Those who work on shifts, how does it interfere with life?

last SG · 2007-05-16T22:03:40+00:00

I think if they allow you to plan your own roster, like we're allowed to in Melbourne, shift work will be good because you choose the shift you like best. B...

DriftingGuy SG

Thats the problem, if your partner/friends/spouse isnt on shift, you lose out alot.

The only good thing is the planning of leave, those on shift live for their off days. Very Happy Unfortunately, my company is enforcing a global wide forced taking of leave. And as expected, news of this resulted in many of us quitting

^tamago^ SG

waking up at 6am for a 7am shift is dreadful. Laughing

DriftingGuy SG

Thats what I meant when 1 partner is shift, the other isnt Neutral

Rhonda SG

Oh that's such a stupid move! They stand to lose so much more by trying to squeeze blood out of their employees, who then quit en masse, can't they SEE that? Rolling Eyes I mean, they've spent so much money and effort and resources to train you guys and then they make all of you so angry, everyone quits! Razz Where's the logic in that?

BTW, didn't know you were doing shift work, DG! And LTNS! Wink

DriftingGuy SG

I work 12hour rotating shifts, even though I get 3-4 off days per week, those are non-productive days as my friends are normally not free on those days. I work every sunday, and this interferes with family time as well

And night shifts messes up your Circadian rhythm. I find myself having to rotate between day and night changes every 2 weeks. Most of my on shift colleagues complain of difficulties sleeping in the day, the over-reliance on coffee, poor health

It gets even worse when you do OT on off days. Even though my company pays really well, alot of us rather forgo vitamin ($).

Basically, shift work brings in more moolah but at the great expense of personal life and health. Its something I dont intend to do for more than 2 years. I believe those who are on shift agree with me

DriftingGuy SG

I wake up at 5am for a 7am shift because of the distance from home. I can get a car to make up for travel time but then that will mess up with my current plans to escape shift work Confused

Rhonda SG

Tell you what's more dreadful - being rostered on what we used to call the 'PAP' shift, meaning : PM / AM / PM / AM shift! Razz

This means you work at 2pm, finish at 9:30pm, then report back to work the next day by 7am and work till 3:15pm! Razz You reach home by about 10:30pm or later, by the time you shower, you can't really sleep, then by the time you sleep, you have to wake up at about 5:30am or so to report for your AM shift! Razz

THAT was what we all hated!

DriftingGuy SG

Some bean counter higher up figured out that it would be cheaper to ask get employees to clear leave before the annual increment as that would translate to OT pay BEFORE the annual increment.

What they didnt count on was the massive morale impact it would have. But then again, its cheaper to get someone young and new, assuming they scrimp and save on training and development Laughing

Rhonda SG

I think for those who do night duties, the days off you do get, you're basically like a living dead, a zombie! Razz Which means, you can't do much, you're not really yourself, you're tired like hell, and worse, it might take you some time to adjust back to your 'normal' rhythm and by then, it's time to do the night shift all over again! Surprised

After a while, you feel so lethargic that what extra allowances you might get no longer matters! Neutral

Now that I no longer need to do night duties in my current job in Melbourne, I sleep so much better everyday! I no longer exhibit Narcoleptic symptoms as well. Wink

DriftingGuy SG

So thats 8-hour shift eh? Looks even worse than 12-hour ones

the Bear SG

beats the hell out of the OT my guys used to have to do... almost forced to do..

8am to 10pm 2 days in a row.. then a couple of night shifts...

DriftingGuy SG

Spot on! What are narcopletic symptoms anyway?

Rhonda SG

It continually amazes me how corporations fail to see that the Operations staff, the Ground Level staff, are the arteries and veins of the organisation! Sure we need Red Indian Chiefs, but Red Indians are vital to actually carry out the work that's the lifeblood of any organisation! Too often, there are too many Red Indian Chiefs all yelling out confusing instructions to the too few Red Indians. Rolling Eyes

What your company is doing, is like chopping off its limbs! Razz

DriftingGuy SG

Thats 14 hours. Isnt that against labour laws? Laughing

the Bear SG

you think the union which is in bed with management, gives a rat's ass?

Rhonda SG

Stuff like you can write a report halfway and fall asleep still holding the pen without even realising you've fallen asleep! Shocked

It can be bright daylight and you'll just nod off to sleep say, mid-sentence whilst talking to someone or whilst someone's talking to you! Embarassed

Sleep paralysis, which is a nasty, frightening experience cause you're awake but you can't move, can't yell, and you're just lying there, eyes open but there's nothing else you can do! Sad

And no matter how much you try to sleep, you can still fall asleep in bright daylight. Another colleague of mine had it so bad that right in front of her family members, she made a face plant on her McD's breakfast and stunned everyone and she woke up with pancake and syrup smeared all over her face! Laughing

You can read more here :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcolepsy

Rhonda SG

That's criminal!! Mad

Remember I used to tell you that your organisation doesn't give you guys enough rest for the night duties you had to do and that doesn't make the transition back to 'normal' daylight shifts easy. Mad Mad

the Bear SG

we're the red-headed stepchild of the whole lot... Laughing

kinda used to it already...

this sunday i have to work... the saturday after this week, i got to work.. and goodness knows what else...

this is the "5-day workweek"

^tamago^ SG

i thought they'll be kind enough to do a AM/AM/AM/PM/PM/PM for one week, or M->A->N for rotating with night. Sad

Rhonda SG

Surprised Shocked Aren't you on 'office hours'? That ain't 'office hours'! Shocked

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