I’ve worked 2nd (afternoon), swing (evening), and 3rd (overnight) shifts for the majority of my life. I recently moved into a training position where I’m Monday through Friday, 8am to ~5:30pm (I get OT while I’m cleaning up and writing reports).

As much as the 2nd/swing/3rd shifts screw with your life in other ways, the difficulty in scheduling any kind of life services outside of working hours is maddening. Doctor’s appointment? Nope. DMV? Maybe Saturday, if you’re lucky. Chaperone your kids field trip? Hahahhah no.

I don’t want to burn sick time for a doctor’s appointment (I need to save those for when my kid is actually sick), and I sure as hell don’t want to use up a “vacation” day for it. How tf are you supposed to get anything done?

  • ZombieCyborgFromOuterSpace@piefed.caEnglish
    35·
    5 days ago

    Honestly? It’s hard. I’d literally kill for a 4 day work week. It’s become ridiculous.

    My gf and I don’t even have kids. I can’t even imagine having kids to manage on top.

    My weekends I barely have time to socialize or engage in my hobbies or leisure. When I do, my weekend chores overflow on my Monday evening. I’m tired all the fucking time.

    It feels like a god damn cage.

    • otp@sh.itjust.works
      14·
      5 days ago

      Whenever I get a 3-day weekend, it feels like that’s how a normal weekend should be.

      When I get a 4-day weekend, it feels luxurious.

      Those 4-day work weeks are nearly as productive as the 5-day work weeks. Those 3-day work weeks are tight. But I could make it work if I really had to! Lmao

      • ZombieCyborgFromOuterSpace@piefed.caEnglish
        5·
        5 days ago

        Agree. 3 day weekends is the sweet spot.

        And besides, since I work from home, I spend half my time on Monday just trying to finish the laundry n shit and vacuum during lunch. I still get my work done.

    • expr@piefed.socialEnglish
      4·
      4 days ago

      I tried out a 4x10 work week for a while and it was alright, but not as great as I thought it would be. Mostly because I had effectively no time during the work week to get any household chores done, so we ended up just cramming everything into the weekend anyway, largely negating the purpose of having the extra day.

      But yeah, if I could do a 32 hour work week that would be incredible.