Pros and Cons of Working Third Shift
Pro: You can run errands quickly first thing in the morning. Right about the time you're getting off work, banks and grocery stores are opening for business. Working third shift means you'll never have to wait in line for things like a haircut, because everyone else will be at work when you go to get it done.
Con: The flip side of getting to run errands while everyone else is at work is that some errands have to be run in the middle of the day. Going to a class or a tough-to-schedule doctor's appointment means you'll lose serious sleep that day. When you work midnights, a 2:00 p.m. vet visit feels like a 2:00 a.m. nightmare.
Pro: Most companies offer a sweet shift premium for working third shift. For example, I make $11.00 per hour during the day, and $14.00 per hour for overnights. My company hasn't seen me in daylight in more than a month. Expect to make fifty cents to several dollars more an hour for working those hours no one else wants.
Con: You might raise your income bracket, but you won't get to go out and spend your extra money very often. (This could actually be positive if you're looking to save money or get out of debt.)
Pro: Working midnights typically means you'll be with a smaller group of people in a quieter environment, and you'll automatically understand each others' unique, third-shift lifestyle. You're very likely to form a closer bond with your co-workers than you would on a normal shift.
Con: It's a good thing you and your coworkers will bond, because you'll have very little outside social life. It's hard to convince new friends that 8:00 a.m. breakfasts are the best way to hang out, so your "real" social life will be limited to your days off. Unless you meet other people with a similar schedule, breakfasts with co-workers might be all you get. And kiss dating good-bye.
Pro: If you're already a night owl, working third shift is a great way to stay up all night and get away with it. If your most productive hours fall during the night, why not switch your schedule to take advantage of your normal body rhythms?
Con: If you're not careful, working third shift can lead to a lack of sunlight exposure. We need a certain amount of sunlight every day for Vitamin D and to fight off depression. If you do start working midnights and find yourself getting depressed, take a ten minute walk when the sun comes up to give yourself a natural pick-me-up.
Published by Esther November
Esther November is the pen name of a short fiction writer who has also written over 300 non-fiction articles for web and print media. She also teaches writing online for Ashford University. View profile
- Making the Transition to Working Overnight My mother recently started a job that requires she work third shift -- after working days for years.
- Adjusting to a Change in Work Shifts Offering methods to American shift workers to reduce fatigue associated with second and third shift employment.
- 10 Tips Regarding the Pros and Cons of Being Your Own Boss 10 Tips Regarding The Pros and Cons of Being Your Own Boss
- A New Writer on the Horizon I'm a big dreamer anyway. I say that because when I chose to work third shift instead of sleeping at night like normal people, I used still had time to dream. I would talk to my co-worker about how much I wanted to
- The Pros and Cons of Using a Tanning Bed Read this informative article and learn about the Pros and Cons of using a tanning bed!
- What Everyone Should Know About Working Third Shift
- Shift Employment Impacts Bone Health and Irregular Menstrual Cycles in Women
- Pros and Cons of Working as a Freelancer or Independent Consultant
- Top Five Careers of the Night
- Improving Sleep Deprivation in the Second and Third Shift Worker
- The Third Shift
- 8 Ways to Make Sleeping During the Day Easier
|
|
- Be first in line for all your errands!
- Your middle of the night is everyone else's afternoon.
- Third shift is also referred to as graveyard shift, midnights, and overnights.
14 Comments
Post a Commenti recently got switched from a 2nd shift to 3rd shift, everyone around me told me i should of gotten a raise, but never did, is this true? i didnt think too much because when i applied for the job they mention that if i wanted i could switch to third shift, so i just assumed that since they told me the rate when i was already assuming to be 3rd shift, it didnt matter because that in a way is my third shift rate, but like i said i started as a 2nd shifter and then the 3rd shifter person left the company and i took there position, i also switched from part time to full time, should i have gotten a raise or is my pay suppose to stay the same?
Some good info, but suggesting third shifters to run a bunch of errands or take a walk in the sun right after work is erroneous. Activity and light only keeps your body clock awake, making the necessary sleep too difficult. Sleep when you get home while others work, get your sun in the afternoon, and both your body and your relationships can work!
Third shift, at least at most jobs, also tends to be a lot more laid-back than day shift, if only because the big boss is rarely around.
Ha! I just came home from 3rd shift which for me is 7pm-7am. Exhausted. Great article, I enjoyed it. Good-night!
i work 5/12 hour shifts on third,and i dont think ill ever get used to it. my wife is a full time student so i have to watch our son until she gets home from school....hopefully i wont be on this vampire shift much longer!!!!
I worked this shift for many years it was the twilight zone. 8:00 Am Dinner & beers after work was quite strange. This was the first shift or first platoon for us- third shift for us was a 4 x12. Another good analysis here and thanks for the memories.
good article. I used to do cocktail waitressing in New York--the shifts were from 8pm to 4am. It had its perks--great supplementary income, helped pay off student loans, but it's not something I could do forever.
I used to be a night owl and I loved the night shift, but these days I couldn't handle the nights. Great article.
this is the most honest article on working night shift..I can tell that you have lived this one!...great article!
Nice article. I hated it when my hubby was on 3rd. I would sit up all night as well and watch reruns to the love boat and the odd couple. Back in the day when I was young that is. :-P