Working nights- should you earn extra per hour or same rate as day????

[tiredemma]

Hope someone can help me.

HAve been offered a job today very local to my house ( therefore involves NO travelling to and from work)

Its night work in a care home, but when I phoned them back this afternoon to check out a few things, it would appear that night staff are payed the same hourly rate as day staff.

I thought that most comapnies pay extra for nights???

I really want the job as it would be perfect- but it would be such a massive drop compared to what im earning now.

any help?

I know its usual (I think) to get extra for working shifts - not sure if its for permanent nights ??

I don't work in a care home but we're staffed 24hrs. The basic rate is the same whenever you work, but after 10pm you get an additional night premium (£1.80ph), I'm not sure what time it stops. Maybe they do something similar?

Yes, there should be extra for nights, absolutely.

Are you expected to be up all night or do you have a staff bedroom where you can sleep and only have to get up to attend to a resident if disturbed.

Absolutely you should earn more for nights.

Ill have to call them again tomorrow, woman ( receptionist ) said it was same, but dp said surely that cant be right.
Hardly an incentive to work nights is it??
Its for a large national company aswell, surprised if they do pay their night staff peanuts.

no sleeping allowed- instant dismissal if caught snoozing.

im sure they do have to pay more for nights. dh used to work shifts and waspaid 1.33% ph for the night shift.

I work nights for the nhs & the rate is time & a third. Well done on the job

im hoping therefore, that the receptionist didnt have a clue and is wrong. Otherwise ill have to decline on the job. which is a pisser!! - Its Bupa- I would be really surprised if it is normal rate. Hope not.

That's crap then. I wouldn't do it for a day rate.
It is just taking advantage of the saving two parent families would make on not paying childcare costs if one partner works days.
I work nights (2nd of four coming up tonight)and the physical and mental strain is seriously not worth it unless there is a financial reward.
Even with a financial incentive nights are tough.

My dh works 15 hour nights - no extra pay, no proper meal break. But he's a firefighter and apparently that makes it OK

Firefighters earn a decent wage though which is inflated to take account of work rotas which include unsociable hours.

saggar - is he not able to sleep during that time? My friend ex is a fireman and his shift could sleep but had to be "ready" if the calls came

Inflated? Around £10 an hour for risking your life.

No beds anymore, no kitchen (only kettle and microwave). Stood down for 5 hours, that means emergencys only.

firefighters, like nurses in the NHS then get shat upon by govt and are expected to do work that most people wouldnt touch with a bargepole for a pittance.

Think I am going to start a thread asking if anyone knows anyone who works nights for BUPA.

The 'hightlight' of one of dh's recent shifts was a call to an asylum seeker family who were in the process of being detained by immigration.

Mum and dad had doused the kids in petrol and mum had slashed her wrists

Don't work in the NHS anymore, but when I did, it was unsocial extra payment after 8 pm till 7 am I think. Worked nights for a Looooong time. Same reasons as you, tiredemma, so you have my sympathy. Something that was discussed before I left was the idea of one rate of pay and everyone doing internal rotation, ie, so many weeks days, then so many nights, etc, so everyone got the chance to earn extra, theoretically. In my cynical moments I concluded this was a more positive move from an admin/cost saving perspective than being fair!

It also totally disregarded the point that there are very few people who just love doing night duty. It is damn hard! But with small children, a need to earn money and very little options in childcare, you just do the best you can. Even when you feel permanently tired.

So if they aren't paying any extra for doing nights, you may find they expect you to do days as well? Do you have the job advert you can check?

Sorry tiredemma - hijacked your thread. BUPA might be a better bet.

£10 an hour is almost twice as much as a night care worker on a day rate would get down here.
Care workers on that minimum wage would also be very unlikely to get holiday, sick and pension benefits to match those of firefighters.

No way, that'#s crap. most care homes, even really really crap ones, offer an increment for night shifts, in recognition of the fact that night shift in a care home are downright gruelling.

well i really hope she was wrong. Its minimum wage as it is, dont really want to work a 12 hr night shift for £65.00.