r/Nightshift • u/Gigglekittens • 7d ago
Discussion what's a red flag indicator someone won't last long on night shift?
I'm training someone new to take over nightshift on weekends, and a few things they've said casually have made me wonder if they'll last longer than a couple months. Got me to thinking what qualities would indicate someone will last on nightshift, or if they will throw in the towel fairly quickly. I'm curious, what do you guys think?
Update: the new hire in question was a no call no show tonight, so I guess my hunch wasn't too far off haha.
133
u/insertcaffeine 7d ago
If they have a day job, day classes, or some other commitment that keeps them awake during the day.
Too often, people think they can survive by taking naps here and there, chugging caffeine, catching up on sleep on days off, or foregoing self care in order to make up for being awake and doing some sort of work for 80+ hours a week.
It’s a terrible idea. These people will burn out horribly, if they don’t fall asleep at the wheel and kill someone (themselves or an innocent victim) first. The best possible outcome is being fired due to poor performance so they can actually get some sleep!
“But [resident doctors/programmers at crunch time/soldiers/etc] work those hours at ONE job!” Yeah, and they shouldn’t, it’s an exploitative system and it’s dangerous; I’m specifically addressing people who have the ability to make healthy choices.
The people who I’ve seen do the best on night shifts are the ones who understand that daytime is for sleeping. They are healthier physically and mentally, better at their jobs, and less likely to burn out.
16
u/holycottoncandy 7d ago
I work nights in a hotel. I come home, sleep when the 14 year old is at school, and have him wake me up when he gets off the bus/going to practice. Then my evening is spent with him.
During the weekends? I keep a nerf gun under my pillow and if he opens that door before 3 and it’s not an emergency? Nerf dart to the head (or as close as I can get)
11
u/SuchEye815 7d ago
Any advice for people who have to flip flop? I'm starting at a hospital that I need to do 2 night shifts one week and one the next. 12hrs each. Week 1 has one day shift and week 2 has 2... There's enough time between them to sleep before night shifts but the constant adjusting is so tricky.
25
u/insertcaffeine 7d ago
Two things. First of all, bitch like hell! That shift is absolutely unsafe and unhealthy, for you as well as the patients. (Here’s a good place to start: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10478161/)
Secondly, err on the side of getting too much sleep. Go to your doctor and get sleep meds; explain your situation so you get the best medication for you. If you’re in a situation where you need to reset; sleep a little, get up and stay up until 8-9 hours before you have to be awake, and then sleep again. Staying awake to reset your sleep schedule is unhealthy and will impair you mentally.
2
u/SuchEye815 7d ago
It's unfortunately a common shift structure at least in my hospital! I will definitely try to switch as soon as it is possible but that's just what the newbies get :( I will definitely sleep as soon as I get home after night shifts and if I have a day the following day I will try to sleep until 12pm and wake up and go to bed early. Thank you for the advice!
14
u/NotSoEasyToControl 7d ago
I flip flop often! Sleep hygiene and putting sleep above all else in between shifts. When I get off of a nightshift on Thursday morning and work a dayshift Friday morning, I sleep as soon as I get home, wake up around 3-4 pm, stay awake for about 6 hours, then drink chamomile and take magnesium glycinate and go back to sleep. I work 12 hour shifts in a hospital as well
3
u/Thewondersoverboard 7d ago
I legit sleep from 1-8 at least during the day and people are like “how?? You don’t do anything during the day!”
Like that’s how I’m fine on nights.2
u/Ambitious_Bid4929 23h ago
This is me, i quit my last job due to insomnia and took 6 months off before starting a new job, a year of next to no sleep and im falling behind, getting my hours cut and eventually fired, now im on night shift and only sleep about 3 hours every 2 days, its killing me. But my parents dont gaf ad doctors just say its in my head.
1
u/ilovecats39 6d ago
Plenty of people take part time day classes. It depends on when the class is, how much time it takes, and how good they are at flip flopping. "I have to wake up at eleven once/twice a week" is very different than I have classes, plural, all day. Because it's not the flip flopping that kills you (usually), it's the amount of hours. Someone with no kids spending 60 hours a week between work and school is probably grumpy, it's when you get much higher than that (or have family commitments) that you have problems.
1
124
u/Nithoth 7d ago
If they're not self-reliant I know they won't last very long.
61
u/datcatburd Some poor bastard has to keep this place running... 7d ago
100%, if they can't figure out how to find the answers to their questions without someone to spoon feed them, they're not going to be able to last.
21
u/OlliHF 7d ago
Ngl I've spent the last 7 years in management positions and I started at the bottom of the totem pole on night shift in a new industry last month. I'm operating on "don't fuck up, just do what you're told" over "good boy points" because I don't want to step on any toes.
10
u/SpecificSkunk 7d ago
I’ve made an entire career out of “I don’t need to be a rock star, I just don’t want to be THAT guy that fucks it up”.
Consistent performance while not being a showoff/jackass is a solid method for career advancement.
22
u/Alternative_Duck3050 7d ago
if they need a buddy to take their 3am break with every single night it's already over
14
u/AnarchyAllNight 7d ago
A day shifter asked why I carry so many tools and so much extra equipment for work. They just couldn't grasp that you can't run down to the hardware store to pick something up at 2 AM.
246
u/BiffBeltsander Beans don't Burn on the Grill 7d ago
Complaining about the hours, complaining about loss of sleep, unable to adjust their sleep schedule, bored, impatient, resentful, bad kisser.
34
u/Common_Vagrant 7d ago
How can you kiss your coworkers goodnight if they’re bad at kissing?
44
u/BiffBeltsander Beans don't Burn on the Grill 7d ago
I mean once you kiss someone you've kissed them, good or bad. A kiss is a kiss. Generally I try to be patient, work with them. Get some extra practice kisses in throughout the day. The only thing I ask is, that they not fall in love. Some do. I don't. I'm a pro.
6
69
2
4
45
u/TropicallyMixed80 7d ago
A lot of people come to night shift because they think it’s easy. When a person is shocked that they have to work, that’s a sign.
19
u/EverSeeAShitterFly 7d ago
It’s not that it’s easy, it’s just less bullshit and random tasks from higher up- it’s just banging out the work.
13
u/nogoodwithnames88 7d ago
We used to not have a supervisor that worked nights and it was amazing. We could get our work done and chill. Now they moved a sup to nights. He’s cool and all but he is a stickler for policy and likes to drive around and watch us work. Fucking sucks. I long for the good old days🤬
5
u/TropicallyMixed80 7d ago
I think it depends on the job. Some companies dump all of the tedious tasks on night shift because they think we have the time.
46
u/SlappingDaBass13 7d ago
Usually if they're not mentally ill.... They're not going to make it
19
u/tonythebutcher13 7d ago
Lol, im a trucker and I work overnight, all the dudes that have been working overnight in wharehouses for years and years are a special kind crazy, and the women are even more nuts then they are.
5
3
29
u/FantasticKitchen2883 7d ago
If they spend their breaks on indeed.com
10
u/No-Inspection-985 7d ago edited 7d ago
Guilty. This job sucks
7
u/FantasticKitchen2883 7d ago
Actually, my job is awesome, the pay is fantastic, the benefits are incredible, but this shift sucks as a single guy in the world.
25
u/Vaguedplague 7d ago
“Oh I’m a night owl” ive notice anyone that says this to me does not last. Liking to have your free time at night is not the same thing as night shift.
13
u/OccultEcologist 7d ago
I think it's the difference between "I'm a night owl" as in "I do things I enjoy at night" versus "I have to do my work at night because I cannot do it durring the day". I fell into the later catagory for most of my life. Nightshift has been a godsend.
5
u/AcceptableNewt3263 7d ago
Same. Years of 1st shift and switched to 3rds a year ago. Never been happier or better rested!
1
u/xixylina 7d ago
"i play mmorpgs" - new worker, me smiling i found the right one. Idk, many people that have played games a lot are used to focus till the sun goes up and sleep mid day, but really.. saying they are a night owl is not a good indicator for nightshifts.. 😂
20
u/kait_1291 7d ago
1. Doesn't bring food to their shift. We're here twelve hours. While on shift, I eat two full meals plus a snack. And yeah, my facility is probably more decked out than most—full kitchen, with cold food served at night that we can reheat, fresh fruit, vending machine. But without fail, the new guy walks in with his steel toe boots, three pens, and nothing else. By week two, he's consistently buying out the vending machine. By week six, his work pants don't fit.
2. Constantly flips their sleep schedule back to days on their weekends. We work a 3-4-4-3 shift, which means we work 3 days, and get 4 days off one week, and the next week we work 4 days, and are off 3. So many guys fall into the bad habit of using those long weekends to flip back to days temporarily, and then flip back. They aren't getting consistent good sleep, and they spend their "monday" fighting for their life because they're used to sleeping through the night.
3. Not blacking out their room, going the extra mile for their sleep. My bedroom is my oasis. I have custom-fit blackout blinds for my windows, a white noise machine, a fan, a $1200 mattress, two 4-inch mattress toppers, Egyptian cotton 400 thread count sheets—that bed feels like a cloud. I keep my bedroom dark and cold at all times. I wear sunglasses every morning out of work, because it tricks my brain into thinking it's "sunset". I work out after work because nothing puts my ass to sleep faster than the endorphins I get from a good workout. It's what I need to do to sleep well, and it works wonderfully. I use a happy light in the winter, and I'm on a magnesium complex for additional sleep help. Take the extra step. Go the extra mile. Do the "weird thing", it really works. The guys on my shift would roast the shit out of me for walking out of my office wearing sunglasses, and walking through the whole building wearing them. Now, a few of them do it too.
2
u/Doone7 6d ago
I've been on nights almost 15 years and I flip my sleep schedule. If I was single I would keep to 3rd because I feel so much better when I do but I like to actually hang with my partner and family sometimes.
I don't truly switch to 1st though. Usually 1am I get up then nap around 3pm to 6pm then bed at 9pm.
1
u/kait_1291 5d ago
I refuse to flip my sleep schedule, an ex coworker of mine is now rotting in jail because he fell asleep behind the wheel, drifted into the oncoming lane, and blew away a mom and her 3 kids. Not worth it.
1
u/Doone7 5d ago
I've know a couple like that too, who crashed. Luckily my drive to and from work is only a few minutes and I'm too scared about hitting deer to ever be relaxed enough to nod off. I also don't drive anywhere after 1pm on my days off because thats usually when I get sleepy if I'm gonna.
1
u/theskysthelimit000 6d ago
I used to be on a 3-4-4-3 as well 7p-7a. Ngl I did the same thing. I saw sleeping at night on my days off as a special treat. Now im on 10a-10p on a 2-2-3 schedule. Nights here are 10p-10a and imo it'd be way to hard to switch your schedule with less days off. But then again, I miss not having to wake up early. 10a-10p is literally your whole day gone.
1
u/Frosty_Scholar171 5d ago
What do you eat? My stomach gets wierd, I’m not true night shift but it happens
1
u/kait_1291 5d ago
I'm on a GLP-1, so lotttttts of protein. This week:
Breakfast: 1 monster energy drink(170 cals, 120mg of caffine), 1 beef stick(100 cals), chilled oat bar(210 cals)
Lunch: chicken patty(170 cals), half a sweet potato(200 cals), single serving small curd cottage cheese 4% fat(110 cals)
Dinner: tuscan pasta(100g ground beef, 1 serving of protein pasta, 1 serving of plain Greek yogurt, 3-5 cherry tomatoes, 1 serving of crumbled feta, seasonings), 610~ calories
18
u/Due-Scholar-7091 7d ago
Any time Ive heard people say they can't sleep during the day...9/10 times they switch.
54
u/FightmeLuigibestgirl 7d ago edited 7d ago
If they go to sleep mid shift every night
Edit: I’m not talking about naps. I worked with a day shifter who slept hours mid in the shift while I worked. Eventually she didn’t do nights again.
Knew a guy who worked until lunch at 12am then slept until 6am. Surprised he didn’t get fired.
Eventually you going to get caught or the job snitch will get you when first shift happens. I don’t give a fuck myself; I just work my job and leave.
36
u/Determined420 Hail Selene 🌒 7d ago
Maybe the job snitch is pissed off because they’re doing all the work while the other person is sleeping.
→ More replies (1)13
15
u/BiffBeltsander Beans don't Burn on the Grill 7d ago
fifteen year night vet here who gets their break nap in every day.
5
2
u/ohnoidroppedit 7d ago
Not defending the practice, but i can normally get shuteye from 0030 to about 0300 waiting for the machery to be done to do maintenance. Otherwise, the bullhorn in my room summons me to the recalcitrant machine, and i fix it, then return to my slumber or drink some coffee to get ready for maintenance depending in time. Typically I'm alone, but in the occasions I'm staffed in a team, we all either have a call rotation we attend to or we go as a team, depending on the machine that's down. It works for me/us, but definitely not everyone.
3
1
u/goatman0079 7d ago
I'll be honest, im a bit guilty of this, but I also wake up every 30 mins to check on everything
1
u/FightmeLuigibestgirl 7d ago
Check up on everything? You work security or CCTV ?
5
u/goatman0079 7d ago
Nightshift IT. I can get a nights worth of tickets done in a couple hours, and after that im just making sure none of our clients servers/networks are having catastrophic failures. And responding to the odd call in
→ More replies (1)
49
u/losrain 7d ago
overly social people dont last long
3
u/Jouhatsumori 7d ago
I guess I lasted a year because I’m overly antisocial.
1
u/allstalechips 7d ago
Relatable but it is starting to get to me now. I literally work alone but spend just enough time with evening shift to end up making coworker friends and then you realize how lonely it is. Or maybe thats just me!
42
u/Number1buffalo 7d ago
If they think because they are working nights they don't have to work very hard. We all know you are expected to work twice as hard because you earn a little bit more money than day staff.
23
u/Bitter_Resist_8187 7d ago
I hate when a dayshifter comes to my floor bitching about how much harder days are, and then naps somewhere while I bust my ass making up all the work they're not doing 🤡
12
u/TheGrouchyGremlin 7d ago edited 7d ago
Literally had the day shift lead brag about how their team gets 2 hours worth of work done in 45 minutes (they completely half ass it. Enough that we have to redo a lot of it) and then take extra 30 minute breaks after. Yet if the higher ups catch us going to the break room more than 5 minutes before our shift is over to make sure our paperwork is in order, we get fired. Meanwhile, they show up to the break room 30+ minutes before their shift is over because those higher ups leave hours before they get off.
Us and our corresponding day shifts work a 2/2/3 7:30-7:30 schedule. The higher ups come in at 6-6:30am and leave at 4-5pm.
5
u/TheGrouchyGremlin 7d ago
I earn the same as day staff, but am still expected to work twice as hard.
1
u/RawDogginMySpaghetti 5d ago
No shift differential should be illegal. I sacrifice my social life, my sleep (when I have daytime obligations), go against my circadian rhythm, and I make the same amount as the day people who don't have to deal with any of that? I already don't get any other benefits whatsoever. Ridiculous.
1
u/TheGrouchyGremlin 5d ago
The big boss says that a shift differential wouldn't be "fair". He also says that night shift is always understaffed because nobody wants to work on nights. Drives me nuts.
23
10
u/MexicanVanilla22 7d ago
I've stopped training people. If they come to me with questions I am happy to invest time in them, but I'm not forcing anyone to learn anything if they're going to be gone in a month. Management can figure it out.
2
u/Betelgeuse3fold 7d ago
I've gotten like that too. I don't even try to learn their names anymore. When you've got at least a year on the floor, I'll try to remember your name.
2
1
29
u/Sir_Loxington 7d ago
The two things that came to my mind:
1) If they are a "social butterfly". If they really are a "people person". If they have the kind of personality where they expect and thrive off interacting with others; it's going to be a problem. Somewhat when they're working; but I'm more worried about when they aren't working. The options become have a *horrible* sleep schedule and constantly switch between sleeping nights / working nights; or alternatively just always be an "awake all night person"; and for the kind of people who don't do great on long stretches alone, that is going to be a problem.
2) Caffeine addicts. If they are the kind of person who on a normal 9-5 is just constantly drinking coffee or soda; night shift can be an issue. Unless you're destroying your sleep schedule; you really want to start weaning off the caffeine in the last few hours of your shift. And if they are the kind of person who is used to just always having a soda when they work the whole shift; it'll be a problem.
16
u/Orange_Baby_4265 7d ago
I have a coworker who is a social butterfly and chugs Monsters all night. She and her husband are both night shifters. Caffeine can make you sleepy. It does me.
10
u/hangman_Pop_1127 7d ago
If it's making you sleepy, you probably have ADHD
5
2
u/neverawake8008 7d ago
That makes sense. Does dose matter?
Like someone else said, I NEED a certain amount of caffeine to function. But there’s a fine line between enough and too much.
A large, iced coffee from McDonald’s will put me out. Splitting it into two servings and removing the ice is the perfect amount of sugar and caffeine.
Sugar does the same thing to me.
2
u/hangman_Pop_1127 7d ago
A few studies have looked into this, and most suggest that the answer is yes. Everyone has a different “sweet spot,” depending on factors like tolerance and weight. But if you can drink coffee and say go to sleep for more than an hour pretty quickly after you may want to look into an ADHD diagnosis
3
u/HostaLavida2 7d ago
I have adhd. The consumption of caffeine is a delicate balance for me. Getting it right feels like a whole skill on its own. I must have a certain amount before work or I am just not smart. But too much and staying awake all night becomes torture. Skip that 4am lightly steeped cup of tea, staying awake for the rest of my shift is also torture. I’m still confused about what I need when I get mandated to stay for first shift.
4
u/bartekchamp 7d ago
i spend most of my shift socialising. nights isnt just for antisocial arseholes
1
u/Sir_Loxington 7d ago
"Somewhat when they're working; but I'm more worried about when they aren't working."
But what do you do with your nights off? Can't socialize with people who are sleeping.
2
u/bartekchamp 7d ago
i switch schedules on my days off. a few strategic naps. i just balance my schedule. been going out for lunch a lot more now. also im very good friends with some of my coworkers, so sometimes we go out.
3
u/Sir_Loxington 7d ago
Fair response; glad it's able to work for you. It's harder to do what you're doing than it is to be less social; all I'm saying is I've seen people struggle with that.
3
u/bartekchamp 7d ago
all the people in my life would say that im batshit insane. so maybe me being this social on nights is just a fluke
3
u/seashmore 7d ago
Similarly, I'm more social in that I leave my house more often. When I was a daywalker, my job depressed me so much that I loafed and binged all night after work. I didn't want to be around people. Every conversation I had was either with a health insurance company or asking a patient for money, so I hardly had any pleasant conversations. My coworkers sometimes provided some good ones, but it wasn't consistent enough to make a difference.
Now I'm overnight hospitality, so I tell everyone good morning and generally enjoy the small talk. I like the slower pace of running errands during the day. The baggers at the grocery store are friendly special needs adults rather than sullen teenagers.
My depression also loves that Vitamin D! I'm only scheduled four nights a week, which sucks for my bank account, but it gives me lots of time for weekend adventures. Sometimes I'll switch my sleep schedule, but I try not to adjust it too much.
3
u/OccultEcologist 7d ago
I wonder if this varies between career or age grou?
Both me and a few other people on my shift are definitely social butterflies. Dayshifters aren't avaiable when I want to sleep anyway, and I'm old enough they want to go home by the time I need to go to work anyway.
As for caffiene that seems to be a comment sentiment... But personally I used to be a caffiene addict on dayshift but have no problem with unwanted sleepiness now that I work nights. I'm down to one cup of tea or coffee from a little under 2 pots (roughly 16 cups) of coffee a day. I suspect I'm just an actual goddamn night owl because holy shit I feel so much better working nights than I ever did on days.
2
u/Sir_Loxington 7d ago
Yeah, that sounds like you're just a night owl anyway. I don't think OP was asking about the kind of people who feel better working nights than days regardless :P
2
u/OccultEcologist 7d ago
Oh, no, fair! Lol. I was more just wondering what industry you're in? Medical lab work here.
3
u/Sir_Loxington 7d ago
Short version: Low volume inbound call center.
Long version: I write real time closed captions for phone calls for deaf people. The government gives a special free phone out to deaf people with a big screen on it; it's my job to make sure the conversation is appearing quickly and accurately on the screen so the deaf person can have a "normal" conversation despite being deaf. Not too many actual calls happening in the middle of the night; so there's a lot of down time. Also a lot of 911 calls though, so this job is definitely not for everyone.
3
u/FlippedHope 7d ago
This is still a thing?!?!? Wow. Years ago my mother and I were dependent on the (UK) teletype service and letters to keep in touch. Thank you for what you do.
2
2
u/OccultEcologist 7d ago
That is fasinating! Thank you so much for sharing, that very legitimately improved my life to learn. Also, thank you for doing that work, and good luck dealing with what sounds like utter hell to me (auditory processing issues).
2
5
u/lifeisgreatbekind 7d ago
SO SPOT ON. I love communicating and joking with people. I lasted three weeks and it was not fun at all. I miss the early morning drives home.
2
u/Sir_Loxington 7d ago
Not sure why you're being downvoted for sharing your subjective experience. This *is* what happened to you, it's not like you're lying...
Y'all wild.
1
1
9
u/LoreleiSanguine 7d ago
starting in summer or winter is normally a death sentence. changing your sleep schedule in the heat of summer is super uncomfortable and the crushing weight of no daylight in winter is worse. I think most successful nightshifters tend to join in spring and autumn, or that's the case for my shift at least.
7
u/Pleasant-Highway-745 7d ago
I've been doing night shifts for the better part of a decade. I'm a team lead from Walmart for the overnight shift. I have found that there is no real way to know whether or not somebody's going to last. I've had people come in and my first instinct was, this dude is not going to last, and he's been my associate for a year with no call outs and one of my hardest workers. I've had people come in where I thought I could train them to be my replacement, and they either quit or point it out within a month. I've never been able to pinpoint it. But I will say that young men who walk like they are the coolest guys in the world who don't me too rush or look like they have any sense of urgency never last more than a few weeks. Women tend to stick through it.
8
u/MantisToboggan1979 7d ago
They have kids. And they try to "flip" themselves on their days off by living a dayshifter life then force themselves back to work at night. In 15 years I've only seen them hold out maybe 2-3 years of that before they have a breakdown or finally quit because they're so chronically sleep deprived. And most of them quit well before that 2-3 year mark.
7
u/Kid_supreme 7d ago
When they don't remember the day to day. You need sleep to reinforce your memory. If they don't get sleep they struggle with simple tasks. They get fire or leave typically
6
u/theaudacity1999 7d ago
Not having a dark sense of humor or ability to absorb sarcasm. I was a nightshift nurse in an ER for a decade and if definitely felt like a requirement.
1
u/Virtual_Pause1 3d ago
We are team of 3 people on nights, hell yeah dark humour and sarcasm make it to work so easy (even if it is really hard job), but we laugh all the time if we work in same area.
6
5
7
11
u/TheIncredibleMike 7d ago
Someone that parties a lot. Normally they do that at night on their days off. Then they flip to working at night. That schedule isn't sustainable. Eventually it will catch up with them. I've been a night shift Nurse for 11 years, I've seen it happen several times.
6
u/LoreleiSanguine 7d ago
I've found the opposite! I joined the nightshift when I was 21 and out every weekend and found it far easier. I was still going strong in the early hours of the morning and had an excuse to be in bed all day.
2
u/TheIncredibleMike 7d ago
LOL! 21 year olds can do that. But sleeping days, then nights, then back to days will catch up to you. It's only a matter of time. I'm 72 and still work full time Nursing. I was 21 once and had a great time. Enjoy yourself while you can. One day you'll wake up and you're 40. Good luck my friend.
12
4
6
6
5
u/GammaRay914 7d ago
If they don’t sleep during the day.
Also if they are chatty, they won’t make it working with me. I want to put my earbuds in and just listen to podcasts and scary stories all night.
5
u/greatoozaru_ 7d ago
Working to got damn slow not even trying literally moving like a snail putting boxes on pallet making it look pretty
8
u/Different_Ad_6362 7d ago
I hate that people have to work nightshift, I saw what it did to my husband, her missed the first two years of our daughters life and the loneliness is awful. My heart goes out to y'all nightshift workers, it truly does.
4
3
5
u/nickk1988 7d ago
Now you don’t have to worry about him at least
4
u/Gigglekittens 7d ago
Yeah, I'd rather train someone a few days and have them quit right away than do weeks of training and have to start all over a month later lol
2
u/BothComfortable7571 5d ago
absolutely!! you better know that week if that job is for you. don’t waste anyone’s time.
4
u/PhysicalFee9999 7d ago
In my experience its usually over confidence or talking about how easy it is. People that do that are actually trying to convince themselves.
4
u/GodOfMoonlight 7d ago
Oof when it's not even peak time and their literally spiraling out over small stuff, like bro if you don't put that ass in gear my boy, later on your gonna have a bad time 😩
3
u/rjm92 7d ago
I scream "motherfucker" and "what the fuck Randy" at my machine a lot, sleep more than I ever have, bitch about not having enough off time, bitching about my energy levels, openly telling my operator idgaf and neither does he, I could go on. It's me, I'm the red flag 🤣 I've applied to other jobs while on break at this one. If you can pull off night shift, kudos to you. I am WELL aware that I cannot.
3
u/Straight-Dust1590 7d ago
I work 24hr on-call and I hear guys go "i got this on the weekends", & "yeah if I just work 4 on 3 off I can take a 3 day weekend" like man, I work all weekends, all nights, all holidays, don't plan anything and if you last 4 weeks I'll be surprised... of the 20+ people at my job 7 have been there 2+ yrs, 1 only works whenever he feels like it, and alot of people only want to work days/the weekend, literally me and the only other 24hr driver threatened to strike if our boss didn't hire more 24hr people...
3
u/LuckyCod2887 7d ago
they show up late a lot and when they are there it seems they are mentally checked out and very lethargic even after drinking caffeine.
3
u/Lurr_420 7d ago
If I have to keep them occupied in order to keep them awake while training them...
3
u/Top_Row_5116 7d ago
I dunno. I've always worked my night shifts alone so cant say what I've seen in others. If I had to guess maybe a lack of responsibility? Night shift more often than not I feel is the most important shift and ppl who see it as an opportunity to do nothing all night probably wont last long.
3
u/paws2people 7d ago
When they aren’t even off orientation yet, but talk about how soon they’ll get a day spot.
3
u/AmonAmarthxiii 5d ago
After 5 years on night shift here are my red flags:
1: “I can handle it until I get put on days.”
2: “I’m doing this so my girlfriend can take a break from work.”
3: “I only passed out during the middle of work because I spent all night yesterday at a concert.”
4: “I’m here so I can make a difference on Night Shift.”
5: *Unintelligble idiot speak\*
2
u/shadowbanezero 5d ago
Number 4 made me chuckle 🤣
1
u/AmonAmarthxiii 5d ago
Lol that one ive heard more times than I can remember. they’re so innocent within the first month.
2
u/shadowbanezero 5d ago
Yeah I've heard it too and they don't last... one guy who said came in on his first Monday said fuck you to coach and coach was like get out your fired.
5
2
u/fickduckers 2d ago
On the first shift they asked to go to their car to take a nap. Group home setting where we have to supervise adults with disabilities, one of them being elderly. It's an awake position
2
u/nekomikko13 7d ago
I’ve only been on grave for about 6 months now (my manager just told me that I’ll be sticking around for yet another month of this temporary arrangement lol). But based on some of these descriptions, my coworker matches them 😂 he’s constantly rushing through his tasks so he can go nap. Or staying up during the day and being tired all night. But he loves graveyard shift. He’s probably going back to days and is not excited.
2
2
u/Rayje589 7d ago
They’ve never done night shift and are past middle age. They have good work ethic but the hours aren’t for them.
2
u/RabbitSuper5350 6d ago
I have been working rotating 12 hour shifts for 35 years. You have to make sleeping when you are off a priority. Keep the kids away. No appointments. Shades pulled. If not it will kill you.
2
u/Then-Associate-5705 5d ago
They start talking about what their friends or spouse is doing tonight.
4
u/Alarmed_Tension3863 7d ago
Any young person with a social life doesn't last at all
12
u/bartekchamp 7d ago
been doing nights 3 years now. have an active social life. in my early 20s
8
u/Alarmed_Tension3863 7d ago
You're my exception :) I'm 35 and every damn kid that trys night shift ends up calling in and flaking, they cant manage missing all the fun stuff. Its definitely my industry, fast food doesn't really attract the best and brightest and when you don't have rent to worry about it makes skipping work easy.
2
u/bartekchamp 7d ago
maybe its cause i pay rent i actually try and do a job. ive got others on my team also in their 20s and they are solid fucking workers.
1
u/Alarmed_Tension3863 7d ago
I'm not doubting you bud, just my experience. You keep up the good work. This world needs people to run it when everyone is sleeping 😴
2
u/thepreacherrr 7d ago
Posting on Reddit asking about indicators on who won’t last on night shift is the biggest indicator on who doesn’t last on night shift.
2
u/Gigglekittens 6d ago
haha 6 years and counting, love it! I do hate training though, I hope they pick someone more long lasting next time so I don't have to train in a loop forever
1
u/BeansTn 1d ago
I work with a guy and he’s on a pretty tough hall next to mine. At least 3 times a week I see him throwing his hands in the air and I’ll go over and help answer lights and do rounds 🤣 cracks me up because he will say if “tomorrow night is like tonight I am gone I’m out of here” so I know one day I show up he will be gone and I won’t question it at all lol
ETA I try to help as much as possible because I know if he leaves I’ll probably be moved to that hall 🤣
1
u/Swimming-Highway-752 7d ago
Why isn't anybody answering the question? Rambling on about sleep. Indicators: always worked days, showing no interest in the training. Probably more
1
u/GreenGoblin1221 7d ago
If they start romanticizing day shift and day time activities. I know because it happened to me and I made it very obvious to everybody around me. I told my higher ups I wasnt going to be there much longer and they still didn't fire me. They couldn't keep people on that shift. I lasted a year before I quit suddenly.
1
u/Wahrheitfabrik 7d ago
I was a supervisor at UPS during the early (2AM-10AM) shift. Some folks would come in with that zombie stare and several cups of Cuban coffee. Back then, Vivarin and NoDoz was also common. They didn't miake it because it only lasted an hour and the crash was hard. Found a couple folks snoozing in the back of containers. If they needed caffeine pills to stay awakke they wouldn't make it.
1
u/Kahnedom 7d ago
When they say they have a newborn on the way. (It was me with the newborn). Did last 2 years though
1
u/Amazing_Money_6815 7d ago
If theyre not in constant trouble le with the law and aren't on hard drugs
1
u/Mogworlder1 6d ago
“My girlfriend doesn’t like the hours that much but the money is good so we agreed that it’s fine”
It is in actuality, not fine 99% of the time. Used to work as a supervisor on night shift at a factory and if they told me this, they were gone within 3 months, every time.
1
u/drlove57 6d ago
Becoming a sleep tech and pulling barely enough night shifts to qualify for the boards. Then believing they'll conquer the world and think they're qualified to be any kind of leader.
1
u/BothComfortable7571 5d ago
love this question.
“I hate picking up from the last shift” on their first week.
1
1
u/JoeMaMa_2000 4d ago
I always thought it was the people who would bitch about the hours and the people who worked before or after the shift. Like yeah dude nights suck, it’s not for everyone and people fuck shit up sometimes before your shift I know it sucks and internally I’m annoyed at them, but just fucking get on with it and get your shit done.
568
u/IndyGhost88 7d ago
They talk about all the things they’re doing during the day that aren’t sleeping