Who works late/night shifts?

[Gra]

I ask as I have the opportunity to change my shift pattern. I currently work normal day hours, but I could change so that I would be finishing work at midnight rather than half four.

Anybody on here not have evenings due to work? Does it peev you off?

[dizzyblonde]

I have no weekends, as I'm at work. 12 hour shifts that rotate each week. Days one week, then 3 nights the other. It TBH is really starting to bug me. Not only is it interfering with my family(nasty mood swings from exhaustion) but it means I am up practically 24 hours on a friday, and 24 on monday. This is because i have to take kid to school, and try get a couple of hrs in monday to pick him up...single parent life!
Wish i could change it, but circumstances don't allow. Nobody goes out during the week, cause they all are either at work or working. ANd i miss out on so many rideouts:(

but it does mean I am off in school holidays and around if my son is ill at school and other things, which is the better side...plus get to do things midweek cause I get between 4 and 5 days off:cheers:

[tigersaw]

I've worked various patterns for 25 years, some good, some awful.
Midnight is pretty late to be finishing a shift, by the time you are home, rested etc it will be 2 or 3 before you go to bed, and concequently late morning before you get up again. I assume it would be worth your while either financially or by getting extra time off, else you'd be a muppet to volunteer for free.

[Gra]

The only reason I am contemplating it is that it does pay a bit more. Not a massive amount extra each month but the cost of living for me at the moment is rather expensive. High rent and insane council tax are the killers. Needs must I suppose.

[Foxy]

I have worked shifts before and found that it took a toll on my family life. I would not go back to it again. I much prefer working Mon-Fri day time hours leaving evenings and weekends free.

If your change provides you substantial financial gain then it would make sense but if not then I would not really consider it, esp if your job role is still the same.

[Gra]

That's why it's such a big decision for me. It's not that much more at the end of the month. Just more is better in general.

[Foxy]

Think about what you like to do in the evenings, what commitments do you have at home? For those with families the quality time at home may be less or opportunities to go out on the bike in the summer evenings ;) and that also the time to chill after a days work. If you came home late at night 11.30pm/12pm, as advised earlier, it would take a while to wind down from the day.

Weigh up the things that you will miss especially as there is not a great deal of renumeration to sway you.

[ThEGr33k]

I work night shifts. 8-8... Sometimes it does get you down a little But I only work 2 every week so it isnt so bad all in.

What do you gain by doing these hours?

[Gra]

Apparently the shift is far more laid back. But money is the motivator really. Still have my normal weekends, only be finishing at midnight during the week.

[dizzyblonde]

I think the shift you are looking at 'witch' TBH would perhaps turn out worse than a nightshift...its a very odd time to be finishing work.I agree with tigersaw at sleep times, before long I'd imagine you feeling out of sorts. And if its not got much financial gain I personally would say no.

The only thing I see you gaining is a bad temper;-)

[dirtydog]

Not really done late shifts as such but used to run a chippy starting at 9am, couple of hours off in the afternoon then working till after 11 most nights including weekends and it's really really rubbish.

[Nicky S]

working nyts ant that bad were ever u are it is more layed back and u normal get paid more. plus once u get use to it it jsut seems lik doing a day shift but in the dark hehehehehe

[Mr Speirs]

I used to do similar hours. I found that once finishing that late it took an hour or two to chill out after work, not that it was demanding work but I just couldn't leave work and dive straight into bed. I then also found I slept in quite a bit and would find myself with only a hour or so before I had to get ready for work again. Then even if I did wake up early any free time had to be planned around when I needed to go to work.

On a day shift you plan your life around your finishing time and its actually quite a positive thing (once ive finished I can do this) but on a late shift you have to plan around your starting time and its actually quite a negative outlook (i.e. I can do this until 2pm then ive gotta get ready for work)
After a while it really drained on me especially friday nights and I stopped doing them.

Well thats my experience of late nights your maybe different but to summarise I found Days you plan your work around your social life and with lates your social life around work.

[dizzyblonde]

live to work...not work to live...
working your private life round your work is absolutely pants

[stewie]

Been on permanent nights for the past 8 yrs, tbh I couldnt go back on days, but I think the back shift you are talking about is possibly the worse of all worlds, I wouldnt fancy it meself, but if it works for you good luck with it.

[Gra]

Some good replies here folks. Many thanks. It's a hard thing for me to decide on. Dodgy hours, but a more chilled environment and more cash. AARGH!

[Foxy]

Some good replies here folks. Many thanks. It's a hard thing for me to decide on. Dodgy hours, but a more chilled environment and more cash. AARGH!

Yes it is a shame you couldn't just try it out for a couple of weeks, or work some 'over time' which takes you into those hours :rolleyes:

[appollo1]

I currently work shifts and love it.

Mornings - 6am til 2pm
Afternoons - 2pm til 8pm
Nights - 8 pm til well it could be anytime from 1am til 6am that i finish.
Days - 8am til 5pm (allegedly)

I don't get paid any more money for it but on nights i finish on Thursday/friday morning and have the friday off.

The rotation is actually afternoons - mornings- nights - days which means i have a long weekend as i have friday off then not back in until monday afternoon.

At least my shift pattern allows me more time at home with family.

[melody]

Some people don't cope well with night shifts.

If it's possible, why not try the night shifts for a couple of weeks and see how you fare?

I don't mind night shifts at all, as I sleep well through the day. Only problem is the first night off and my body clock is the wrong way round.

Best time of a night shift is driving home and everyone else is driving to work.:p

[husky03]

wouldn't do it mate-i do a load of different shifts and it screws up my family life major-you might finish at 12 but by the time you chill out it could be 3am-most of your mates will work normal hours and you'll find you have less social time

husky

[Davie]

I do 2 weeks about day shift night shift its ok as long as you can sleep during the day me i could sleep anywere

really depends on you and how much it affects your life

[MiniMac]

I finished work at midnight for a few months. Being up till 3.30 became normal. Then awake at 2 (needed loads more sleep) and in work for 3 30.

It was so **** I ended up working from 3 30pm to 7 30am so I had enough of a financial cushion to leave.

[Kate Moss]

The shifts that Phil used to do eventually took it's toll on me and him! I hated not seeing him. He had to sleep when I was up and then he would always be tired. Being tired and irritable all the time does not do anyone any good. I think if I had not come along then perhaps Phil would have continued with shifts, but in my opinion he seems a lot better now, healthier and happier.

Ultimatly it's up to you, weigh up the pro's n cons and think of those it will effect.

[Shellywoozle]

I love working lates which were 3pm until midnight when I was single and nights 10pm - 7am, then when I had a fella I hated it as he worked when I was at home and vica versa. But now I am single again I cant wait to start my shift work.

I hate mornings and love going to work at 3pm, can do shopping when it's quiet, Xmas shopping is awesome but your social life can take a down turn.

Its personal preference all about your partner/friends working pattern too. I like it as my job is more interesting of a night than in the day and I get to play :)

[jimmy-james]

2x 12 hour days 8am to 8pm
2x 12 hour nights 8pm to 8am

Followed by 4 days off!

I love it and its the only thing keeping me at the moment.

[Biker Biggles]

How you can chop and change like that I dont know.Its the constant changing from days to nights that screwa up the body clock and I believe shortens your life expectancy by about a decade.
Ive worked shifts for many years,but I tend to plan holidays and other things around so that I only swop onto nights about five times a year.Less jet lag that way.

[Essex of Essex]

I used to work lots of nights and found it induced a lot of fatigue, I was trying to sleep as some unthinking swine was cutting the lawn in the early afternoon (how rude):smt019. Now I bounce around all over the clock earliest start at 04:40 this month latest 19:30 with a finish at 00:55, but I'd rather do any of those than the office days that fill the gaps.

If you think that back of the clock stuff would suit you and you can cope with those working normal hours making a noise then go for it; if not then look for a better paid job with daylight hours.

[GazandKatie]

I have worked shifts for years and a back shift (like your considering) are crap really. I wouldnt like to work them permanently as you hardly see your family. I prefer either days or full nights, at least on nights you can see your family before you go to work and even have your evening meal together.

If its something you can do in the short term to gain extra cash then its worth considering but you will soon get fed up of them.

Only way really is to try and trail them for a while and see how they fit your circumstances.