Unsociable hours

[greencreeper]

In the context of employment and shifts, do unsociable hours exist anymore, or are they a relic from the days of the Unions?

What about remuneration for such shifts - is extra pay justified, and how much extra?

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

I know people who work shifts and they get a night premium of a 1/3

[jellybaby]

My wifes a nurse and she still gets paid unsociable hours.

[greencreeper]

I've been saying that it's a hang-over from the 70s and the Unions - dodgy meetings in pubs, over lager and fags. A shift is a shift these days - doesn't matter when it is. Interesting that the concept still exists.

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

you could still be right, the NHS and manufacturing are not exactly up to date

[Angua]

Without the extra money for a night shift most people wouldn't risk the associated health problems night shift workers are prone to, nor put up with the antisocialness of nights!

[greencreeper]

Even with the extra money, my lot aren't interested!

I don't see that it is anti-social. I can finish at 10:00, change at work, and be out strutting my stuff on the dance floor by 10:30 (read: sat in a corner, sipping a drink, looking bored, by 10:30). As for health - I think that's largely confined to those working after midnight who stuff themselves with microwave meals.

[bw41101]

Absolutely! there are still places that continue with long hour shifts. A typical example are the poor beggars working within the amusement arcades at most seaside resorts.

I know, because (being a Blackpool resident) I used to work within that particular industry until I finally saw the light and got out. 25 years ago the average working week was 55 hours from 08:00 hours to 23:00 hours 7 days a week. I would imagine it's even worse now as many arcades stay open until 02:00 hrs and beyond - long days!

Back in those days I worked for a well known company and (believe it or not) WE were the only technicians (within the industry) which fought for and won union recognition (EETPU). With that, we achieved a (fixed hours) working week, premium rates for working public holidays and proper holiday entitlements. Unfortunately those privileges don't exist now - diluted to zero (over the years) by unscrupulous employers and feeble minded employees with no backbone.

Just a tip for anyone who might consider going into that industry - don't, especially if you value your social life, friends and your marriage. Anyway the salaries (from what I've heard from contacts I know within the industry) still are cr*p

Si thee

[Anonymouse]

Originally Posted by greencreeper

As for health - I think that's largely confined to those working after midnight who stuff themselves with microwave meals.

It's more a question of adjusting to sleep patterns completely contrary to millions of years of evolution - not everyone can adjust - and the effects it has on neurochemistry. Night shift working has been identified as a possible contributing factor in some people to a number of diseases and illnesses, as described here. The drop in melanin levels because you're asleep during the day and awake at night doesn't help either.

And at our place we don't even get 1/3 - we get 30%, thanks to our skinflint poxy company. After following that link myself, I'm wondering if even 1/3 is enough to justify it...

I'm fairly sure that in this country at least, by law night shift workers must be paid a shift allowance; 1/3 is the usual if you're working for a halfway decent firm. What that says about Home Delivery Network Ltd. is obvious. Unsocial hours are defined as being between 10pm and 6am. And it is unsocial; even with extended licensing hours, the only time anyone working 10-6 will see the inside of a pub is at the weekend or on nights off.

[alferret]

I have only ever worked unsociable hours for 1 company and that was back in the mid-eighties. It was a 2-10 shift and for that we got paid and extra tenner a shift, 50 quid a week was worth working those later hours then.
Today I wouldnt work past 6pm and would never contemplate nights.

[slowcoach]

I am a self-employed software developer and when I started my business I used to work during the day but invariably I would be unable to solve a problem so I would pack it in for the day, suddenly at 10.00 pm the answer would come to me and I would get back on the job and work through the night. I soon realised that I was much more productive at night so I started “doing nights” all the time.
Mind you it's not like doing a physical job, after a few hours kip I can go out and about during the day.

Funny thing is, there was a famous mathematician on the TV who said that just because I am a mathematician people think I can just sit down and write a solution but usually I struggle all day with a problem then at 10.00 pm the answer suddenly comes to me, I thought it was quite ironic that he mentioned 10.00 pm.

[Angua]

There is a big difference between a late shift and a night shift! antisocial hours used to be graded depending on the time, before 8am was antisocial and after 6pm then the second tier of antisocial hours were after 10pm to midnight then between midnight and 6am.
Before they moved the goal posts where hubby worked he used to get a 58% night shift allowance & days got 38%. Now it is a flat rate payment!

[lostandconfused]

i work in a nightclub, working 21:00 - 4:30, dont get antisocial pay and am expected to work public holidays. But then again i supose you if know what your signing up to you cant really complain later on.

[Chorlton]

I work in the chemical industry, 12hr shifts, days and nights, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year (not every day obviously - it's quite a good system as we get regular 18 day breaks and 4 days off between sets of 4 shifts - 2 days, 2 nights). The extra pay for unsocial hours plus other extras accounts for about 30% of pay. Sounds good but long shifts and night working is no good to anybody, but until we get robot replacements (or golems for DW readers) there's no other option.

[Halcyon]

I know some friends who work awful hours as they work at the airport and have to start some shifts at 3.00am.
I personally could not do that and once you have a family, I think it is near impossible to do this type of work.