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

pathtofreedom

I work monday - friday 9-5 then often have 2-3 months or more with no weekends off, as I'm having to work 8-16 hours or more in a row doing unsocialble hours. I work in IT and this is very typical as you can only do work on live systems when the least amount of users need them. So IT can be high earning but you have no life to call your own.

motorguy

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?

Its hardly barbaric. No-one is "forced" to do 12 hour shifts.

And as most people are saying its usually on the back of continental shifts.

I know a lot of people who prefer it. Gives them more free, useful, time.

motorguy

pathtofreedom wrote: »

I work monday - friday 9-5 then often have 2-3 months or more with no weekends off, as I'm having to work 8-16 hours or more in a row doing unsocialble hours. I work in IT and this is very typical as you can only do work on live systems when the least amount of users need them. So IT can be high earning but you have no life to call your own.

Sounds like a bad set up you have there.

If you're being required to do that much overtime, theres a problem somewhere.

Any more than one week on call out of four, or a couple of weekends in a row overtime, and i'd be flagging it as a problem.

And if your company are telling you thats "normal" in IT - it isnt.

chanie

I work compressed hours (5 days over 4) and it works for me, as although I'm knackered, it's one less day of childcare to pay for.

In my organisation, we introduced a 4 on, 4 off shift. At first, the staff complained, but after a while, they saw the benefits e.g. less commuting time.

BigAunty

I can just about manage 10 hours shifts, 3 days in a row (wake up at 7am, get home by 9pm, have supper and then go to bed by 10 or 11pm).

In those 3 days, I can't manage to fit in any social activities, shopping, housework or the gym (ok, I could manage the gym and housework if I wanted to do this at 8am or 9pm but I don't).

The thought of x4 12 hour shifts repels me. Not only would it wipe out any activities other than work, it would knacker me.

I recently saw a job for an role that required a lot of intensive data analysis that wanted its staff to work from 7am to 7pm Monday to Thursday. For me, I would have to get up at 5am, get home by 8pm, go to bed by 10pm, and it would shatter me. Friday would be a recovery day where I would have a backlog of household tasks to do.

I just can't see a x4 12 hour shift pattern as allowing me to have a long weekend. It's more like x4 shifts, x1 day written off for backlog of domestic stuff and a long lie, then a bog standard weekend.

I suppose x4 10 hour shifts, something like 8am until 6pm, might be manageable. Can still manage evening gym sessions, supermarket shopping, the odd night out with pals, cook an evening meal, bit of housework.

ohreally

motorguy wrote: »

No-one is "forced" to do 12 hour shifts

Many nursing staff have little choice but do them.

12-hour shifts are becoming increasingly common: 32% of nurses on acute wards in England work day shifts of 12 hours or longer

dundee1111

I work 28 days x 12 hours shifts then get the next 28 days off.It is called being in the oil industry,i wouldn`t have it any other way.

annie_d

i work with people who do 6, 7, 8 12 hour shifts a day. It really isn't safe.

bugslet

Drivers hours are legally up to 15 hours. Double manned trucks can do 21 hours with 9 hours off and go again.

Having driven abroad myself, the last thing I wanted was to stop after 8 hours. It wasn't a holiday, hanging around an industrial estate for 16 hours, dullsville.

Rarely work more than 60 hours now, part-time really.

Nargleblast

Full time for me is three 12 hour shifts a week and four days off. My journey to work is 15 miles, so 90 miles a week. If I had to work shorter shifts for five days a week that would be 150 miles a week and less useful free time to have a life. Most people I work with prefer this system.