Shift work vs 9-5

Commotion Ocean

In my last place of work, I worked a 4-cycle shift pattern.

Tuesday to Saturday 06:00-14:00
Monday to Thursday 14:00-22:00 (12:00-20:00 on Friday)
Monday to Friday 09:00-17:30
Monday to Friday 06:00-14:00

In my new place of work, we work rigidly, Monday to Friday 08:00-16:30.

In my old place of work, I was longing to be in a job without shifts. I wanted routine in my life and no more early or late starts or finishes.

However, having worked in my new place of work for the past seven months, I wouldn't mind a return to shifts. Working 8-16.30 or 9-5 feels like you are in prison !

There were little things that I took for granted when on shifts, visiting the dentist, doctor, barber, bank, post office, mechanic and availing of services that would normally only be available during office hours.

I wouldn't like working nights though.

Do you do shift work or are you a 9-5'er?

Edit :Damn, I voted the wrong option on my own Poll

wally1990

9-5:30 and I did shift work but Jesus never again 9-17:30 Monday to Friday is the job!! Shift work you don't know if your coming or going and it's messes up your sleep pattern grand for a day off during the week or whatever but no, 9-17:30 Monday to Friday set routine for me anyday over shift work

_Brian

I'm unemployed / student

Worked 12 hour cycle shifts for 13 years, half time on nights.

Was ok in the beginning we had no kids but towards the end it was a torture and while it's hard to say never, I don't plan to ever work shifts again.

Bad for family life and I found my health suffered too.

Thundercats Ho

I'm unemployed / student

8 - 6 Monday - Friday, longer hours when needed.

ohnonotgmail

9-5. Aint no way to make a living.

The Backwards Man

I'm self employed, the shift I'm currently on started in 2008.

eringobragh

Shifts without nights

Said I'd never go back to shift but to me it's a god send

2days followed by 2 nights and off for 4 (3.5 really)

Don't know how people survive with just 2 days off every 7 - prison!

Plus we get paid more

Canis Lupus

6am to 6pm
8am to 3pm
12noon to 12night
6pm to 6am

Then 4 days off. Long aul days in front of a computer but 4 days off is just the business and 2 shifts where I can sleep in late and the night shift is pretty cruisey and involves a lot of youtube. Take 4 days holidays and get 12 off. When the pattern rotates over the weekend I don't have to deal with an office filled with managers etc, I can wear casual clothes etc. I don't think I could go back to a 9-5 with a 2 day weekend.

Copper_pipe

No shifts, normal office hours

Work shifts without nights

8am-4pm
4pm-12am

week of 8-4 and then week of 4-12. Every second week.

harr

Worked 3 cycle shifts before including nights...never again it ****ed me up big time and I did it for 5 years before I had to give it up ..my weight ballooned up and health was very poor...no kids at the time..the money was very very good which was the main reason I stayed with it so long.
Nights were not to bad but I hated the 4 pm - 2 am shift waiting around all day to go into work at least with nights I could get a good enough sleep and be home in the evenings ...the fact it was very boring factory work did not help matters...

Holograph

I'm unemployed / student

9.30 to 6pm Monday to Friday. It's mostly ideal for me (I like not to have to be getting up extremely early, especially in the winter, and a lot of the really bad traffic is cleared coming to and from work) but I get what people mean about the rigidity if they're used to more fluid hours. I would be glad to work one Saturday a month in order to have a week-day off that doesn't have to come out of my annual leave, just to do week-day stuff. My hours would be perfect for me then. Working until after 8.30pm regularly is not ideal at all in my opinion.

monkeysnapper

I'm unemployed / student

I worked shifts for years as well and when I left and started a normal Mon - Fri 8:30 to 5:30 it was the oddest thing ever , I really miss some espects, the days off in week the most , more to do with actually getting time to myself , kids in school and creche , wife working .

But all in all my life is way better , there were times I'd be up for work at 4:30am 3 mornings in row and then a late shift . I really worried I was going to die in a car accident falling asleep at wjeel . I think that's the worst thing about it.

hot buttered scones

Shifts without nights

8am-8pm for 2 days, then 8pm to 8am for 2 nights, then 4 off (more like 3.5 really). My first day rotates through the week so it's an 8 day cycle. If I'm on for a Bank Holiday I have to work it, but we never work Christmas day or Stephen's day. Currently in the middle of my second night. I've been doing this since 2009 and my sleep pattern is a mess - I generally awake for 24 hours once a week on my first night, then I sleep for 4 or 5 hours before my 2nd night. During the week then, I'm lucky to be asleep before 1 or 2am most nights. If there's overtime you could end up doing 2+4 with 2 off - after a few weeks of that you've earned a nice sum but your too tired to do anything with and your kids are scared of the angry man who they don't recognise. The perks are nice - extra pay, time off during the week etc, but then you only really have 2 full weekends off out of every 8. It certainly does have an effect on the body though - I think I'm always tired.

MEGA BRO WOLF 5000

Shifts without nights

I do 4x10 hour shifts monday to Thursday.

It's kind of awesome.

KERSPLAT!

I'm between shifts and 9-6 at the moment. Shift is 2 days and 2 nights followed by 4 days off. While the nights are pretty rough I would much prefer shift than 5 x 9-6. The 4 days off is absolutely brilliant!

If I could do 4 x 10 hour days with 3 off I'd be a happy camper

Tom_Barry

Shifts without nights

I work mostly 8-8 shifts - mostly dayshift but once a month i have nights. I hate nights, especially when it hits 4am and every thing is quiet. I love my day shifts though. I love being busy and my job is very busy. I also work 8-2 or 8-6 sometimes. I prefer working shifts as I really enjoy having a day off in the middle of the week whilst everyone else is working and things are lovely and quiet.

Fluffy Cat 88

Shifts without nights

I work 3 different shifts.

6am-2pm mon-fri
2pm-10pm mon-fri
10pm-6am sun-thursday

I don't mind the shifts I'm used to them tbh. I've been doing this particular shift pattern for 11 years. I did a 6-2/2-10 before that. However I don't know how I'll feel about shift work when I'm older.

Big advantage is you can do daytime stuff (appointments etc) without needing to take a day off. Traffic isn't so bad either as I avoid rush-hour on my commutes.

Biggest disadvantage would be if there's an event coming up, I have to whip out the phone calendar to check what shift I'm on that day/night/morning.

It's grand for now. I've done shift work for most of my working life (26 years) I'd probably find it hard to adjust to "normal" hours!

I'm on 2pm-10pm this week I reckon the only ones reading this thread right now are shift workers or people who don't work.

wes

I'm unemployed / student

I have Flexi time. Core hours are between 10 and 4. So I can go in at 10 and leave a 6:30, or show up at 7:30 and leave at 4 and everything in between. I tend to go later, as I work with a lot of people in the US.

Also, can work from home. Tend to do 1 or 2 days a week.

Fluffy Cat 88

No shifts, normal office hours

Fluffy Cat 88 wrote: »

I work 3 different shifts.

6am-2pm mon-fri
2pm-10pm mon-fri
10pm-6am sun-thursday

I don't mind the shifts I'm used to them tbh. I've been doing this particular shift pattern for 11 years. I did a 6-2/2-10 before that. However I don't know how I'll feel about shift work when I'm older.

Big advantage is you can do daytime stuff (appointments etc) without needing to take a day off. Traffic isn't so bad either as I avoid rush-hour on my commutes.

Biggest disadvantage would be if there's an event coming up, I have to whip out the phone calendar to check what shift I'm on that day/night/morning.

It's grand for now. I've done shift work for most of my working life (26 years) I'd probably find it hard to adjust to "normal" hours!

I'm on 2pm-10pm this week I reckon the only ones reading this thread right now are shift workers or people who don't work.

The old Garda shifts!
Jesus I used to hate the 2 to 10, only good for drinking!!!

justshane

8-5 Monday to Friday. Only way I would like it to be honest. Easy to make plans.

No shifts, normal office hours

I work ten hour shifts for 6 days.
7am to 5pm
4pm to 2am
10pm to 8am
Then off for four days.
The four days are a godsend, we only used to get two off and you would be knackered. Especially after doing latest into earlies etc.

I'd hate to work Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. Sure the weekend isn't like a break at all!
Friday night, tired after work
Saturday, doing jobs
Sunday, back to work tomorrow!
Days off during the week is great, for shopping, jobs to be done, places to go etc

madmaggie

I did shift work for years. Week 1, 7 am to 3 pm. Week 2, 11 pm to 7 am. Week 3, 3 pm to 11 pm. Funnily, I always felt worst on the Week 3 shift. I was diagnosed with coeliac disease, the doctor said eating in the middle of the night could have triggered it, though it was dormant since birth. Now working part time, 10 am to 3 pm, loving it.

afatbollix

Shifts without nights

I do 12 hour shifts.

7am to 7pm
Noon to Midnight
7pm to 7am.

8 years on shifts and really hate it now. Interview for a normal job tomorrow. It would be great if I got it as to be honest with a teacher for a wife I won't see her till Monday due to the way the shifts work out.

dwayneshintzy

I'm unemployed / student

Monday to Friday, 07:30 - 16:30 right now. Used to work shifts years ago when I was living in Donegal; alternating between 14:00-22:00 and 19:00-03:00.

I much, much prefer normal hours.

MadYaker

Shift work is grand if it's always the same shifts like all evenings or all mornings, I did it during summers when I was in college. But id say if you're doing a mix of day and night shifts that seriously going to affect your sleeping and eating habits and is probably very unhealthy in the long term.

I work normal 9 - 5 type hours these days. Never bank holidays and no weekends unless I have to fly somewhere, but I get plenty of expenses for that.

eeguy

I work from 10 or 11am till about 6 or 7pm. Time off when needed. Can pop out to shop or barber no questions asked. No clocking machines but expected to stay late if it ever gets busy.

Can't understand shift work. I need my lie ons. It's nice to get up at 10am and miss the rush hour.