Have you ever worked 12-hour shifts on a 4 on 4 off?
Posted by PossessionComplex945@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 50 comments
Im starting a 12 hour night shift, 4 on 4 off, factory job tomorrow.
Pay is 40 per year, working Thursday to Sunday.
The job consists of maintaining assembly line flow.
Im 24 and not done these hours before. those of you that have experience doing similar shifts what job did you do/are you doing? And what advice would you give to make these shifts go easier?
BryOnRye@reddit
If you’re working Thursday to Sunday every week you’re only getting 3 off…
Material-Water-6892@reddit
Use some critical thinking mate, they work Thursday to Sunday, then get Monday to Thursday off the next week
They’re not on a weekly schedule they just work 4 then have the next 4 off and it repeats
BryOnRye@reddit
Funicular-@reddit
Is it 4 on 4 off? Or four days a week Thurs/Sunday? The post kinda implies both.......
LegitimateState9270@reddit
This is an old-school paramedic rota. Pretty grim in the middle, nice when you’re on your 4 days off! 4 days annual leave gets you 12 days off- pretty nice
LondonParamedic@reddit
Best rota there is. I know many people like the 2x earlies, 1x late, 1x night. But that just messes too much with my brain. I love my 4 on 4 off
Bose82@reddit
I do 7 on 7 off, so 7 days gets me 21 days off work. It's great, does feel like you have to re-learn the job for the first few days back though 😂
biffo120@reddit
Do/done it for over 9 years now, best pattern i ever had. I will go on days at some point but would still do 4 on 4 off. Best part is only have to use 4 days holiday for 12 days off.
jurwell@reddit
I did this shift for about 10 years.
Pros:
•Plenty of time off. You’re working less than half the days of the year including your annual leave. Booking 4 days holiday in the right place gives you 12 consecutive days off.
•The weeks where you’re rota’d in over the weekend (Thurs - Sun/Fri - Mon etc.) you have loads of time for getting stuff done when things are definitely open, as opposed to trying to wedge things into days that don’t really allow it, or use annual leave.
Cons:
•Night shifts aren’t easy on your body. It took me 3 months to get used to it, and even then it went through phases where I felt like shit for days on end.
•Not working the same pattern every week means you can’t make regular plans.
Now I’ve got a child I wouldn’t go back to it, but there are definitely parts I miss.
GlitteringEbb7363@reddit
Pretty much, yes. Bear in mind much of your free time will be spent recovering, but it is pretty nice to go and enjoy time at a cafe or gym mid week and feel like you've got the place to yourself.
Important_Ad716@reddit
I work 12 hour shifts on a 14 day on/14 day off rotation.
Patient-Guest-7612@reddit
I work 4 on 4 off. 12-hour shifts. 2 days 2 nights. Works well with an on average 37 days leave a year. Nights can be a pain at times. But its worth it and the shifts are generally much quieter.
bozwold@reddit
Because night work generally pays better I try take night shifts in winter with the mindset that it's dark most of the time anyway.
Your whole body is going to react to the change, if you've been days only for the first 24 years of your life, eating breakfast at 5pm, dinner at midnight and tea at 6am, also if you live in a terrace you'll hate everyone waking up when you're trying to go to sleep
Earplugs, blackout curtains and blinds are necessities
Billy_Daftcunt@reddit
I find drowning out the noise with white noise are better than earplugs.
Would definitely add sleep mask to the list.
bozwold@reddit
Yeah I agree, background noise is a valid method. Think it's finding what works best for you personally is the take away. Pitch black room is a must though especially in summer
EatingCoooolo@reddit
I used to work 12 hour shifts 8-8 five days a week sometimes even 6 days a week.
Then I used to work 12 hour shifts 2 day shifts and two night shifts then four days off - IT Support
Treat your days like normal when you get him imagine it’s 6pm chill for a but then go to bed at 10pm in your head probably like 12pm
CTLeafez@reddit
I did during COVID while working in one of the testing labs. Was hardcore and I’m glad I do a normal Monday to Friday 9-5 now.
hdruk@reddit
While you're on your focus needs to be work, commute, eat and sleep. Don't try to fit much more into those days, save it all for your off days. Whatever else you want to do on those days needs to be optional as it will be the thing you need to ditch if something unexpected comes up.
When I used to work similar kinds of shift patterns the people that really suffered and burnt out were the ones that tried to keep up with the same amount of non-work, non-sleep time in the days they were working as they'd done when they worked 8-9hrs per shift. Eventually that means you don't sleep enough which makes the next shift worse and it spirals from there.
Caveman1214@reddit
Don’t forget you’re sleeping into your day off. Nights are horrendous long term, this sounds like decent money and might be okay for a bit but I’d personally aim to get back onto days ASAP.
bbysamurai@reddit
I did this at my old job. Hated it while I did it as my shifts were 5am starts and I’d have to wake up at half 3 but I LOVED the 4 days off. I work 9-5 now and I still miss that pattern. 2 days isn’t enough for me to feel rested.
Nihilistic_Rainbow@reddit
I currently do it but only do days now which has made a massive difference.
Probably not something I’m going to be doing long term though, but the job has given me the opportunity to travel & have a whole month off work!
TheNorthernBaron@reddit
Nah I do 3x 12s a week. Wed, Thurs, Fri night's. Weekend off, Mon Tues wed days, week off. Repeat. I spent 25 years as a contractor working 6/7 days a week so it's like being unemployed now haha
Ill-Gas-4788@reddit
I used to do 4 on 4 off - you can't be doing Thurs-Sun every week though or it's only 3 off?
Straight nights or DDNN?
Work out what works for you, I did DDNN and found getting up in the morning but not too early before the first night, getting out and doing some exercise and then into bed after lunch for a couple of hours was what worked for me.
After the last night I'd get up about 12-1300 to flip back to a normal sleep pattern.
No-Television-9862@reddit
When I was younger I did, get some decent blinds that blackout your window, a fan to block out noise, when you get home get a shower and go straight to bed don’t put the tv on or anything or you’ll be in day mode still, on shift mentally split your shift up in segments, waiting for home time will make your shift draggg
srogijogi@reddit
Yes. Avoid if you can.
Anal-Scrubs-905@reddit
I used to like doing that shift pattern when working manufacturing, though didn't do nights.
You get used to the long hours after a while. Although you get 4 days off, the first day I was usually so knackered I didn't do much. On the bright side, essentially you work about 6 months of the year, and that doesn't take into account annual leave. As long as the work itself isn't too soul destroying I don't think it's a bad deal tbh.
ThereAndFapAgain2@reddit
I used to work for Manchester City Council when I was about 20-21, and I'd work 7 12 hour days back to back and then have the next 7 days off.
It was great, I loved it. Now working 12 hour shifts is a bit exhausting.
The best advice I can give you is to try to stay busy or the days will drag, if you can go for a pint after work every now and again to wind down so you aren't just getting up early, going to work, going home and sleeping and then back to work, that can really wear you down, and just keep in mind that once you are done, in your case you will have 4 full days to do whatever you want.
lonewolfdarkworld@reddit
That's normal in the security industry. Only problem is when I work 12h shifts 4 days in a row I struggle to get good sleep and by the time I get home I have to go straight to sleep for next day.
DamMofoUsername@reddit
12 night shifts in a lab running samples, from pipeline to baby sitting machines and it wasn’t the life for me. Working with great people, getting 2 free meals per shift and expenses but it didn’t suit my lifestyle.
Bose82@reddit
I do 12 hours 7 on 7 off.
Depends on your workload how stressful/tiring it Is. I love the rotation personally, loads of family time and time to do whatever I want. It's a LOT better than a shitty mon-fri 9-5 work week. I did that for about a year and I couldn't stand it.
Achieve2Receive@reddit
Before I moved to the UK, I had a factory job in the US that had me working 12/7. I was loaded but absolutely miserable and ended up quitting for a 10/7 instead just before moving here.
HangTheError@reddit
I've been working that pattern for 10 years and I love it. 12 hours shifts spare me extra commutes and early mornings because it's less days at work, as a trade off for longer days. Whilst I'm at work I don't have time for anything else, but when you're days off you have enough time to go away for a few nights, or get some house projects done, catch up on what you couldn't do whilst working. The 24 hours off between days and nights can be tricky to get right, some people stay up late after the second day shift and sleep in late. I personally wake up early and go for a 2/3 hour nap before the first night. It suits me well, but I've had some work mates who couldn't stand it.
FileOk556@reddit
Give a try and see. The main thing that affected me was because it's an 8 day cycle, the days of the week won't line up, so for instance you can't play football every Sunday
jaammeess8@reddit
I work 12 hour shifts every day for 4 months, honestly about a month in my mind and body just kinda zone out 75% of the time.
robt69er@reddit
I used to do this working in IT. Deffo dragged but 4 days off is mint. Wouldn't recommend doing it forever, you will miss evenings and mornings
These-Box4907@reddit
Yeah i done it for about 5 years although my shifts were 0700-2200 so 15 hours. Its a bit shit for work life balance if your mates work a standard Monday to friday role but I actually found it quite nice. I even got to a stage where id finish my shifts and be at the airport first thing the following day for a couple of days away.
Minimum_Airline3657@reddit
I used to do 14 days on 7 days off , it's a killer. Been for many 7am Wetherspoons pints lol
DutchOfBurdock@reddit
Start getting used to the fubar sleep pattern early. You'll find the first week draining as heck, but your body and mind will adjust. It's when these shifts stop, it's harder getting back into a usual routine.
Power naps are key. Get as much sleep as you can when you can. 12 hours constantly going will drain you, even a 20 year old.
TheRebelPercy@reddit
Yes.
Although used to do 3 x 12 hours and then do 2 x 12 hours overtime every week.
The money was fantastic but it isn’t sustainable.
djdavies82@reddit
I worked at a place that done that shift pattern, but every few weeks (can't remember how many off the top ofy head) you would get a week off paid, which meant we had almost half a year off. Wasn't that bad but 12 hours in winter can be brutal, wake up it's dark, finish work it's dark. Only time you see the sun is on break.
ahoneybadger3@reddit
I work 11.5 hour shifts, 4 on 4 off, switched to permanent nights 3 months ago.
It's not too bad. First day off feels wasted though and then switching back into night shift mode on the last day can be hit or miss on how much sleep you manage to get.
I'm onto day number 4 of being off this week and really struggled with getting into any sort of sleep routine. Woke up at 4am this morning. Hopefully grab a few hours sleep this evening and then pull an all nighter ready to sleep all day tomorrow.
RichardsonM24@reddit
I did this doing covid testing during the pandemic and didn’t mind it. I don’t think I’d feel the same about it now I’m 30 and have a toddler.
The best times were when I worked Monday-Thursday and had long weekends. The worst times were when my 4 days included Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
12 days off for 4 days annual leave was also great.
Keycuk@reddit
I did it for 6 years as a bus driver, mine was a rolling 4x4 so you had to work 4 weekends in a row but had 4 off. Great for holidays, once you get used to it was okay
EyeAware3519@reddit
I did it for 8 years. At your age it's fine but don't look at it long term, I had to give it up once I got to 35 as it was affecting my health.
I do miss my days off though. 2 days off in 7 is nowhere near enough.
MountainMuffin1980@reddit
4 on 4 off is great. Night shift work is shit. It's really bad for your health, makes it hard to meet a partner/maintain a relationship, and makes it very difficult to socialise and get into new hobbies. Certainly fine for a year or 2 but not long term, it's just not worth it.
FunkyLuc@reddit
When I was 26 I used to do 6 on 3 off and migrating shifts. The nights, for me were the absolute worst brother. I was a zombie for 4 years. Also depending on your home situation, you gotta sleep when people are up and around. And social life is really hard to maintain. So basically, I was a lonely very tired zombie. But I also worked with some guys that loved it and they were in their 40’s and 50’s.
Tactical-Chunderer@reddit
Not quite, but I did a Monday-Thursday 10 hours for a couple of years. It’s fine, you do have to accept that you cannot burn the candle at both ends but it is do-able. Eat well, get your sleep pattern sorted, and (if you can) save every penny you can so that you can afford to come off the shifts.
bsnimunf@reddit
Just give it a go. I loved it 4 days off is amazing and worth the 4 days of 12 hours work. Other people are the opposite and can't stand it.
My biggest concern would be the monotony of assembly line flow. I cant do that type of work it at all I find it mentally painful. Spoke to a line manager in a car factory about it, he said lots of people just can't cope with the boredom and they leave despite it being a very well paid job for the skill level 45k plus overtime with good perks .
Material-Water-6892@reddit
4 on 4 off sounds amazing tbh
ZeroCool5577@reddit
I would love to try 4 on 4 off but I would never do night shift work. Can be very bad for your health.