Introduction
Working shift hours is a great option. A widely used method too. While working shifts, in general, have perks of their own, each shift has its benefits. People opt for various shift hours to meet other requirements in their daily lives. However, you must think twice before you choose your preferred shift.
Fourth shift hours
While many have heard of the 3 common shifts; morning, afternoon, and evening, the fourth shift is uncommon. Not followed in many companies either. So, what are the fourth shifts? One can say working 12 hours straight for a period of 2 to 4 days. Ideally, it is 12 hours for 3 days and the remaining 4 days are off. The catch is that these 12 hours are usually covered during the weekends. It depends on each company whether they choose to keep fourth shifts and when.
However, there are a lot of misconceptions regarding this shift. This article contains all you need to know about fourth shifts and whether or not it is the right choice for you.
How does it work?
There are many factors to consider when it comes to working shifts. Quite often, people only look at the pay and the hours and leave it at that. Other factors like days off, incentives, working environment, safety, and your routine also affect how productive and comfortable your shift will be. Taking the basic format, you work 12 hours for 3 days. While those 3 days are exhausting, the remaining 4 during the week are all yours! Additionally, if not a 9 to 5 person, this is an ideal shift for you.
Advantages
Have a look at a few advantages of fourth shifts that may not be known to a majority:
Days off
Although it depends on each company, there are usually 3 to 4 days off each week in the fourth shift. Needless to say, you can be a working machine during the 3 or 4 days completing your 12 hours. However, it is vacation mode for you once your hours are covered. Having such days off works brilliantly if you like traveling and relaxing!
Excellent alternative for the adventurous
For those who are constantly on the go, this is a great shift. If you like traveling, sleeping long hours, staying up late doing other activities, and so on, you can easily enjoy it all with the fourth shift.
Allows part-time
Even if you’re not a party or adventurous person, if you opt for this shift there are still benefits for you. On the days you get off, you can do smaller part-time jobs. This increases your productivity and allows you to properly focus on both shifts at their time. Other shifts require a constant exchange of focus in a matter of a few hours. If you’re working fourth shifts, you can easily devote half of each week to either job.
A great option for soloists!
If you’re not the kind to interact with your colleagues and prefer working alone, this could be an ideal shift. Not many opt for a fourth shift. Additionally, with the change in timings, there will be a change of colleagues while you’re at work. It naturally minimizes conversations, as your tasks would be assigned individually.
Disadvantages
Coming to the negative side of things, there are a few considerable cons:
Regular pay
Although this shift requires you to slog for around 12 hours, the pay doesn’t get any more than the regular shifts. This could be discouraging as 12 hours requires a great deal of motivation and hard work.
Exhaustion
Needless to say, you’re only human. Even though you get the remaining 3 or 4 days of the week off, you’ll be exhausted. Working for 12 hours in a stretch is not an easy task. The regular 8-hour shifts are tiring themselves. Imagining fourth shifts is not the best idea.
Tiring hat-trick
Generally, fourth shifts are three days in a row. That’s a hat-trick, although not a good one. This is different from regular shifts and any delay or leave is also doubled just as the number of working hours is. Fourth shifts also mean saying goodbye to your social life till your days off arrive.
Disturbs balance
It may be nice to have a 4 days vacation. However, it’s not a healthy option. It disturbs the healthy lifestyle that should be followed. Right from sleep, mental and physical breaks, and even time distribution, all are overworked during fourth shifts.
Conclusion
It is widely spread that fourth shifts are unforgivable shifts. That may not be entirely true. Indeed, there are heavy cons when it comes to fourth shifts but no one looks at the perks.
FAQs
- Are fourth shifts better than morning or first shifts?
For those on the more adventurous side who refrain from a schedule, fourth shifts can be a boon. On the other hand, for a healthy routine, morning shifts are ideal. Moreover, it depends on the kind of lifestyle you follow and the work you do that decides which shift is better.
- Do all jobs follow fourth shifts?
Fourth shifts are very common. Generally, many jobs don’t follow this pattern due to the lack of response and change in lifestyle. It depends on the target to be achieved that shifts are decided.
