Thread: Shift work

Just been woken up by the screams of my daughter, don't worry nothing wrong, just arguing about her homework with her Ma.
So that's me wide awake now, got about 4 hours sleep. Nothing else for it but lay here for a bit and pray I can grab a quick nap before I have to get up.
One thing I've learned from this thread is there are some really nasty shifts out there with very little compensation, so I'm not gonna complain about mine anymore.

Originally Posted by rolodave

Was this a good thing or a bad thing?

Definitely a good thing, the only downside at all was it knocked me out of my routine slightly. But I'll live with that [emoji2]

I have been working the 6pm-6am shift for 15 years. I work 3 nights one week, and 4 the next alternating from the front half of the week to the back half every 5 weeks. Nights are the only thing I have known for so long that I dont believe I could work during the day. Only advantage is I know my entire year schedule by Dec of the prior year, so I can plan vacations accordingly.

Two 10 hour days, day off, two 14 hour nights, three off. Been doing that for 20 years, plus working another job in between.

John

if i'm on night shift anything beyond 12 hours is dangerous - sometimes I wonder how I manage to drive home...
Day shift anything beyond 12 and I want to punch somebody...
Can't hack working like that anymore - need my own time, to wind down and do what I want to do.

Not to change the subject, but how is everyones vacation time?
My last job I had 4 weeks only gained that 4th week at 15 yrs.
Current job I have 2 weeks and 3 days - But when I take off I have to use 12hrs. a day because of woking 12 hour shifts

Five weeks vacation time along with 3 personal days. Doesn't matter whether or not we use the personal days for a day
or night tour.

John

Currently working two days and then two nights and then there is the overtime, I have no sleep routine, just get it when and if you can.

When I retired after 35 years I had built up to 5 weeks holidays, a week being a block of the 4 days scheduled to work, plus lieu days and floaters for working through stat holidays. You could stretch the time of with the LD and floaters by taking them as 8hr pays for a scheduled 12 work day.

That sounds pretty good but you had a hope in hades of stringing them together for more than 2 blocks off as there was nobody left working with less than 4 weeks holidays due. The youngest of us in the mill was in their 40s iirc.

That has all changed and the new generation will not be able to accumulate holidays in the same way, the pay and benefits have been cut and the pension changed, I would call it gutted. OTH the new generation is better educated so they will know how to cope with the changes, ya right.

Bob

Originally Posted by Bigirishkev

Thankfully I've got a relatively understanding wife who gives me a bit of slack if I'm sharp with her, unfortunately the kids don't really understand and then I feel awful for being sharp with them. Especially as I don't see them at all when I'm on days.
The things we do for money eh!

Yeah, I was grumpy at times. Mostly during tax time working up my tax returns. I did stay busy though. Raised 3 kids, one who is an Economics Professor at a major university in Texas. I coached Competitive Soccer boys team for around 10-15 years and also found time to do a bit of refereeing. Don't know how I did it but I do have give credit to an understanding wife of 45 years this coming May. Good luck to you Bigirishkev and all the other poor souls having to work the off shifts! I feel your pain!


Mike

I get 22 days holiday. This year 8 of them are public holidays and the rest are personal days but I intend on working at least 4 of the public holidays for double time and the days back as personal holidays.