Shift work vs Mon-Fri?

[DitchPanda]

So yeah this may be an odd question but here is the background. I've been working at a biorefinery for about 8 years. I started as an operator1 and have worked my way up to plant technician 3. The GM recently offered me a chance to work as lead operator Monday thru Friday. No more 12s or weekends or Holidays. Plus ill get to focus more on real plant stuff instead of monotonous samples,trucks etc. Sounds like a no brainer right? The catch is right now I work 7 days out of 14 and this would be 10 out of 14 plus no weekdays off...this is the part I'm struggling with. So for those that have done both which do you prefer and why...shift or mon-fri?

[slonezp]

What pays better?

[jimmyjoe]

   Are you single? Do whatever you please.

   Are you married? Do what's best for your family.                           jj

[DitchPanda]

3 minutes ago, slonezp said:

What pays better?

Pay will be pretty much the same...within a grand of what I'm making now

1 minute ago, jimmyjoe said:

   Are you single? Do whatever you please.

   Are you married? Do what's best for your family.                           jj

I don't have kids but I have a live in girlfriend who in all reality is my wife just not legally. She gave me the go ahead to do whatever I want

[slonezp]

If the money is negligible and you like the way things are currently, then why change. If there is no benefit, there is no benefit. 

[Bluebasser86]

I've been working midnights for over a decade because it's what I prefer and it works for my family. I get all kinds of hassle about it from command staff on why don't I go to days or do something else. It's what I like to do, it works for my family, someone has to do it, why not me?

[gunsinger]

Me?  I’m a M-F kinda guy but, working 3 extra days in a 2 week period for little difference in pay doesn’t bait my hook. 
 

I think what you have to ask yourself is, “Which position offers the best future for you?”  Sounds like you’ve been moving up the ladder. If you stay where you are, does that remove the rungs above you?  And, if so, do you care?

[roadwarrior]

It sounds like management has their eye on you...in a very good way. Move on

with them and move up!

[Dwight Hottle]

Don't be afraid to negotiate & communicate.  Ask your boss if you can perform the new job but keep your current schedule. Let him know your willing to work an odd schedule in order to get more week days off. That will tell him you appreciate the offer and are willing to work with him if he can work with you. 

[flyfisher]

If this is a lateral move then as others have stated it is really up to you what you want to do.  If it is a promotion or a lateral move that is a more leadership oriented role and that is what you want to do then that us the decision to be made.

 

If it is a promotion, albeit with minimal salary, I have seen many people decline those types of positions and not be offered them again.

[DaubsNU1]

Which has better opportunity for promotion / growth?

 

When my kids were young, having a Monday-Friday / 7-4 PM job was great...helped me get them to and from school, and activities.  Now that they are in college, shift work doesn't look so bad...

 

I've always worked the "day job" / M-F. Wife is a nurse practitioner, technically does 3 twelve hour shifts per week. She's there 6 AM, sometimes get home around 7, or as late as 9 PM. 

 

Her schedule fluctuates as they have to cover weekends (no nights). For example...she worked Wednesday through Sunday...then she has 9 days off(!).  She will then work three days in a row...then have two days off...then four days...and I think five off. She probably works two weekends a month. 

 

Depends on what fits your schedule best, and gives you opportunity for advancement. 

[E-rude dude]

I have worked at my current job for 17 years nights, weekends, holidays. It is the best paying driving job in this area. After putting up with their ridiculous “safety” restrictions. That have nothing to do with safety and everything to do with “corporate” job security. I am walking away. 
The money wasn’t worth the 17 years of lost family time I will never get back. They treat us like imbeciles that could not tie our own shoes without a video to guide us. 60-70 hours a week and no family time. In the end the money didn’t make that any easier to tolerate.

Just my 2 cents.

[12poundbass]

19 hours ago, slonezp said:

What pays better?

How’s your new gig working out? 

[slonezp]

3 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

How’s your new gig working out? 

Been at the new gig for a little over a year. We had a managers meeting at the end of the first quarter. I had the highest growth YTD, MTD, FYTD, and 12 months rolling out of 10 stores. Still have plenty of work to do to get sales where they need to be to get me off guarantee but it's been easier than I thought. 

[DitchPanda]

Well I thought about this position for two weeks and finally made my mind up. I accepted the offer. The money is only slightly better but I liked the idea of no holidays, weekends or 14 hour days during shutdown. Yeah I have less days off but I have a short commute so I should be home by 345 most days so that leaves time in the evenings for mowing, grilling and of course fishing.  Things I cant really do getting home at 730 or 8.Also it positions me perfectly for a day shift supervisor position if one comes open and I decide I want it. So yes this is better for growth...I may not want the next promotion but I want to get asked and turn it down instead of getting passed over completely.

13 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Don't be afraid to negotiate & communicate.  Ask your boss if you can perform the new job but keep your current schedule. Let him know your willing to work an odd schedule in order to get more week days off. That will tell him you appreciate the offer and are willing to work with him if he can work with you. 

This unfortunately is not in the cards. They were willing to work with me on money and schedule somewhat but the basis of this job is to have somebody reliable there Monday thru Friday with the management team when the projects are getting done.

[Krux5506]

For years I worked shift work, often mixed hours nights and days, sometimes weekend nights until 2am or so. I never thought I would be able to adapt to a job with a normal Mon-Fri 7am to 3:30pm schedule but I've been doing it almost 10 years now and love the "normal" hours. Yes sometimes I wish I had days off in the middle of the week to go get some quiet fishing in but having actual weekends off just makes life so much easier with a family now. 

[TnRiver46]

I like to work as much as possible (while still being able to hang out with Rachel and fish) on whatever days as long as it’s not dark outside. I’m sleepy enough as it is at 3 PM, don’t recall ever seeing a 3 AM

[ironbjorn]

Unless the pay raise is significant, I always choose the best schedule for me, my kids, and my fiance. My son lives with me, and I get my daughters every other weekend. I work Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 6pm-4:30am. This works out for my girls because I'll always be available to have them Friday evening to Sunday evening on my weekends. It works out for my fiance because she also has Thursday off. It works out for me because I get the best days of the week off. It works out for my son because I get 3 entire days off with him. So I guess my point is, if the pay raise is significant (whatever significant means to you), it's something to consider. If not, absolutely keep the schedule that makes you and those in your life happier.

[DitchPanda]

3 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

Unless the pay raise is significant, I always choose the best schedule for me, my kids, and my fiance. My son lives with me, and I get my daughters every other weekend. I work Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 6pm-4:30am. This works out for my girls because I'll always be available to have them Friday evening to Sunday evening on my weekends. It works out for my fiance because she also has Thursday off. It works out for me because I get the best days of the week off. It works out for my son because I get 3 entire days off with him. So I guess my point is, if the pay raise is significant (whatever significant means to you), it's something to consider. If not, absolutely keep the schedule that makes you and those in your life happier.

That's exactly what I did. The pay increase was insignificant so that ended up not being a deciding factor. What made me decide to take it was having weekends and holidays off to spend with family. Also I get off at 330 so I can still fish weekday evenings spring thru fall. Another thing was I get away from some of the humdrum boring stuff and get involved in more projects. Also going to shorter shifts means yes I work more days a year but since I have to take less pto to have a day off I now accrue 21 vaca days a year. Lastly my girlfriend was super happy that we can do normal things like mowing or eating dinner before 730-8...which we can't do working 12s. So I weighed pros and cons...there was about 6 pros and the only con was no weekdays off. Therefore I had to make the sacrifice and take it.

[CrankFate]

Sounds like you made the right choice. I have to go with @roadwarrior on this. The new schedule means they’re going to be seeing a lot more of you. If they didn’t like you, they wouldn’t want to see you day after day.