3 Shift Rotation

kinetic747 · 7 May 2015 at 17:29

I work for a large manufacturing company that operates 24 hours a day and until 9 months ago had a permanent night shift. For reasons unknown (needs of the business blah blah) they gave us 90 days notice and now the whole factory is on a 3 shift rotation. 6 months in and I can't explain how unhealthy I feel, a constant fatigue accompanied by regular colds, chest infections etc. The lack of sleep is obviously the reason for the fatigue as I struggle to get 4 hours after a night shift and that is hit and miss. I am considering speaking to HR but I'm sure anyone who works in manufacturing will tell you that the chances of a change in my shift pattern are virtually zero. Does anyone else work rotating shifts and how are you getting along?

kinetic747 · 7 May 2015 at 19:37

The reason I can't sleep is due to anxiety. I can't accept the forced nature of the shift pattern change which is even more ridiculous given that the permanent night shift were happy to stay there. If you read up on the negative effects of long term shift work, especially when nights and days are rotated, it amazes me that companies can still force the change. Has anyone on here got a HR background? If so, I would love to hear their comments.

kinetic747 · 8 May 2015 at 13:56

AndyT said:
Not reasons unknown then is it? Perhaps the management have decided this change is required to grow and strengthen the business that employ you?

The number of productive hours is exactly the same, they have just replaced the permanent night shift with a rotating pattern. In our department alone production has actually fallen since the change and on the notice board last night a graph has appeared showing absenteeism is running at over 5% target is 2%. Quite an amazing growth strategy. I have no problem whatsoever with anyone who wants to work rotating shifts. Some do it for the money and for some it matches their personal circumstances but 75% did not want this change so I fail to see how that makes sound business sense. I'm going to see HR to see if anything can be done, there are a few positions working a 2 shift pattern but understandably they don't want to move.

kinetic747 · 8 May 2015 at 15:09

Rroff said:
Sadly these days its more likely someone throwing darts at a board and seeing what ideas they hit :S

More likely someone trying to pursue a highly idealistic ideal of how the business should work - at the detriment of everyone - rather than putting efforts into the workable even if not 100% ideal alternative that would work for every body.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

kinetic747 · 17 Jun 2015 at 18:26

Just a quick update on this after finally organizing a meeting with HR. I did have a Union representative with me purely as a witness, I asked them not to intervene. I opened by asking a double edged question "Is the company aware of the health risks associated with a rotating days/nights shift pattern? If so, why has it been forced on us against the will of the overwhelming majority? If you are unaware then I respectfully ask why not?" This seemed to raise the witches hackles a bit but she proceeded to rattle off a couple of reasons for the removal of the permanent night shift, the main one being that the department manager was unhappy that they were missing out on essential team briefs, H&S updates etc. I then asked her if she knew how many such team briefs had taken place since the introduction of the rotation almost 12 months ago. As I suspected she had no idea but I was happy to inform her that in fact we have had the grand total of zero. I was even more happy to inform her that the companies Operating Excellence handbook suggests that team briefs should be held on a regular basis, ideally once every 3 weeks, this reddened her face a bit more. I am in no doubt that my card is marked now but I don't care, the management here sucks and I think it's time to move on after almost 5 years. I have been promised another meeting but general opinion on the shop floor is that there is no chance of this being reversed and I knew that was the case. I do feel a lot better though for actually speaking to one of these faceless people and making them realise that we aren't all just robots and their decisions can have a massive impact on the quality of peoples lives.