Poor ds working hours.

[Summa23]

Ds is a policeman. He has to work 2 days 7am-4pm then 2-11pm for 2 days. Then 4 days of 10pm till 7pm. Plus any over time that happens. He then get 2 days off. Day 1 is spent kind of sleeping. Due to the over night working. 2nd day of. Then back to work . For 7am. Body clock is awful.

Were you that parent when he was at school, OP?

More seriously, I can't see how such rapidly cycling shifts can be at all good for efficiency, whether police or nursing. When my dad was in the prison service, before all the privitisation, his earlies, lates and nights were set for the week, usually.

I'm no longer replying to posts that are clearly just taking the piss. General discussion yes. But the piss taking ones no.

I understand you feel bad for him but try to encourage him to keep at it, he will most likely get used to the patterns eventually, it's tough but he will get more out of it at the end than if he decides to quit before whis 18months are up.

I do feel like younger people have little to no resilience these days in comparison to when I was first starting out, sometimes you need to just get on with the slog until you turn a corner.

Tulipvase · Today 23:03
MrsSkylerWhite · Today 22:59

Tulipvase · Today 22:50
MrsSkylerWhite · Today 22:45

I worked in a merchant bank then for an MP. 7 am-7pm most days with the first, even longer hours with the second 🤷‍♀️
Doesn't sound too bad, especially when he can presumably retire after 30 years service with a decent pension.
Do you really think the potential threat level was the same? It isn’t just about hours worked.”

In the second role, on many occasions yes, especially at constituency surgeries in London.

Presumably, OP’s son was aware of potential threat when he signed up as a police officer? Naively, as a 22 year old woman at the time, I hadn’t been.

“I’m tempted to ask what your pension was”

I’m only entitled to state pension. In those days, we had to work for donkey’s years at the bank before being entitled to anything. Likewise, my employer at the HoC had no obligation whatsoever to make pension contributions. I stopped working at 29 to have a child and our second came along 10 years after that so I’ve never accrued anything by way of pensions.
Thankfully, my husband has a decent public sector pension and I’m named as beneficiary.

My shift pattern is 2 earlies, 2 lates, 2 nights, 3 days off. 10 hour shifts.

presumably the 2 extra nights are overtime? So he’ll be increasing his salary by 30%?

when I was young and first working shifts I used to do insane patterns for the overtime. Earned a lot of money and saved a deposit for a house by 22. Even now I will do o/t if I want- last year I’ve been doing a few extra shifts a month and set aside 4k for a holiday. I don’t have that option in a 9-5 job. Not to mention the 10k a year I get in shift allowance.

I like shifts. Does your son like the working pattern? I’d be happy doing the o/t for the increased salary? I think that is key before you decide whether it’s “poor him”

I was accepted as a trainee paramedic. Initially (first 2 years) you would be asked to cover any shift in within 3 counties - shifts could be decided the day before. When it was made clear this would not he 'occasionaly' but regularly I declined the offer. I was prepared to put my social life on hold a bit but I know my own body and I think the mixed shifts would play havoc. When I worked shifts before my periods would be affected and I'd be pooing at really odd/unexpected times. I'd have loved to have been rigged up to some physiological measurement monitors to see exactly what it was doing.

The point is, I thought long and hard about it....then turned it down. Your son hasn't. He's signed up for a job knowing exactly what's involved. No wonder police marry police!

The fire brigade appear to have much better shifts, is that true? It is certainly a rumour that second Jobs are rife, due to the better shifts.

if that is the case, why don’t the police do the same? Or is it due to the fact that a lot of fireman are retained?

I'm really hoping he will change his mind. Obviously it's not my choice. But hopefully time 18 months is here he might feel different build confidence etc.

Presumably you knew that though?

My DM used to call me up and worry about the hours I was working when I was well into my 40s - of course a mum can still be concerned!
all my police knowledge comes from tv shows where they either seem to work 9-5 (eg Hope Street) or 24/7 (line of duty) though still somehow with time for the pub and illicit affairs

His standard shift pattern is not 8 on, 2 off. That's not a contracted shift pattern of any police officer in the entire UK.

I never said it was that all the time.

Tulipvase · Today 23:20
MrsSkylerWhite · Today 23:15

Tulipvase · Today 23:03
MrsSkylerWhite · Today 22:59

Tulipvase · Today 22:50
MrsSkylerWhite · Today 22:45

I worked in a merchant bank then for an MP. 7 am-7pm most days with the first, even longer hours with the second 🤷‍♀️
Doesn't sound too bad, especially when he can presumably retire after 30 years service with a decent pension.
Do you really think the potential threat level was the same? It isn’t just about hours worked.”

In the second role, on many occasions yes, especially at constituency surgeries in London.

Presumably, OP’s son was aware of potential threat when he signed up as a police officer? Naively, as a 22 year old woman at the time, I hadn’t been.

“I’m tempted to ask what your pension was”

I’m only entitled to state pension. In those days, we had to work for donkey’s years at the bank before being entitled to anything. Likewise, my employer at the HoC had no obligation whatsoever to make pension contributions. I stopped working at 29 to have a child and our second came along 10 years after that so I’ve never accrued anything by way of pensions.
Thankfully, my husband has a decent public sector pension and I’m named as beneficiary.

Presumably you knew that though?

Absolutely. which is why I don’t have a thread complaint about terms and conditions 😁

So it was a one off and not what you said in your original post?

If he is still a student/tutee he can't do overtime shifts. I work 6on4off. Of all the shift patterns I've done over the years it's the best I've done. He will be tired because of the steep learning curve. It is worrying I get that but if you let on you're worried he will stress more. It's a fab job eventually despite all the shit that comes with it. Try not to be one of those mums. He will get teased terribly for it complete with cake fines

All you can do is be encouraging and tell him how proud you are he is sticking with it and maybe talk about the options he will have in the future, talk as if he IS going to stay and build a picture of his future career when you can.
Good luck.

Point out to me where I said this was his standard pattern of shift

The son also doesn’t have a thread. But presumably you would have called the police to deal with any of the incidents that you would have dealt with whilst working for the HoC?

Yes I definitely do that. I don't tell him I worry. I try and keep it positive and upbeat. And definitely proud of him. He's honestly done fantastic so far .

Here….

I can't see any words that say this is his regular pattern.

He's young , back in the day I'd do 12 hour shirts at night, finish at 7.30 then be back for a 6 hour shift 1.30 in the afternoon.

I'd also do night shifts occasionally then cover for the early shift so 18 hours

Or 4 13 hour shifts in a row, 1 day off then start again

I think its junior Dr's who do ridiculous shifts and manage

Tulipvase
The son also doesn’t have a thread. But presumably you would have called the police to deal with any of the incidents that you would have dealt with whilst working for the HoC”

No, not once. Bugger all training, just had to handle things as they arose. Really, really hope that’s no longer the case. They weren’t in the HoC (where security is tight), they were in the constituency office in East London. Many years later, my then boss is still an MP and subjected to more abuse/threats than most.
It was often just me conducting the surgeries back then. I’m not sure that would be permitted now: bloody hope not.

You don’t say it isn’t though.

you say those are his hours, and o/t is on top. So it’s implied those are what he does normally.

I’m a few down as I’m on holiday but how is that different to what the OP posted? I have double checked but am prepared to be corrected.