To ask you which job you would choose and why?

[sananbaz]

More of a WWYD...

I am in the enviable position of being able to consider three different jobs. I am a HCP, have two primary aged children (at different schools) and a Dh.

Job 1 (current job) -
14 hrs per week
Mainly during school hours, with some evening/weekends
No childcare costs during term time.
Lower standards of care than I find acceptable.
Poor management/low staff moral
Frequently recruiting.
Approx £800/month

Job 2 -
16 hours per week
Every weekend
Day shifts only
No childcare costs
Higher standards of care
Don't know about management, but frequently recruiting
Approx £900/month

Job 3 -
36 hours every two weeks
Fri/sat/sun nights every other week.
No childcare costs.
High standards of care.
Good management.
Infrequently recruiting.
Approx £1200/month

Based on your personal experience of working the various shift patterns etc, which would you choose, and why? I'm wondering if there are things I'm not taking into consideration.

Thanks for reading this far!

[OwlinaTree]

Job 3

[NapQueen]

Job 3.

I stopped Job 1 at the part about the lower standards than you find acceptable.

I stopped Job 2 when it said every weekend.

Jon 3 not only is the best of the three, but sounds like a great job even without the comparison.

[OwlinaTree]

Why? Because it's the best pay and it's every other weekend. Job 1 didn't sound as good and job 2 is every weekend.

[0pti0na1]

Job 3, so you still have every other weekend free and you're getting away from the low morale.

[VeryBitchyRestingFace]

What's the catch with job 3, OP?

[RoseGoldHippie]

Frequently hiring is the bit I would be concerned about - have you looked at the companies on Glassdoor?

I would go for job 3 good management and morale are worth sooooo much in the work force!

[Sallystyle]

Job 3!

[Softkitty2]

Job 3 because even when work becomes hard having a good manager and a good team makes such a difference.

[usernumber007]

Job 3

[OlennasWimple]

Not a shift worker, but Job 3 seems the best of all. Even if the money were less, or comparable, I think it still sounds the best

[AndNowItsSeven]

Job 3, it's a no brainer.

[toffeeboffin]

Er, job 1?

Just kidding!

3 of course

[Justwanttoweeinpeace]

Job three. High staff retention says a lot.

[mintthins]

I confess I have never done shift work, nor am I a HCP. But Job three looks fabulous. I especially like the working every other week bit - I wish more jobs could offer that!

[NeedMoreSleepOrSugar]

Job three. Job one would be a no go for me due to the poor standards. Job two out due to the every weekend working (assuming your dh works weekdays thus minimal family time). Job three sounds pretty ideal based on what you've posted

[HateSummer]

I work in a HC setting 2 evenings and only one night a week every week and the night shift shatters me for about 2 days. With children I couldn't do it for more than a day even if it was every other week.

With all the jobs there may be opportunities for over time and there will be instances they ask you to cover hours aswell. I think job 2 could easily make you more money without shattering your health.

also, after tax you'll be earning about £1000 with job 3 anyway...job 2, you'll pay hardly any tax. Pay works out more or less the same.

[sananbaz]

Thank you everyone! Almost unanimous
Hatesummer - your opinion is the one concern that I've been having, that three nights in a row would be unbearable! They would be 12 hour shifts too.....with a 45min drive home. I'm still thinking it's worth a try, but it's an important point about tax deductions. Hmm...

[HateSummer]

Work out your tax here: listentotaxman.com

And if you're working for the nhs bear in mind the pension deduction aswell. Actually, if you're getting the unsocial hours enhancement for your night shifts and on Sunday you'll probably be earning a bit more than the £1200.

[ColdTeaAgain]

I'd go for Job 3. You'll be knackered by the end of the three shifts but then 11 days off to recover

[EllenDegenerate]

Job 3, especially if you're a nurse considering private sector nursing homes/units.

[sananbaz]

Thank you. You've all given me great things to think about. Job 3 I've already applied for (closing date 20th October) and am considering contacting job 2 to see if there is any flexibility - possibly every other weekend but with a couple of day shifts during the week too.
Hatesummer - you were right about the pay for job 3, I've just recalculated and it is closer to £1400/month, so that will have an impact on tax deductions.
It's true what they say about too much choice being a bad thing!

[AmserGwin]

Job 3