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Original poster

Why does this happen on my day off?

69 replies

WitchesCoffee · 10/02/2023 13:33

I work around 10 hours a day, half hour commute, 5 days a week. In retail, so on my feet all day. Dont really get a break so survive on protein bars for lunch!
I take vitamins religiously - a general multi vit, vit d, vit c, iron and a calcium/magnesium/zinc combo.
But on my days off, I literally cannot not fall asleep. If I have things to do I am up and about, but if it is a day with nothing planned I could sit down and be asleep within minutes, often for hours! Today for example, all I have to do is the groceries. So I got up with the teenagers, got them off to school, had a coffee and boom...I've just woken up from the deepest sleep. You know the type where your body is all heavy? That.
I slept 11-7 last night!
I am usually up at around 5.30 or 6am. And usually asleep by about 11. So its not like I am not getting enough sleep!
But this happens every day off, like my body needs a reset?
I am fine at work, dont feel tired at all. Can work 6 days on the run (days off change) and be totally fine! Did an 11 day run recently and was absolutely ok. Wake up not tired at all and ready to go. Including the days into in early for 6.30 or 7 am and still work till my usual 6/6.30 no problems.
Any ideas?

OP posts:

tattygrl · 10/02/2023 16:07

WitchesCoffee · 10/02/2023 16:01

So yes, i am proud of what I do. Many think retail is just a little pin money job, easy, for the ditzy with no education or prancing up and down an aisle or sitting pretty behind tills. Yes I am proud of my work ethic and that I work hard.

It's not about the "real world" at all. Every job has its stress points. People in an office do work hard too!

But people seem to think that we are stupid. They tell us their emails and say "no spaces" or "all lower case". That says more about their intelligence levels than ours!

Can you imagine if the retail sector went on strike? We would be laughed out of town. In covid people seemed to accept that we are essential workers, but now we are back to people moaning the shops close early on a sunday! People accept nursing and doctors work conditions are shit, but they have the support of the public. We do not.

But we are off topic.

Sleep..i will schedule the work hangover :)

Now, any constructive ideas for on the go snacks?
Soup sounds lovely but not allowed hot liquids on the floor. The protein bars are good as they are quick and can be shoved in a pocket! also the reason i eat far too much chocolate!

The retail sector bloody should go on strike. There's no way these working conditions should be the norm. I don't think you're stupid, I've done nothing but minimum wage jobs my whole working life (not assuming yours is minimum wage), never had a degree or higher education and now do workplace support in all sorts of workplaces so I've seen a lot. My point is that you're digging your heels in about why your working conditions are the way they are when they are directly causing the problem you're talking about.

I will leave it now though as I've posted a lot on this thread and don't want to browbeat. I do wish you the best with your days off!

Paq · 10/02/2023 16:08

WitchesCoffee · 10/02/2023 15:35

All those talking about working conditions, how is it any different to nurses and doctors who do the same as us but even longer hours?? They struggle to take breaks, get out of the building and find staff cover. They are fine on their days off. I was talking about my sleep. It's the working world not in an office!
But like I said above, I need to accept it and schedule it in :)

Those working conditions are also terrible. Two wrongs don't make a right!

Minfilia · 10/02/2023 16:11

You need 8 hours a night so every week you have a sleep debt of ten hours. That’s more than a full night every week.

you crash because you aren’t sleeping enough, it’s really that simple!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Sleep

ivykaty44 · 10/02/2023 16:11

Can you imagine if the retail sector went on strike? We would be laughed out of town. In covid people seemed to accept that we are essential workers,

and there you have it

if you are essential workers - then going on strike will affect people greatly and you wouldn't be laughed at. The shareholders wouldn't be happy with losing money. Can you imagine if during lockdown the supermarkets had closed for 3 days... there would have been riots

its so sad that you do work hard and are passionate about what you do and in return get the piss ripped out of you, its bad

ivykaty44 · 10/02/2023 16:13

Now, any constructive ideas for on the go snacks?

unsalted nuts - you know the small tubs you get in supermarkets with a mixture of nuts included. A boiled egg and a piece of fruit, banana as this will increase your ability to sleep better

Needmorelego · 10/02/2023 16:17

@WitchesCoffee I've never in my life met anyone who thinks retail is an easy job and for 'pin' money. How bizarre that you think that.
As for the email thing - unless someone says that [email protected] is in lower case how would you know? What on earth has that got to do with a persons intelligence?

Original poster

WitchesCoffee · 10/02/2023 16:25

Needmorelego · 10/02/2023 16:17

Email address syntax is not case sensitive!!

OP posts:

lieselotte · 10/02/2023 16:25

Needmorelego · 10/02/2023 13:44

@WitchesCoffee @Coffeellama I worked 20 years in retail. Always had a break. The manager on duty always had a break.

Indeed. When I worked in retail I had a 15 min break in the morning, an hour for lunch and another 15 min break in the afternoon. Things have obviously changed for the worse.

I'd be looking for a different job with an employer who didn't take the mick.

QuestionableMouse · 10/02/2023 16:28

WitchesCoffee · 10/02/2023 13:42

Uh huh. If you are the designated manager of the day and there are no other managers present you
are not allowed leave the building. So. And no managers take a break. There is the odd occasion I will order in some food
or bring some from home and sit in the office and eat but that is literally throw the food down. If you work in retail you understand you cant just leave the shop floor to run itself for half an hour. It's just the way retail works! And the schedule technically says 9 hours haha

Show quote history

Legally, you're entitled to 20 mins after six hours of work.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 10/02/2023 16:32

they will if the store closes the doors every 6 hours for a break - and what in reality can they do?

Tell me you don't work in retail without saying it.

How do you propose they clear the store every 6 hours in order to even close? Would you support Tesco chucking you off the till you've queued at so the staff could have 20mins close down?

Needmorelego · 10/02/2023 17:00

@WitchesCoffee oh well I guess I am not that intelligent then about email addresses. I have always assumed you can use lower case or upper case but whatever version is in your email is the version you have to use - so janebloggs is a different email to JaneBloggs.
Apologies if I have ever insulted your staff if I have said "it's all one word in lowercase". I am genuine in that I didn't know and certainly am not referring that retail workers are 'stupid' if I have said that.

Needmorelego · 10/02/2023 17:04

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz I get the impression the OP works in a small shop and it's some kind of pharmacy. Many pharmacies close over lunchtime for an hour. It can be done with small shops.

Original poster

WitchesCoffee · 10/02/2023 17:07

Needmorelego · 10/02/2023 17:04

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz I get the impression the OP works in a small shop and it's some kind of pharmacy. Many pharmacies close over lunchtime for an hour. It can be done with small shops.

It is pharmacy related, a national chain ;) our store is not small, but no pharmacist on site. And we cannot close for breaks. Where there are pharmacists on site within the chain stores, the pharmacy closes but the store does not.

OP posts:

Alwayswonderedwhy · 10/02/2023 17:09

I'm glad I don't work in retail anymore. We used to get two 15 min breaks and a lunch hour.

Anyway, take your 20 min break that you're entitled to. If it's not possible then management need to make it possible.

I'm not surprised you're tired on your day off.

Robin233 · 10/02/2023 17:28

Regardless you are not getting 8 hours sleep or even 7.
That's your problem.

ivykaty44 · 11/02/2023 10:52

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz
ive worked in retail, I just didn't put up with shit treatment

DownNative · 11/02/2023 12:04

WitchesCoffee · 10/02/2023 13:49

Uninterrupted! <laughs in retail management>

That's not because it's retail management. It's because of YOUR particular workplace itself.

Every manager at the store I work in gets their break uninterrupted.....🤷‍♂️

Perhaps you work for a small retail outlet?

AnotherEmma · 11/02/2023 18:29

So you work for Boots or Superdrug, probably.

"The company wont provide security"
"the company wants to keep us safe."
These statements cannot both be true.

They need to provide a security guard and ensure that there are two staff at manager or assistant manager level, if not at all times, then at least with overlapping shifts to allow for breaks.

You seem to be pretty proud of martyring yourself for this company. It's great that you love your job but as PPs have said, your health is suffering.

Being overworked and underpaid isn't funny!

If you're not in a trade union you should join one.

Vinomummyinlockdown · 12/02/2023 19:25

You’re in your way to burn out. You must balance your day and tasks more.

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