Shouldn't we abolish 12h shifts as a society?

VeryMan

I believe 12h shifts are barbaric. There are some professions that have to do so long hours, ie. a pilot cannot take a break from a long fight. But these people (employers) abuse millions of people with those "continental" shifts, instead of hiring more people. I find this middle age! what is your opinion?

ACG

I know people that used to work 4 12 hour days a week and take an extra day off - they did this by choice.

patman99

A lot of these continental shifts involve 4 days on, 3 off, 3 days on, 4 off. So you would average 42 hours a week.

That's a lot less than some folks work with overtime on a normal working pattern.

In fact, one firm in Colchester works an even more demanding shift system. They work 3x 12 days, 3 days off, 4x 12 hour nightshifts, 6 days off. Plus due to the average for the month being less than 36 hours a week, the workers are required to work 2 extra shifts each month to bring the hours up and can only have holidays when it's their turn on the rosta.

Any holiday not in rostered holiday time must be taken on the days they would be off anyway.

sangie595

VeryMan wrote: »

I believe 12h shifts are barbaric. There are some professions that have to do so long hours, ie. a pilot cannot take a break from a long fight. But these people (employers) abuse millions of people with those "continental" shifts, instead of hiring more people. I find this middle age! what is your opinion?

Yes they can and actually they must. That is why there are co-pilots!

Your argument is spurious. Twelve hour shifts do not mean fewer people are employed. Nobody is required to work more than 48 hours per week no matter what their shifts. Some people prefer longer shifts. Others don't. If they don't, don't take the job.

duchy

VeryMan wrote: »

I believe 12h shifts are barbaric. There are some professions that have to do so long hours, ie. a pilot cannot take a break from a long fight. But these people (employers) abuse millions of people with those "continental" shifts, instead of hiring more people. I find this middle age! what is your opinion?

Just because YOU would rather work a five day week -you want others who prefer a four day week with longer hours to not be permitted to do so ?

Why?


You might think it's barbaric but I love my three day weekends every week of the year

JJG

sangie595 wrote: »

Yes they can and actually they must. That is why there are co-pilots!

Your argument is spurious. Twelve hour shifts do not mean fewer people are employed. Nobody is required to work more than 48 hours per week no matter what their shifts. Some people prefer longer shifts. Others don't. If they don't, don't take the job.

More than that. On a twelve hour flight or more, there are general one or two extra pilots to provide the ability to have proper rest periods.

alun4

What a difference between employed and self employed. Thinking of a publican, starting work at 9.30. Cash and Carry then open for lunch then on until past midnight. Usually quiet times in the day to deal with accounting, marketing, repairs and renewals and family farmers with cows to milk, sheep to tend, hedges to repair, bankers and bureaucracy to deal with, machinery to mend. I guess we all have choices and lifestyle is part .....

w211

Minicab drivers (and controllers), sometimes do 12 hour shifts - though obviously not driving continuously. Which is quite often essential to make it pay.

marleyboy

When I left school my first job was in a factory doing 12 hour shifts, 7 days a week, weekdays followed by weeknights. I hated it, never got time to spend my wages, but I did love my pay packets.

After a few Months I jacked it in and got a more respectable 9-5 job. But for that short moment I was a 16 Year old coming home with £350 a week, in the 80s that was a lot of money and more than double what my Dad would make.

Torry_Quine

There are days when my cousin would love to only be working 12 hours.

RichardD1970

I used to love doing 4 on 4 off 12hr shifts.

With holidays we only worked around 155 days a year and when you took 4 days holiday you would be off for 12 days.

Wouldn't mind doing the continental shifts where I am now, 13 shifts over 4 weeks and 38% shift allowance meaning take home pay of nearly £700 a week for unskilled factory work.