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There are big debates on whether shift work is good or bad for the employee and employer. From the point of view of the employer a rotational shift gives 24 hours coverage to the work and it is best for specific time sensitive works. For the employee point of view shift work can mean a lot of freedom and convenience. Let us look into the advantages of shift work from the employee point of view. The advantages of shift work are many:
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- Convenience: In rotational shifts there usually are three shifts, i.e. morning, evening and night shifts. Most rotational shifts are repetitive and do not require special skills from shift to shift and hence they are interchangeable. There is tremendous convenience in this type of shifts because you can plan your day's work in such a way that you do not neglect office or home. For example you have small children and you need to stay at home with them. You can choose the night shift and be with them the whole day. If you establish a good early to bed schedule then you will have sufficient time to rest and get ready for your 11.00 pm shift while you are available for your kids during day time.
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- Similarly, in case you have other work ? instead of taking leave, you may take the evening shift, finish your work (which is during office hours, such as banking, bill payments, etc) and be at office sharp at 4.00 pm. The common feeling is that the day shift is the most popular one, but this is no longer true. People choose the evening or night shifts out of choice because it gives them freedom to do other things while maintaining correct office duty.
- Lesser working hours: In most cases where shift work is applicable the working hours are less as it consists of adequate breaks and relaxation periods. In regular hours work spills over to overtime in order to complete the tasks given, while in rotational shifts, the next shift crew takes over and hence eliminates the need of putting extra hours.
- Training opportunity: Rotational shifts provide the opportunity for training and additional inputs. Most of the organizations offer training to their staff for specific tasks. Even when they do not, people can make their own arrangements to upgrade their skills using the facility of rotational shifts to plan for the training programs without taking leave. This particular feature is the most attractive for those working in shifts as it gives opportunity to grow professionally without disturbing the leave available, keeping the balance for real 'time of need' such as a family holiday or sickness of family members.
Ability of take up a second/ part-time job: Many who choose the evening shift choose to have a second job and thus complement their pay. At the same time they can gain experience in other fields and settle down in different career lines. There are people who can handle a night shift and two extra part-time jobs not only earning a whole lot more but also learning more than it would have ever been possible if working in a regular shift.
Rotational shifts are not really as bad as they are made out to be. Rather they are full of advantages. I have known people who left their jobs because the management fixed shifts. Once you get used to the convenience that rotational jobs offer you, you would not dream having any other arrangement. People can be with their families, study, work in other jobs, relax among many other things while working on rotational shifts. Only rotational shifts can give you the capacity of being at two places at the same time. You can be at office and at home at the right time so both the spheres are taken care off. What more can you ask from a job?
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