Working two nights then two days - does it work? Or is it awful?

[Glückspliz13]

Employer changing our shifts at work to 4 days on, 4 days off (two days then two nights, 12 hour shifts). It sounds awful currently, but does it work for you? How do you 'transition' between shifts? I've got Pre teen kids and wonder if I'd always be too tired to be present with them? DH is self employed so has limited flexibility. Thanks P.S I'm not sure how voting works

DH did similar until recently. Those 4 days you're working will be pretty much written off - 12 hours means by the time you get home it's dinner, bath and bed!

Night to might sleep as long as you can, and only give yourself 4 hours into a day off.

It sounds bloody awful in my opinion

Yes that's a fairly typical shift pattern for someone working days and nights. I've done it myself before. I found it better than the alternative of 4 day shifts, 4 off, 4 night shifts, 4 off. Although the last night where you working till 6am counts as an off day! The rules are along the lines of needing at least 11hours off between shifts (doesn't include commuting), and when switching from nights back to days then you need a full 24 hours recovery (possible more than this, was never a factor with the 4 off).

To transition from nights to days after the final shift I'd only allow myself to have about 3-4 hours sleep at most, then try and get to bed by midnight to try and get back into days. I know other people just stayed up and went to bed early, I could never do that! It's also important to make the most of the 'day off' in the middle of it all - try and do something useful or fun as opposed to just waiting to goto work in the evening.

I hated shifts though, thankfully managed to change my role slightly so I'm not rota'd to work past 2am which is soooo much better than 6!!

I’m following for any practical advice. I’m soon to be starting 6 on 4 off shifts of 9 hours (plus likely overtime): 2 mornings, 2 afternoons, 2 nights.

I’ve never worked nights or shifts before and Im a bit terrified as to how I’ll cope!

What was your shift pattern before?
There's a move to do the shift pattern you describe at my trust - most are in favour as staff will no longer do 4 long days or nights on the trot, and we are moving to 4 on 5 off as the day you finish the nightshift is classed as rest after night and not a full rest day.
The fire brigade have gone this pattern for years too.

Did that for years, not the worst!

2 early shifts - afternoon doing whatever you want to do and bed as normal
Early to lates - slightly later bedtime and whatever you want to do in the morning before work
Lates to nights - finish work and stay up as late as possible (3/4am is great) sleep all day, dinner etc before work
Nights - day off - 4 hours and up.

My DH sometimes does nights followed by days. If it's one after the other he'd finish by 3am (wfh) and be expected in his place of work at noon the next day. He copes. It's not ideal. With young DC it does mean that we both feel very stretched and exhausted almost all the time

I'm considering doing this voluntarily so following with interest!

I work night shifts but they are fixed days of the week in a two week repeating pattern. My biggest

Sorry seems to have cut off ...issue with this would be rolling through the days of the week so you can't reliably commit to anything e.g. taking kids to swimming lessons on a Tues night as sooner or later you will be at work. Partners can't commit to a regular shift while you have the kids either as your schedule is always moving.

All depends on where you are working, if it’s in a hospital working directive doesn’t apply..,it’s shit!

Thanks for the responses, my job is in higher education rather than in a hospital. I'm currently doing days with 'on call' every few weeks. I've previously worked five shifts a week e.g. days/nights/evenings which worked well while the kids were small (not so great for me as DH as we were like ships in the night) during school holidays etc. The trouble is it's quite well paid and I'd like to pay some debts off. Just wondering if I'd cope?

*for me and DH... typo

Yeah very tricky to commit to anything because of the shifts rolling 😩 For those who have done it, how many weekends did you get off I am 8 week period? Currently working every weekend which isn't great. Big question is what would you do?