24/7 Network Support Shift Work

lemonade · 13 Mar 2011 at 19:49

Not sure if this is in he right section, but it is the network section :cool:

I have a question about shift work. Has anyone ever done a 2 night on, 2 day on and 4 days off 12hr shift work? If so how did you find it, what were the upsides and the downsides?

Thanks

PhillyDee · 13 Mar 2011 at 20:00

You sure its not 2 days, 2 nights then 4 off?

I do that shift pattern now. Have you done any shiftwork before? The 12 hour days can be tiring. The night shifts long. What sort of travelling time are you taking as well? As after nightshift, you can be dangerously tired if you do not getting a sleeping rythym sorted. I find it easier than 4 of the same in a row.

lemonade · 13 Mar 2011 at 21:26

^ yep sorry thats the shift pattern I meant.

Never done shift work in my life, travel time would be like 10mins walk! so not much, buts its the long 12 hours that i'm concerned about, how do you get through the shifts? the job would be IT support, trying to imagine sitting on a desk infront of a pc for 12 hours, on the plus side I find the 4 days off to be quite attractive as you would get a nice amount of time to do whatever you want.

ecksmen · 13 Mar 2011 at 21:36

I did this pattern for about 2 years, in a 10 week cycle we'd have 18 days off (including weekends). The 4 days off aren't really full days, its more like 3 and you're always chasing sleep.

I lost loads of weight as I'd spend most of my time in the gym during the day when its empty, swimming loads etc... it really did me good.

12 hour shifts in the right job are a peice of **** IMO.

PhillyDee · 13 Mar 2011 at 23:38

True. I work in a factory, and it is my preferred pattern. It works out at working 3.5 days per week. Only downside is the weekends. Work it out. I like the time off myself.

Ask about holidays, how many do you get (in days) are bank holidays working days, shift allowance (I get 40% on all hours), break times, and payment, is it 3 days some weeks, and 4 days others, or is it averaged.

Zefan · 13 Mar 2011 at 23:39

I work that shift at the moment and the 4 days off are awesome.

:edit: One of the downsides is that if you want to do something on a specific evening each week (college course/martial arts/whatever) then when your shift pattern cycles around you'll be missing it 4 weeks in a row unless you take leave.