Those who work on shifts, how does it interfere with life?
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I wake up at 5am for a 7am shift because of the distance from home. I can get a car to make up for travel time but then that will mess up with my current plans to escape shift workOriginally posted by ^tamago^:waking up at 6am for a 7am shift is dreadful.
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Tell you what's more dreadful - being rostered on what we used to call the 'PAP' shift, meaning : PM / AM / PM / AM shift!Originally posted by ^tamago^:waking up at 6am for a 7am shift is dreadful. 
This means you work at 2pm, finish at 9:30pm, then report back to work the next day by 7am and work till 3:15pm! You reach home by about 10:30pm or later, by the time you shower, you can't really sleep, then by the time you sleep, you have to wake up at about 5:30am or so to report for your AM shift!
THAT was what we all hated! -
Some bean counter higher up figured out that it would be cheaper to ask get employees to clear leave before the annual increment as that would translate to OT pay BEFORE the annual increment.Originally posted by Rhonda:Oh that's such a stupid move! They stand to lose so much more by trying to squeeze blood out of their employees, who then quit en masse, can't they SEE that?
I mean, they've spent so much money and effort and resources to train you guys and then they make all of you so angry, everyone quits! Where's the logic in that?
BTW, didn't know you were doing shift work, DG! And LTNS!
What they didnt count on was the massive morale impact it would have. But then again, its cheaper to get someone young and new, assuming they scrimp and save on training and development -
I think for those who do night duties, the days off you do get, you're basically like a living dead, a zombie!Originally posted by DriftingGuy:I work 12hour rotating shifts, even though I get 3-4 off days per week, those are non-productive days as my friends are normally not free on those days. I work every sunday, and this interferes with family time as well
And night shifts messes up your Circadian rhythm. I find myself having to rotate between day and night changes every 2 weeks. Most of my on shift colleagues complain of difficulties sleeping in the day, the over-reliance on coffee, poor health
It gets even worse when you do OT on off days. Even though my company pays really well, alot of us rather forgo vitamin ($).
Basically, shift work brings in more moolah but at the great expense of personal life and health. Its something I dont intend to do for more than 2 years. I believe those who are on shift agree with me Which means, you can't do much, you're not really yourself, you're tired like hell, and worse, it might take you some time to adjust back to your 'normal' rhythm and by then, it's time to do the night shift all over again! 
After a while, you feel so lethargic that what extra allowances you might get no longer matters!
Now that I no longer need to do night duties in my current job in Melbourne, I sleep so much better everyday! I no longer exhibit Narcoleptic symptoms as well. -
So thats 8-hour shift eh? Looks even worse than 12-hour onesOriginally posted by Rhonda:Tell you what's more dreadful - being rostered on what we used to call the 'PAP' shift, meaning : PM / AM / PM / AM shift!
This means you work at 2pm, finish at 9:30pm, then report back to work the next day by 7am and work till 3:15pm! You reach home by about 10:30pm or later, by the time you shower, you can't really sleep, then by the time you sleep, you have to wake up at about 5:30am or so to report for your AM shift!
THAT was what we all hated! -
beats the hell out of the OT my guys used to have to do... almost forced to do..
8am to 10pm 2 days in a row.. then a couple of night shifts...Originally posted by Rhonda:Tell you what's more dreadful - being rostered on what we used to call the 'PAP' shift, meaning : PM / AM / PM / AM shift!
This means you work at 2pm, finish at 9:30pm, then report back to work the next day by 7am and work till 3:15pm! You reach home by about 10:30pm or later, by the time you shower, you can't really sleep, then by the time you sleep, you have to wake up at about 5:30am or so to report for your AM shift!
THAT was what we all hated! -
Spot on! What are narcopletic symptoms anyway?Originally posted by Rhonda:I think for those who do night duties, the days off you do get, you're basically like a living dead, a zombie! Which means, you can't do much, you're not really yourself, you're tired like hell, and worse, it might take you some time to adjust back to your 'normal' rhythm and by then, it's time to do the night shift all over again!
After a while, you feel so lethargic that what extra allowances you might get no longer matters!
Now that I no longer need to do night duties in my current job in Melbourne, I sleep so much better everyday! I no longer exhibit Narcoleptic symptoms as well. -
It continually amazes me how corporations fail to see that the Operations staff, the Ground Level staff, are the arteries and veins of the organisation! Sure we need Red Indian Chiefs, but Red Indians are vital to actually carry out the work that's the lifeblood of any organisation! Too often, there are too many Red Indian Chiefs all yelling out confusing instructions to the too few Red Indians.Originally posted by DriftingGuy:Some bean counter higher up figured out that it would be cheaper to ask get employees to clear leave before the annual increment as that would translate to OT pay BEFORE the annual increment.
What they didnt count on was the massive morale impact it would have. But then again, its cheaper to get someone young and new, assuming they scrimp and save on training and development
What your company is doing, is like chopping off its limbs! -
Thats 14 hours. Isnt that against labour laws?Originally posted by the Bear:beats the hell out of the OT my guys used to have to do... almost forced to do..
8am to 10pm 2 days in a row.. then a couple of night shifts... -
you think the union which is in bed with management, gives a rat's ass?Originally posted by DriftingGuy:Thats 14 hours. Isnt that against labour laws?
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Stuff like you can write a report halfway and fall asleep still holding the pen without even realising you've fallen asleep!Originally posted by DriftingGuy:Spot on! What are narcopletic symptoms anyway?
It can be bright daylight and you'll just nod off to sleep say, mid-sentence whilst talking to someone or whilst someone's talking to you!
Sleep paralysis, which is a nasty, frightening experience cause you're awake but you can't move, can't yell, and you're just lying there, eyes open but there's nothing else you can do!
And no matter how much you try to sleep, you can still fall asleep in bright daylight. Another colleague of mine had it so bad that right in front of her family members, she made a face plant on her McD's breakfast and stunned everyone and she woke up with pancake and syrup smeared all over her face!
You can read more here :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcolepsy -
That's criminal!!Originally posted by the Bear:beats the hell out of the OT my guys used to have to do... almost forced to do..
8am to 10pm 2 days in a row.. then a couple of night shifts...
Remember I used to tell you that your organisation doesn't give you guys enough rest for the night duties you had to do and that doesn't make the transition back to 'normal' daylight shifts easy. -
we're the red-headed stepchild of the whole lot...
kinda used to it already...
this sunday i have to work... the saturday after this week, i got to work.. and goodness knows what else...
this is the "5-day workweek"Originally posted by Rhonda:That's criminal!!
Remember I used to tell you that your organisation doesn't give you guys enough rest for the night duties you had to do and that doesn't make the transition back to 'normal' daylight shifts easy. -
i thought they'll be kind enough to do a AM/AM/AM/PM/PM/PM for one week, or M->A->N for rotating with night.Originally posted by Rhonda:Tell you what's more dreadful - being rostered on what we used to call the 'PAP' shift, meaning : PM / AM / PM / AM shift!
This means you work at 2pm, finish at 9:30pm, then report back to work the next day by 7am and work till 3:15pm! You reach home by about 10:30pm or later, by the time you shower, you can't really sleep, then by the time you sleep, you have to wake up at about 5:30am or so to report for your AM shift!
THAT was what we all hated! -
Originally posted by the Bear:we're the red-headed stepchild of the whole lot...
kinda used to it already...
this sunday i have to work... the saturday after this week, i got to work.. and goodness knows what else...
this is the "5-day workweek" Aren't you on 'office hours'? That ain't 'office hours'! -
Nope! Quite a few of the Nurse Managers who do the rostering can be pretty ... how to put it... wicked!Originally posted by ^tamago^:i thought they'll be kind enough to do a AM/AM/AM/PM/PM/PM for one week, or M->A->N for rotating with night.
You can't even request too many shifts because if you do, they'll deliberately make sure that you get the opposite of what you ask for.
Even if you're married with kids, you can't, say, ask for too many Sundays off or work the same shift every Sunday, stuff like that.
You can't even switch shifts with your colleagues, even if they are willing to, because the Nurse Mgr may just staunchly refuse to let you do so, no reasons offered!
And the icing on the cake is... your annual leave for the entire year 2008, has to be submitted for approval by, say end of Oct 2007!! And whether you get what you request or not depends on how many people asked for the same slots!
The minute I left for Melbourne, I left all these dictatorship conditions behind! -
now you know the reality of us civil serpents
Originally posted by Rhonda: Aren't you on 'office hours'? That ain't 'office hours'! -
Nevermind... they pay you more to work on weekends, right? Can save more, then ask your Baby to join you for a mega huge sushi feast!Originally posted by the Bear:now you know the reality of us civil serpents -
what pay?Originally posted by Rhonda:Nevermind... they pay you more to work on weekends, right? Can save more, then ask your Baby to join you for a mega huge sushi feast!
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Actually, come to think of it, WHY is there a necessity for you to work on Sundays?
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Originally posted by the Bear:what pay?
But... they're asking you to work on a Sunday!!! -
because i'm a senior officer, i don't get OT pay...
but i do get time off in lieu.. only thing is.. last year, i had about 13 days LEAVE forfeited because i don't have time to take leave, much less time off
and why?
because residents are free on weekends... -
I know in Singapore, they like to practice the time in-lieu of compensation for making us work on Public Holidays and/or weekends. But it's NOT the same! I do feel bad for you.
I like the system in Melbourne better, where you're paid penalty rates if you work the afternoon / night shifts, and if you work on weekends and public holidays. It's much fairer. -
hey.. if we removed the passport section's saturday collection until 3pm, you'd see a shitstorm
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I don't like how the govt makes people work without giving them the remuneration they deserve!
That's exploitation!