EverythingGood wrote: » No shift work per say, as my job was 9-5 but I commuted from rural Wexford to Dublin every day for 6 years, and as such got up at 4.30 for the 5.15 bus and didn't get home til after 7.00pm. Was so horrible, left me depressed, anxious, sad, uncommunicative, grumpy etc. Changed jobs, work local now, less money but such a benefit to my own health and my work/life balance, as well as much better for family life.
vasch_ro wrote: » Its very tough on the body and only gets harder the older you get. As you say your going totally against the bodies natural cycles.
seamus wrote: » I'm not sure if the media are reluctant to address it so much as it doesn't affect the majority of workers but also that it's a "necessary evil" kind of thing. We know from countless studies that night work is bad for your health in general and those who do it long term are more likely to have a plethora of physical and mental health problems. But we can't make it go away. We can't close the hospitals at 12pm or leave the streets unpatrolled from midnight to 6am. Perhaps though we should be looking legislation to balance it. While a "night bonus" might work, it's easy for employers to game that system and make your base wage lower to compensate. Perhaps work done between 12pm and 8am should accrue annual leave at twice the normal rate. And perhaps employers should be obliged to structure their shift patterns such that nobody ever works more than four hours dring this time. That is your 12-hour shift is 4pm to 4am, your 8-hour is 8pm-4am, 4-12 & 12-8. At least then in that scenario everyone can get some level of nightime sleep, even if it is only 4/5 hours.
lufties wrote: » Hi all, As someone who's been working nights on and off for the past 13 years (Aviation worker). I've come to the conclusion that it is slowly destroying me. For years I blamed my problems on various things, but I know realise that shift work is at the core. Unsocial working times, messed up sleep patterns, how can you possibly be happy? Shift work has consistently left me depressed, anxious, fatigued, lonely, and disconnected. The problem us that the media will be reluctant to address this, as it's bad for businesses. On a side note, I've researched the pineal gland (seat of the soul in ancient mysticism), which is responsible for secreting melatonin for circadian rhythm. When you are constantly going against nature, how can you possibly be normal? Anyway, luckily for the past year I've been trying to get off shift work, and fingers crossed soon I'll get a mon-fri job. Just wondered if anyone else feels the effects of shift work like I do? It's one of these subjects nobody really talks about in mainstream society.
_Brian wrote: » I did it for 13 years and it took a serious toll on my health which although I left it 10 years ago still affects me to this day. All I can say is get out as soon as is possible. I’m earning 50% of what I did but my health as recovered considerably.
lufties wrote: » Really? With regard to sleep pattern?
_Brian wrote: » That and more. It affects physical and mental health alike.
blackbox wrote: » I used to work two shifts for many years and it suited me ok. Obviously not for everyone, but I loved being off during the day every second week and also the extra money (shift allowance). I learned to be a very good sleeper. I can still sleep anywhere.
caff wrote: » I did it for 5 years changed each week 6-13 / 7-14 / 9-17 / 17-1 / 00-6 It was the overnights that really wrecked me, the week of them was fine it was switching back the next week that left me a zombie. The best thing I found to help was to be very strict about mealtimes for each shift to try and get my body to stay in sync with switching. Still though I found myself almost feeling drunk at times and my mind a mess. Some people appear to cope with it fine but it didn't work for me at all and I had to switch to a normal day time job.
XsApollo wrote: » Worked 3 cycle and also 2 cycle with 12 hour nights. Night shift is a soul destroyer, no matter how many years your at it, you will never get used to it. I think the longer it went on the worse it got. Came off shift years ago and onto straight days and the difference is night and day literally. Now I dunno if a straight night shift would be any better or was it the rotation of shifts. But the memories of looking at the clock and it saying 4.30am fills me with dread.
lasalle wrote: » I have the opposite choice to mull over, day shift short commute (15-20mins) atm, offered a new position involving night shift plus longer commute but considerably higher salary (30% increase) badly need the salary hike but reading posts on this, makes a decision less straight forward
ush wrote: » I work day and night shifts. Two weeks day, then two weeks night. 07-19 and 19-07. The night shifts are fine. Its switching back to day that kills me.
limerick17 wrote: » I've been working nights for the past two years in factories etc and the effect it has had on my well being is enormous. Never want to do anything, constantly run down and miserable, basically a shell of the person I was before starting nights. It also has an effect on relationships etc as your always narky. Basically in my opinion it is not worth all the money in the world as your health is more important. The only time I think it's worth it is for someone young looking to save up for a year or two but in the long run it will wreck you.
lufties wrote: » Good post. If the media addressed then there would be a huge shortage in people willing to work shift. I'm coming from the view of an aircraft technician, running around changing wheels/brakes, problem solving on you feet at 4am. I'm physically and mentally exhausted at the end of a shift. Add the fact that I sleep for about 4 hours during the day also. There is already a shortage of aircraft technicians, and companies wonder why. In my opinion there is a plethora of reasons, one being night work. However that's another topic altogether. I've worked for British airways in the past, and the nightshift compensation was about 7k per year. Realistically it should be 20k imo. However, they have you by the short and curlies, as Aircraft technician work inherently involves night work anyway. So theres little or no getting away from it if your in this profession. I'm not having a moan, so much as a Frank discussion. Working nights has led me to bad places, and led me to some unhealthy habits
