To take a job on 12 hour shifts now that the children are grown

[Topgearmate]

I’ve been offered a new job in a supervisory role in the same company I’ve been in for many years - something I’ve been wanting to get into for a while.

Thing is it’s going from days 9-5 to 12 hour shifts, days and nights but no weekends.

It’s a whopping 17k pay increase but DH is being a bit sulky about it (he thinks I’ll be too tired all the time and be moany 😒 and it means I won’t be around so much / will be slightly less flexible with holidays etc) and even adult DD thinks it’s ridiculous I’m thinking of taking it ‘at my age’ - 48.

They’ve made me doubt myself and my capabilities - no doubt I’ll get more tired but I’m sure I’ll survive and catch up on my sleep on my days off.

It’s a great opportunity but instead of being happy for me all im getting is negativity.

Should I really be reconsidering??

Holy shit you should just go for it Congratulations!

Go for it. It sounds great.

That's great, do it! You really sound like you want to do it, and that is an amazing pay increase. Loads of benefits to working longer shifts - cramming all your hours into less days, also means more time off. Do factor in though that night shifts are tough - I found not the night itself or the day after when I'd had a sleep, but the day after it would catch up with me.
48 is young! Perfect age to be stepping up - you've got loads of experience and maturity.
Your attitude sounds great. Go for it

Sounds fine and 17 k rise would surely mean you have more money to enjoy your time together
Surely holiday is same regardless and guess you could hire a cleaner etc as well if wanted

I did it! I went full time as soon as my youngest moved out.

I loved it!!! The extra money, sense of achievement etc

Have had to scale back to 30 hours a week now because I have custody of two small grandchildren but I miss the money and the ‘busy-ness’ of working full time.

I work full time now in a very demanding and responsible role but it’s 9-5, the content of the new job does not phase me as I’m confident I can step up, it really is just the worry I’ll buckle under the night shifts and double back shift.
I’m used to being awake half way through the night anyway (hence posting now) but it’s a completely different kettle of fish laying in bed reading mumsnet than managing a busy department of 20 staff!

Two points: if it doesn’t work for you, will you be able to return to your old work pattern?
Can you make a pledge to yourself to do it without moaning too much about being tired? I’m assuming your dh has a point with that one but apologies if I’m wrong! I’m speaking from the experience of being the partner to a hard worker who has chosen to include an intense course of study in addition to full time work - which is fine, their choice so of course I support practically and emotionally - but the moaning!! It wears me out.

Haha Atlas, thank you, I will have to keep the perceived ‘moaning’ in check I guess. DH is a man of very few words whereas I think out loud, talk about everything good and bad. Quite often DH will say stop moaning but I’m just saying how I feel, not moaning!

DH is a shift worker and is often very tired but he never complains out loud, he can quite often be miserable and sullen though. I tend to be more outspoken as to why I may be feeling the way I do. But that is considered to be moaning.

We’ve rubbed along together nicely for 23 years, I don’t want to put unnecessary strain on our marriage now we’ve done the real hard work of child raising 🥴

My DP (55) used to work four on four off days and nights 12 hour shifts and hated it. His body never had the opportunity to adjust. He's currently working a 3 week rotation of earlies, lates and nights and the night shifts are a killer, with the weekend after a total write off. He's earning good money for it but (Covid aside) we can't make any weekday evening plans as he isn't here. He enjoys his job but this is a struggle for him and he's the world's happiest person! I think you ought to take into consideration the impact working such long and difficult shifts is going to have on your body and your mental health. It is also difficult to be the partner of a night shift worker so I do have a bit of sympathy for your DH.

Shift work suits some people (I work shifts and prefer it - I did "ordinary" hours in my early working life, until I was 30, then career changed after ten years mostly home with young kids and very part time paid work).

You will never know until you try it - I like the variety personally, and I'm close to your age. I found "the same old same old" routine more of a drudge than long shifts (I do 14:00 - 10:00 the next day once per week, but it's different to your prospective job because between 22:00 and 5:00 is technically on call, although I have to be on site there is a bedroom to sleep in and its paid with an on call allowance plus 2 automatic hours time and a half, and we have to record any extra waking working time above the two hours if we need paying for more time responding to night time emergencies).

Essentially you'll never know until you try!

My kids are pretty much grown up - I do 2 x 12 hour shifts and 1 x 7.5 hour shift a week, and I'm really old at 57. Hahaha - yes, old people can do stuff too,

Congratulations on your new job, and I'm another one saying you go girl!

It's an absolute no brainer.

Same hours as before.
Better job.
£17k pay rise
Compressed hours giving you an extra day off.

Yes please.

That’s a huge pay rise
Do it do it do it
It’s perfect timing

You go for it! And as for the DC who advised against it ‘at your age’ I would perhaps be having a little word.

Give it a try otherwise you'll never know.

Can you go back to your current job if you find it doesn't suit you?

That's a huge pay rise!

I'm nearly 20 years older than you and do 12 hour shifts.

As has been said, the switching days/nights does mess things up a bit, that's why I don't do nights

You're not putting strain on, you are developing your career, stretching yourself, bringing more to the table and - at worst - talking in a different style to dh. I think you've got too used to moulding yourself around others moods! Stick your course and let them mould for a change! Congratulations.

I've worked nights for over 20 years in NHS it suits me less managers/visitors around.
If I were you I'd definitely go for it your pay rise is amazing do it for a few years could retire earlier on money saved.

I am 50 and also a shift worker. I do 2 x twilight shifts per week. The rest are days. I was offered a position on the night team but thought it would mess me up. I personally think I was right. The twilights already muck up my sleep for about 2 days after and I frequently get migraines in that time. And I am tired and I do moan.

Some people love nights and get on fine but, where we are, we are allowed to do a two week trial first. Is there any possibility you could do that to see how you cope?

£17k is very tempting, as is the career progression, but not worth it if it takes a toll on your physical and mental health - or your relationships. At my work, night shift manager is the first rung on the ladder but the best paid because many are put off by the hours and it's tricky to progress from there

Thank you all, today I accepted the position. The way I see it is I can only give it a go otherwise I’d spend the rest of my life saying ‘what if’.

I imagined seeing someone else in the role and realised I’d feel really jealous 😂 so my mind was made up - it’s mine and I’m going to own it!

That's a great pay rise . Go for it .

@Topgearmate

Thank you all, today I accepted the position. The way I see it is I can only give it a go otherwise I’d spend the rest of my life saying ‘what if’.

I imagined seeing someone else in the role and realised I’d feel really jealous 😂 so my mind was made up - it’s mine and I’m going to own it!

How wonderful! Congrats on your new job OP.

Yay 😀 good for you