Thoughts on a job with 24/7 shifts?

Masked_King

echo_time_cat wrote: »

I have to say, to the OP, that these shifts are indeed tough and will affect your health.

Currently, I work a VERY similar shift. (12 hour nigh shifts, and 12 hour day shifts, with a few other 9-5s in there too).

As already mentioned by others, when it's 2 or 3am and your body is shutting down, you end up eating. Top it off with not being able to ever get a full nights' (days' really) sleep, and you put on weight fast. I've put on 15 lbs in 14 months with this type of life style. I am also having some other medical issues and seeing a doctor regularly about it, and I'm trying to turn my health around...but it's incredibly difficult. On days off I feel like a zombie, so it affects much more than how you feel on your current shift.

The worst immediate effect of these shifts is that switching between night and day is about the same as having a 12+ hour timezone change for your body and the extremely crappy jet lag you would feel. Google jet lag and health issues, it is just the tip of the iceberg.

When you are trying switch from nights to days, there will be nights when you can't sleep because now your body thinks you should be looking for that midnight coffee or 2am snack. I've worked my first 12hour day shift on 60 minutes of sleep because my body was still stuck in night shift mode. It really is a new kind of hell.

So, if this is a big pay increase, do it to short-term only to save the extra money. Don't do what I did and adjust your lifestyle to your new earnings just to find yourself stuck in a lifestyle that feels like it is accelerating your death.

it's all in your head. and that's not putting it mildly, either.

Welly_59

Masked King - do you have a different opinion?

Most people are hating on the shifts which is a bit strange as most of the people I work with, who work shifts, like them better than 9-5

MitM

I probably wouldn't waste your time listening to this Masked King person. It appears every topic he posts something in is nonsense

beads

As others have said above if your young enough and handle the constant disruption of working nights, keeping the windows darkened enough to sleep, quiet enough to sleep, no home disruptions (animals, spouse, kids, nieghbors, lawn mowers, etc.) then yes you should consider the move but only as a stepping stone to bigger and better things down the short road. All those distractions as well as the general noise of people enjoying a normal life will constantly creep up on you. Like your Dental visits in the middle of YOUR night? I betcha do!

What you have at your disposal after 12 months is the perfect opportunity to go out and interview ANYTIME of day without having to skip out of work, lunch break or use precious vacation time to schedule a long interview. Next the best interviewing answer of all time: Why do you want to change positions? Well, let's see... let's add up all those reasons above with the lack of sleep, disruptions and potential loss of health and missing out on a normal life and well... who could possibly blame you?

If your already a night owl and comfortable with the hours or the schedule intrigues you then go for it but leave yourself an out as well. There is a reason these people are willing to offer a premium for this shift. I've done shift work before, particularly the military where I would work all night and sleep during the day. Its definitely not for everyone.

Proceed with caution.

- b/eads

GeekyChick

Welly_59 wrote: »

Masked King - do you have a different opinion?

Most people are hating on the shifts which is a bit strange as most of the people I work with, who work shifts, like them better than 9-5

Why do they like them better? I'm particularly wondering if they like the over-night shift. I wouldn't mind a 2pm - 12pm shift, but I would hate a middle of the night shift.

Masked_King

I find your signature rudimentary and plebeian. Who wouldn't like a 2-12am not a 2p-12p like you stated.

johnnyarks

to chime in, as someone who's done overnight 12hr shifts for the last 5yrs, when I got hired I was 208lbs, 5 yrs later I'm 305lbs... and it's not so much the time of day but moreso the 12hrs shifts... just my opinion and experience.

Nik 99

Hi Welly. Just to throw my own experience / opinion in here. I'm doing a 6 month contract in a 24/7 shift. 4 on, 4 off, constant rotation from day to night each shift. All my co-workers live locally and they find it hard. I have to cover 32 miles to come into work, takes around an hour with almost no traffic. The travel time really hurts. I'm losing out on quite a lot of sleep. Getting even 6 hours of sleep is difficult when on shift. Tbh the work is fine, but the travel is just bs and I can't wait for end of my contract. If your confident about being able to sleep whenever you need to and that the time you lose out on through travel won't hurt you too much then maybe you should go ahead.

N7Valiant

My only similar experience was in retail. 2 day shifts Mon-Thur, then 3 graveyards shifts Fri-Sun, all while going to college full time! Wouldn't recommend it.

As others have said, this can negatively impact your health. The constant sleep deprivation caused dry eyes and I was always digging some kind of crap out of my eyes and getting them infected.

However, if you are able to sleep at any hours of the day at a dime, then you might be able to handle it. Obviously some people out there can do these kinds of jobs or they would never get done. The important thing long-term is whether or not you can sleep.

I would give it due consideration if you need the money for something(like a Bachelor's or more certs). Might be good to just get the money for a short sprint before moving onto something more manageable and using that money towards your career.

gilesjp

I have worked these shifts before and they are ultimately unsubstanable. Don't do it unless you need a quick money grab. You have 3-4 days of hell with no sleep then spend the other 3-4 days of the week trying to recooperate. Not worth it.

mbarrett

Rotating shifts is always a no-go for me. Graveyard shifts aren't as bad, once you get used to the schedule - it's a little weird trying to fall asleep in the middle of the day, though. And your social life will definitely suffer, if that's an issue. But rotating shifts will tear you up eventually...
I have to wonder why managers still implement this schedule, what the particular advantage will be - you are almost guaranteeing a higher rate of employee turnover.

technogoat

welcome to the wonderful world of IT, bud

prepare for long hours and doing ***** work

guess being a dev or engineer looks good

blatini

I would go for it personally, especially if it is an upgrade in responsibilities. You are losing a lot of time on your current commute on distance + rush hour. That is an insane increase in pay too

Welly_59

Still debating it. My day would be one hour longer even though its 12 hour shifts vs 8 hours due to the much shorter commute. Plus the night shifts are only every 3 weeks, apart from that its 8am-8pm 3 or 4 days a week.