for 6 months now. I really enjoy the work having done the same job for 14 months before moving to the new shift but I just cannot adjust to nights. The move has coincided with my dad falling ill then he passed away 9 weeks ago. I am now finding myself in work at night alone and desperately depressed.

I have expressed my concerns to my boss who tonight gave me a "you willingly put in for nightshift" reply but that seems a little harsh. No-one knows how a shift change will affect them until you try and the outside factors have certainly not made things any easier.

I could have managed to get signed off sick with depression at any point in the last 9 weeks but I have fought through it but I am starting to find it harder and harder to motivate myself.

Are the company oblilged to try to make things better for me or is it just a case of "tough" and I need to move elsewhere?

specialboy

Surely working nights gives you more time in the day and on your down days to visit your family and get on with doing other stuff.

Beancounter

specialboy wrote: »

Surely working nights gives you more time in the day and on your down days to visit your family and get on with doing other stuff.

There is no family, just my wife who works days so I never see her when on shift, my sleep pattern is messed up and I hate being at work alone all night after having spent all day at home alone too.

Try it for a week see how you like it

hcb42

going sick will not help

You can only say you would like to return to days if a position becomes available, and hopefully it will, but hang in there in the meantime

TELLIT01

Your boss seems to be an uncaring piece of ****. If you can find another job elsewhere I would say that's your best way forward. You are absolutely right that you can't know how you will adapt to night shift working, but the main problem is the lack of anybody to take your mind off the situation with your father's death etc.
Unless the boss is willing to make allowances I would get out at the first opportunity.

specialboy

Beancounter wrote: »

There is no family, just my wife who works days so I never see her when on shift, my sleep pattern is messed up and I hate being at work alone all night after having spent all day at home alone too.

Try it for a week see how you like it

I've been doing it for 6 years and find it ok thanks.

Beancounter

specialboy wrote: »

I've been doing it for 6 years and find it ok thanks.

Well I am very happy that it works for you but it hardly means that it works for everyone.

tealady

I feel for you OP I used to work what I call Continental shifts. Being a morning person I used to dread night shifts so I left my job and took a 10% drop in pay to work at a 9 - 5 job Mon to Fri, it was worth having to tighten my belt.
I think night shifts are like Marmite, you either love them or loathe them.

Beancounter

Update, a couple of months ago I applied for a day shift job in the same department but didn't get it. At the time I was told it was between myself and another 2 guys. They said the guy that got it was better qualified. However, he has been sacked after 1 month and I have found out by accident that it has been readvertised externally. The other guy that was in the running has been told he won't be considered so you would think I would stand a chance but having emailed the boss and he hasn't even had the courtesy to reply I can draw my own conclusions.

Obviously my pride has taken a huge blow and I am really left to consider my options now as I have not had a decent sleep for weeks now and feel like garbage.