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AIBU?

to campaign for rights and respect for shift workers?

62 replies

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 08/09/2016 14:52

Seriously. I can no longer cope.

Bloody postman just knocked and asked if I was having 'a lazy day' because I was in my pyjamas. No, dickhead. This is my night time. I didn't ask if he was having 'a lazy day' because he didn't get my post to me until almost 3pm, did I? No, I assumed he had other shit going on.

I also get it from Tesco delivery men and random gits trying to sell me various wank.

It's fucking annoying. I'm not lazy. I've been up all night watching over your loved ones.

Then there's the numerous relatives who phone me (keep my phone on in case DS needs me) while I'm sleeping despite knowing I'll be asleep and beginning the conversation with 'sorry, Joff, I know you're sleeping...'

WTAF?

And don't get me started on sales people. You tell them you can't talk, you're in bed because you're working that night. They ask if they can call tomorrow. Er, how about 'no'?

Hmm

Icing on the cake was my parents who turned up randomly, got me out of bed so I could make them tea despite having just come from a fucking coffee morning, then an hour or so later calling me even though I told them I was going back to bed and then calling me again this morning because when they phoned yesterday I sounded grumpy and unenthusiastic.

FFS! I don't phone or visit people at 3am, do I? Nope!

Why do some people just not understand that to work all night, we need to sleep during the day? My dad, for example, thinks that 2 hours sleep after a night shift is ample.

We need rights. The rights to sleep. The right to wear pyjamas during the day.

We need to go on a pride march. Providing we're not working, of course.

Anyone?
Grin

OP posts:
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Zippydoodah · 08/09/2016 14:57

They asked me to do nights. That's the reason I said no so I sympathise. I opted for late evening instead which is bad enough because dh expects me to run around all day even though I finish at midnight

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FasterThanASnakeAndAMongoose · 08/09/2016 15:00

YANBU! Add to that, it is my right to still be in my pjs at 8.45 am when my baby has kept me up all night and I have a toddler.

I'm looking at you judgy pants neighbour.

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PinkSnowAndStars · 08/09/2016 15:00

I completely get it.

Got home at 8am, got to sleep about 10.... Postman woke me up at 11.15.... Home visit from primary school teacher at 2pm....

I'm so tired and working again tonight

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hollinhurst84 · 08/09/2016 15:01

I'm with you. People that laugh when you answer the door at 2pm with hair everywhere and pjs on and go "did I wake you?"
No. Ill wake YOU at 2am
I'm not sure how 2hrs sleep on a night would be not acceptable but in the day is lazy?
People that go "can't you just..?"
NO. I WILL BE SLEEPING

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Discobabe · 08/09/2016 15:02

Maybe you should start phoning people at 3am Grin

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PovertyPain · 08/09/2016 15:06

Grin I feel your pain, OP. 20yrs of night duty. Fuck that's a long time when I think about it. Shock I recently handed my notice in to work full time from home. My freind couldn't understand why I couldn't continue working and dog sit during the day. "Can you not just have a wee doze while the dogs are at yours?" Hmm

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HermioneJeanGranger · 08/09/2016 15:18

Sympathies!

I did several years of late shifts, and then a couple of years of earlies (starting at 6am) and I got SO fed up with people saying "Oh, but you only work part-time" or "but you finish early so you have the rest of the day to enjoy yourself!"

No. Getting up at 4.30am for years is not fun. It means I was in bed for 9.30pm at night and shattered by 6pm because my body clock was all over the place. Likewise on lates, I didn't get to bed until 2am because my "evening" only started at 11pm instead of at 6pm like yours!

Sleeping in until 11am is NOT lazy when you don't get home from work until gone midnight Angry

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Perfectlypurple · 08/09/2016 15:22

That's awful.

I work shifts. My family don't ring me in case I am on nights. They text and ask if OK to call. I always have phone on silent when sleeping during the day.

My postman is brilliant too. He won't ring the doorbell if our bedroom curtains are pulled shut. He always checks and if they are closed he leaves parcels in the garage and leaves us a note.

I know I am lucky and it is rare.

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JellyBelli · 08/09/2016 15:22

2 night workers in our home and we get this as well! I've explained to our usual postie, but the neighbours are knobs and make loud comments.

One neighbour makes a point of standing on our driveway every fucking morning to call her cat out of our garden, and make loud snarky comments.

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BieneBiene · 08/09/2016 15:24

I don't miss doing nights at all.

Could you set your phone to 'do not disturb' with exclusions for DS/School/Potentially important things.

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nellypledge16 · 08/09/2016 15:33

I've worked shifts for 16 yards now, and currently do 12 hour days and nights, I much prefer nights as there's less dickheads at work to deal with!!

I've always sworn by earplugs and put a sign on the door saying do not knock or I will cut you and don't tend to have much bother there. But those fucking ppi and new boiler bastards that ring you up take the piss!

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ExitPursuedBySpartacus · 08/09/2016 15:37

I have every respect and admiration for anyone who works night shifts. I just couldn't do it.

Can't you put a sign on your door?

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x2boys · 08/09/2016 15:38

i feel yr pain i worked full time nights as a nurse for three yrs my mum would always phone me at 11am and ask me why i was in bed knowing i had worked the night before ,erm because i would kind of like to sleep for longer then 2 hours in 24 if thats ok with you?

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Sallystyle · 08/09/2016 15:42

I did a night shift last night.

I feel your pain.

I feel like complete shit today. Lots of people really don't seem to understand that disturbing us during the day when you know we have been working is the same as disturbing someone at 3.00am.

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GoldenWorld · 08/09/2016 15:55

I'm fairly lucky when on nights as I can switch my phone off and I just don't answer the door if the doorbell rings - mainly because I tend to sleep naked and can't be arsed faffing around putting clothes on to answer it. But I've always lived with other people who tend to be around so they'll answer the door.

I lived with my parents doing nights and they knew better than not to wake me or they'd be hell to pay. Grin My current flat mate is very good at keeping quiet, even when her child is at home. I feel for you - nothing beats the utter tiredness of finishing a night shift and wearily walking home, desperate for my bed. It's a miracle I haven't been run over yet.

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YelloDraw · 08/09/2016 16:14

Phone off. Dorbell off. Sleep.

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Soubriquet · 08/09/2016 16:16

My Dh used to work night shifts

He got by on 4 hours a sleep a night, 5 days a week.

He said it was the most brutal time of his life. He was constantly cold, his body always hurt and he had trouble concentrating

He has a day job now and is so much better off.

Even though night shift was better money, I'll never let him go back there.

People just don't get it

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LivingOnTheDancefloor · 08/09/2016 16:24

OP, would you be able to

  1. get a 2nd phone and only give the number to your DS, and switch the other one off.
  2. disconnect your doorbell when you are asleep
    If I was sleeping, I would rather have to go to the Post Office to get a parcel than be woken up by the doorbell.
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steppedonlego · 08/09/2016 16:29

I sleep blissfully during the day for my night shifts after returning the favour of calling people back at 3am Smile

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RedGrapeCornSnake · 08/09/2016 16:42

It'll have to be a night time March but I'm in.
I only do 3 night a week and that's enough. I have Wednesday's (and sometimes thursdays) as lazy, on the couch, days to help recover. Fuck anyone who judges, nights can be brutal

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RedGrapeCornSnake · 08/09/2016 16:44

And right on cue, a text from my mum asking me to pop around to hers on Sunday to do a little job. How about no - I'll be asleep

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PovertyPain · 08/09/2016 16:44

Can't you block all callers, except your son, OP? My phone is pretty old but I can set the block for certain times.

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LetsJunglyJumpToIt · 08/09/2016 16:54

As a nurse I feel your pain.

I remember when I rented my letting agency wanting to come round during the day and I had to say no as I was sleeping. So you sleep all day?, I was asked. Yes because I'm awake all night! Why is it so hard to understand?? Hmm

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DementedUnicorn · 08/09/2016 17:02

Yup. Especially when people think because you slept an entire four hours to 2pm you should be grand.

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Idontmeanto · 08/09/2016 17:07

It is horrendous! DH works nights and mil has never got it. Yanbu

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