Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Job choice - what would you do?

22 replies

UKhomemaker · 28/08/2021 14:09

Which is easier to fit "normal" life around - shift work or 9-5?

I'm getting older and just want to have some sort of routine in my life .... as boring as that sounds. 2 jobs in similar settings with similar-ish pay. Both in challenging behaviour complex care units.

Job 1 - Team Leader. Shift work. 40 hours a week contract. One 24 hour shift per week plus a couple of shorter shifts.

Pros - mid week days off.
Cons - 24 hour shifts. Low staffing so working maybe 50 / 60 hours a week.

Job 2 - Team Leader. 40 hours a week contract. Monday to Friday 9-5 On call week on week off.

Pros - No long shifts.
Cons - apparently challenging staff. No mid week days off.

YABU - Shift work
YANBA - 9-5

OP posts:
AlbertBridge · 28/08/2021 14:11

I couldn't even contemplate 24-hour shift!

What does "on call" in the other job mean? That EOW you'd be required to work after you've gone your 9-5 hours?

HurryUpAndWait23 · 28/08/2021 14:13

I've done both and whilst there are perks of shift work, for example getting housework done, I prefer the 9-5.

It was a real novelty getting in at dinner time and having time with everyone before bedtimes started.
But finding time to get stuff done was a bit more of a juggle.

Original poster
UKhomemaker · 28/08/2021 14:14

@AlbertBridge

I couldn't even contemplate 24-hour shift!

What does "on call" in the other job mean? That EOW you'd be required to work after you've gone your 9-5 hours?

On call is Monday to Friday 9pm to 7am to find cover if night staff ring in sick - if cover can't be found you then work the night shift as a sleeper. Also to be telephoned (and potentially come in) if there is an incident that night staff can't handle.
OP posts:
icedcoffees · 28/08/2021 14:14

Definitely Job 2.

Getting out of shift work was the best thing I ever did.

GoodVibesHere · 28/08/2021 14:23

Well 9-5 is more 'standard' isn't it, so obviously job 2 is the more sociable job. It sounds much easier than the shift job, I couldn't hack that.

Original poster
UKhomemaker · 28/08/2021 14:28

@HurryUpAndWait23

I've done both and whilst there are perks of shift work, for example getting housework done, I prefer the 9-5.

It was a real novelty getting in at dinner time and having time with everyone before bedtimes started.
But finding time to get stuff done was a bit more of a juggle.

I work shifts now and struggle to get my housework done - I don't work set days & can't seem to get myself into a routine. I do like my mid weeks days off (my partner works rolling shifts so sometimes our mid week days off match up) but the downside is I'm shattered on my days off with the long shifts.
OP posts:
Original poster
UKhomemaker · 28/08/2021 18:08

@icedcoffees

Definitely Job 2.

Getting out of shift work was the best thing I ever did.

I've been doing shift work for a while now but not the 24 hour shifts. I was torn because technically I should be doing 4 days a week on the shift job but 5 days a week on the 9-5 job.
OP posts:
icedcoffees · 28/08/2021 18:10

For me it's not a 4/5 day a week thing, but the certainty of knowing your days off in advance. It makes planning life so much easier!

But it also helps that DH is in a typical 9-5 job so I wanted to have our weekends back too. It's a bit tougher if your OH is also on shift work.

Cabbagewhites · 28/08/2021 18:17

I am assuming you would get to sleep during the 24h shift??!
If so, struggling to see much difference between being on call and doing a 24h shift?

If they’re likely to call you a lot when on call, I’d go for job 1. Being expected to cover night emergencies for a whole week, every other week, sounds awful.

Original poster
UKhomemaker · 28/08/2021 18:35

@icedcoffees

For me it's not a 4/5 day a week thing, but the certainty of knowing your days off in advance. It makes planning life so much easier!

But it also helps that DH is in a typical 9-5 job so I wanted to have our weekends back too. It's a bit tougher if your OH is also on shift work.

The ideal of knowing what days I would be working is amazing .... currently I find out on Thursday what I'm working the next week which makes planning near impossible.
OP posts:
StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 28/08/2021 19:12

My MIL works 24 hr shifts and has lots of free time for appointments and caring for gc. Dh works 4x12 hr shifts (2 days followed by 2 nights) and he prefers it. He previously had 7-3 with being on call once a week and every 4th weekend. He gets his shift plan in november for the following year jan - dec so plenty of notice for planning. However the wrap around care at school is great and I can drop off and pick up if needed. I do feel sometimes like a weekend was wasted if he was working but pff.

Original poster
UKhomemaker · 28/08/2021 20:26

@Cabbagewhites

I am assuming you would get to sleep during the 24h shift??! If so, struggling to see much difference between being on call and doing a 24h shift?

If they’re likely to call you a lot when on call, I’d go for job 1. Being expected to cover night emergencies for a whole week, every other week, sounds awful.

It is a day shift followed by a waking night shift.

They get a call maybe once a month and the current TL there has had to cover 1 night shift in the last 5 months.

OP posts:
Original poster
UKhomemaker · 29/08/2021 06:50

@StrictlyAFemaleFemale

My MIL works 24 hr shifts and has lots of free time for appointments and caring for gc. Dh works 4x12 hr shifts (2 days followed by 2 nights) and he prefers it. He previously had 7-3 with being on call once a week and every 4th weekend. He gets his shift plan in november for the following year jan - dec so plenty of notice for planning. However the wrap around care at school is great and I can drop off and pick up if needed. I do feel sometimes like a weekend was wasted if he was working but pff.
Its one 24 hour shift then other shorter shifts. So maybe a 24 on Monday into Tuesday then a 12 on Wednesday and another 12 on Friday.

I don't know if it is a case of assuming the non-shift work grass is greener!

OP posts:
Humblpi · 29/08/2021 06:54

I did weird working hours for years but with DD its much better to be on that same routine as almost everyone else. I can see myself going back to shift work when she's flown the nest maybe.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 29/08/2021 06:58

In theory shift work sounds better but it's not.

I started work at 3am this week. So after work I'd have time to do all the stuff I wanted to.

In reality I was too tired to do much at all 😂 same last week when I was on night shifts.

17 years of rotating shifts and tbh I'd love to go back to 9 to 5, being permanently tired is no fun

Original poster
UKhomemaker · 30/08/2021 21:05

@Chesneyhawkes1

In theory shift work sounds better but it's not.

I started work at 3am this week. So after work I'd have time to do all the stuff I wanted to.

In reality I was too tired to do much at all 😂 same last week when I was on night shifts.

17 years of rotating shifts and tbh I'd love to go back to 9 to 5, being permanently tired is no fun

I'm the same on my shifts now ....... get home and am too tired to do anything!

My main concern with 9-5 is that my partner works a rolling 4 on 4 off rota which wouldn't align with my hours.

OP posts:
Chesneyhawkes1 · 01/09/2021 20:26

@UKhomemaker hmmm that makes it a more difficult choice.

My DH works the same days as me and roughly the same shift times, apart from nights.

I've had 3 days off work and normal sleep times and I feel great today 😂

I feel my tolerance for shift work and lack of sleep is getting less as I get older 🤦‍♀️

RedHelenB · 01/09/2021 20:33

The troublesome team seems a worry? Where did you get the best give from?

AlbertBridge · 02/09/2021 11:07

My main concern with 9-5 is that my partner works a rolling 4 on 4 off rota which wouldn't align with my hours.

I'd do what was best for me. Your partner's job might change.

How often would your partner have all their days off on weekdays? It wouldn't be every week, would it? Maybe work that out first. Occasionally you'd be free all weekend and they'd be working all weekend, but not very often, I don't think..? My brain has gone so I can't calculate that! 😂

DynamoKev · 02/09/2021 11:13

They both look like a nightmare - maximum respect from me for considering either.

YouJustDoYou · 02/09/2021 11:22

I'd rather do a 9-5 at a push, were I child free/or had the childcare available to do it.

Original poster
UKhomemaker · 04/09/2021 09:33

@AlbertBridge

My main concern with 9-5 is that my partner works a rolling 4 on 4 off rota which wouldn't align with my hours.

I'd do what was best for me. Your partner's job might change.

How often would your partner have all their days off on weekdays? It wouldn't be every week, would it? Maybe work that out first. Occasionally you'd be free all weekend and they'd be working all weekend, but not very often, I don't think..? My brain has gone so I can't calculate that! 😂

I can't calculate the weekend thing either! Although my partner just reminded me that I'll have annual leave so could book mid week days off (he gets his shifts 6 months in advance) so we could still have days out - just less spur of the moment.
OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page