As per title really.
Been off the road for a while now and getting itchy feet and I’m contemplating a possible option of a 4 on 4 off job that may (probably not) appear.
It’s tanker work which I used to do but I’ve never done this shift before so I’m thinking maybe it’s a viable job.
I’m my head working weekends and days off in the week doesn’t seem that much of an issue as my wife is finished work and home for 3pm so we’d have the rest of the day together and my children are all grown and have lives on there own so no childcare issues.
Pro’s and cons from anyone that does this shift pattern
I’ve recently started doing a 4on 4off shift and I’m finding it a lot better than the usual Monday to Friday. Firstly it allows you to spend more time at home due to the 4 days off, secondly you can use a lot less holidays for longer periods off (4 days holiday gets you 12 off, as opposed to 5 days holiday getting you 9 days off). Thirdly, it’s a lot easier to arrange other things like medical appointments when you have days off in the week. Finally, it’s easier to do overtime, as you could realistically do 2 days a week every week and still not be reducing your weekly rest period.
The only downside is giving up the majority of your weekends, but if your happy to do that then I’d go for it
You’ll not believe how much time you have off. Every time off is like a long weekend, even if you do an extra day you get 3 days off, and 4 days holiday gets you 12 days off in a row.
You’ve just got to think about how much your lifestyle currently evolves around weekends. If you do a lot of socialising at weekends and/or follow a lot of sport etc. then the weekends in work will end up ■■■■■■■ you off after a while. Sods law always dictates that any invitations for stuff at the weekend will always be when your in work. I know you said your done for 3, but you have to think about the early night.
Otherwise, its a no brainer. With your Mrs being retired you’ll be able to spend far more time together & get away on breaks etc. without having to mingle with the weekend masses all the time.
I do a variation of 4 on 4 off, I do a 4 on 3 off…Wed to Sat UK tramping.
It enables me to do the same job every week, I’m usually done around Sat early pm so I get a 3 and a half day weekend.
I would say to you go for it mate, I love my long wk.ends, should have done it bloody years ago instead of all the max out and weekending ■■■■■■■■ for years.
I’ve came to the conclusion (maybe a bit late) that there is more to life than spending most of it in a bloody truck.
I’d bite yer hand off for Sunday-Wednesday evening starts here…
Four commutes per week instead of five
Four break deductions instead of five
A full week’s set of hours, so no drop in pay
Decent runs-out whilst you are at work
None of the old argument “You’ve got to go around the corner 6 times, because we can’t send you to Bristol - we’ll keep that run back for the agencies…”
A regular run then, with these ideal shift patterns of 18:30-06:30 Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday - leaving me with three days off where I can go out on two of them.
Also, when it comes to booking your 26 days a year holiday - you are getting six-and-a-half weeks straight out the gate! “Less holidays spent to obtain an entire week off”.
There wouldn’t be a drop in pay for these holidays neither, as you’re doing 12 hour shifts without any of it being overtime, thus “no deductions for sick/holidays”.
If you’ve got Sundays & Nights as part of one’s “salary” - isn’t it the case that the pension input is rather better than compared to say, monday-friday days?
Winseer:
If you’ve got Sundays & Nights as part of one’s “salary” - isn’t it the case that the pension input is rather better than compared to say, monday-friday days?
No the gross would be the same over the year but instead of getting a huge pay week when working Thurs to Sun and a poor one when off Thurs to Sun, all premiums etc were included and averaged out to 52 weeks to smooth out peaks and troughs in income. But as the gross was the same as if it wasn’t averaged out the pension percentages were the same.
To compare it to Monday to Friday isnt right because there’s less enhancement but the percentage of pension input is the same.
Personally these days I’m glad I’m off weekend working. I earn enough Monday to Friday to be able to enjoy the weekend with the kids (and wife at a stretch ) But I wouldn’t rule out returning to weekend work as the kids get older, but that’s part of my retirement plan to cut my days down anyway.
Winseer:
A regular run then, with these ideal shift patterns of 18:30-06:30 Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday - leaving me with three days off where I can go out on two of them.
Also, when it comes to booking your 26 days a year holiday - you are getting six-and-a-half weeks straight out the gate! “Less holidays spent to obtain an entire week off”.
Except of course you wouldn’t be entitled to the full (28 days, not 26) that you get when working five days a week - if working 4 days a week, your entitlement would be 22 1/2 days.
If working 4 on, 4 off this would be reduced to 20 days due to the average number of days worked per week being that much lower.
Winseer:
A regular run then, with these ideal shift patterns of 18:30-06:30 Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday - leaving me with three days off where I can go out on two of them.
Also, when it comes to booking your 26 days a year holiday - you are getting six-and-a-half weeks straight out the gate! “Less holidays spent to obtain an entire week off”.
Except of course you wouldn’t be entitled to the full (28 days, not 26) that you get when working five days a week - if working 4 days a week, your entitlement would be 22 1/2 days.
If working 4 on, 4 off this would be reduced to 20 days due to the average number of days worked per week being that much lower.
Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk
Still, when you split those 20 days by 4, you get 5 periods. And as each 4 day holiday has 4 days off on either side, you get a 12 day period off, for the price of 4 days. That is nearly a fortnight, 5 times. Instead of 5 weeks.
Roymondo:
Except of course you wouldn’t be entitled to the full (28 days, not 26) that you get when working five days a week - if working 4 days a week, your entitlement would be 22 1/2 days.
If working 4 on, 4 off this would be reduced to 20 days due to the average number of days worked per week being that much lower.
I work 4/4 and I get full entitlement, exactly same as the guys working M-F
If firm turned round and tried to push same as you’ve put I’d be looking for another job quite quickly
Roymondo:
Except of course you wouldn’t be entitled to the full (28 days, not 26) that you get when working five days a week - if working 4 days a week, your entitlement would be 22 1/2 days.
If working 4 on, 4 off this would be reduced to 20 days due to the average number of days worked per week being that much lower.
I work 4/4 and I get full entitlement, exactly same as the guys working M-F
If firm turned round and tried to push same as you’ve put I’d be looking for another job quite quickly
Winseer:
A regular run then, with these ideal shift patterns of 18:30-06:30 Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday - leaving me with three days off where I can go out on two of them.
Also, when it comes to booking your 26 days a year holiday - you are getting six-and-a-half weeks straight out the gate! “Less holidays spent to obtain an entire week off”.
Except of course you wouldn’t be entitled to the full (28 days, not 26) that you get when working five days a week - if working 4 days a week, your entitlement would be 22 1/2 days.
If working 4 on, 4 off this would be reduced to 20 days due to the average number of days worked per week being that much lower.
Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk
Sorry, I may have misunderstood. Are you saying that we are diddled out of holiday entitlement?
Winseer:
A regular run then, with these ideal shift patterns of 18:30-06:30 Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday - leaving me with three days off where I can go out on two of them.
Also, when it comes to booking your 26 days a year holiday - you are getting six-and-a-half weeks straight out the gate! “Less holidays spent to obtain an entire week off”.
Except of course you wouldn’t be entitled to the full (28 days, not 26) that you get when working five days a week - if working 4 days a week, your entitlement would be 22 1/2 days.
If working 4 on, 4 off this would be reduced to 20 days due to the average number of days worked per week being that much lower.
Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk
Sorry, I may have misunderstood. Are you saying that we are diddled out of holiday entitlement?
No, the entitlement remains the same at 5.6 weeks.
Winseer:
A regular run then, with these ideal shift patterns of 18:30-06:30 Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday - leaving me with three days off where I can go out on two of them.
Also, when it comes to booking your 26 days a year holiday - you are getting six-and-a-half weeks straight out the gate! “Less holidays spent to obtain an entire week off”.
Except of course you wouldn’t be entitled to the full (28 days, not 26) that you get when working five days a week - if working 4 days a week, your entitlement would be 22 1/2 days.
If working 4 on, 4 off this would be reduced to 20 days due to the average number of days worked per week being that much lower.
Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk
Sorry, I may have misunderstood. Are you saying that we are diddled out of holiday entitlement?
No, the entitlement remains the same at 5.6 weeks.
Could someone point me to the right direction, i remember there was a nice spreadsheet about 4 on 4 off shift pattern, but I can’t find it anymore[emoji3166]
I’ve worked that shift pattern for 5 years now. I will not go back to Mon-fri, ever.
Having a young family meant I get 4 days at home with the baby who is now 4. I’d never have the bond I have now with him if I was doing 5 or 6 from 7.
The wife works alternate to my 4, so we never have to pay for childcare at the cost of having one day off together every few weeks but it’s no different to 5/6 from 7 except she can bring in money too.
I like working weekends, find it better early morning plus I also find I get more things done during the week which now both kids are in school I can go to the gym during school hours.
Ultimately, I bring home a good £1800 a month for 42hr a week which is enough for me.
I work 186 days a year, 20 of those are holiday. One ‘week’ holiday is actually 12 days off as you get 4 off, your 4 on as holiday then 4 more off.
If you want to earn a decent amount whilst actually being home and don’t mind working weekends then 4 on 4 off is perfect. If you’ve got a young family it’s great too.
) But I wouldn’t rule out returning to weekend work as the kids get older, but that’s part of my retirement plan to cut my days down anyway.