I do shift work. It seems as though I have always done shift work. I know that isn’t true, for there was a time when I was normal. In 1976 I ended the normal life and joined the ranks of the many shift workers who labour while others are sound asleep, eating Thanksgiving diner with their families, enjoying a weekend at the lake, or attending church services on Sunday.
I’m not complaining. Shift work has provided my family a pretty good life. It could have been better had it not been for a few foolish mistakes on my part, but all in all, I think there are be a great number of people who would change positions with me in a hurry.
I work in a chemical plant. For some years I lumped shift workers into the chemical plant or refinery category and failed to realize the other professions that also require shift work. Noble medical professions such as doctors and nurses are not spared their turn at shift work. There are simpler, yet necessary and honourable professions such as convenient store clerks or security personnel. How about law enforcement officers or toll booth workers who work shift work? There are firemen, soldiers, ministers, factory workers, off-shore oil rig workers in a variety of different jobs. Sailors, welders, hookers, wrecker drivers, bar tenders, cooks, hotel staff, the list goes on and on. Of course I do not want to leave out what may be the toughest shift work job of all, mother.
If you think about it, shift work has always been around. The Sheppard tended his flock at night, and the ancient soldier stood watch, just to name a couple. Shift work is a part of our society. Even though we depend on it to survive, it has its peculiar stresses. That is what I Do Shift Work is all about. It is a common place for shift workers to share experiences and maybe help someone out who is struggling with the riggers of the schedule. Here, you can step outside the constraints of your particular profession and into the group known as shift workers.
We are just getting started and we are not real sure where this site is going to go. A lot will depend on the input we get and volunteer authors and contributors. What we do know, is we will make every attempt to keep it clean, informative, and entertaining.
And those are my first thoughts. It is bound to get better.
Well put… I never really thought about all the other professions that work shift work. Personally, I used to dislike working shift work, but now I would have it no other way. I did the monday thru friday 7-5 schedule last year and it was not pleasent. My arcadian clock did stabalize…. but what’s the fun in that… as I write this at 3:00AM on my days off… my sleep schedule is stuck some where between days and nights… lol.
[…] I Do Shift Work » I Do Shift Work, Up And Running […]
How do ya’ll attend church, if at all? Do you plan one week ahead and chose a Sabbath day? Do you only go to church the two Sundays you are scheduled off a month?
I work DuPont schedule and am thinking of starting a Shift Worker Church. Any ideas?
Thank you Amy. There are two very interesting topics in your question, church attendence and various shift work schedules.
I choose to attend normally scheduled church services whenever my schedule allows, and seek out other worship or service opportunities that are not so schedule dependent. The problem with this approach is it is hard to develop the relationships that are so import.
A ’shift’ church could be very helpful in the right community. Talk about an experiment in botherly love and humble service. You would need a shift style leadership team. No place for anyone to be the ‘big cheese’.
You mentioned the DuPont schedule. I have heard a lot of talk about it lately, but I’m not sure I understand how. It works. I wonder how many shift schedules are out there?
I have been praying and asking for direction from God. I am at a loss for my next step. I know God is telling me to do this but I don’t know how. I was not a faithful bible reader. I was never involved with churches. So why God is telling me to do this, I am dumb founded. Nor do even know where to start. You have given me some good ideas i am going to try to talk to my minster about. A shift leader for each shift is a really good idea. Thank You. And you mention my exact problem, not getting connected to a church. I live in Houston TX, where we are the capital for refineries. This can only mean there are others out there who struggle with my same problem. I love my church but I can’t get connected because I usually am able to go once a month. This is not acceptable for me.
DuPont schedule is difficult to explain it is better understood on paper. But the basics are there are four schedules, A, B, C and D. In a two week period I am scheduled to work 84hrs. Also looking at the two weeks at a time I will work Three (days or nights) of one week and four (days or nights) of the other week.
Feel free to email me any other ideas that you might have to amyann1f@yahoo.com
< a href=”http://absolut-vacancy.ru” > < /a > ……
????? ????????, ??? ? ??? ????????, ???? ??????????? ????? ?? ??????? ????….