The second shift refers to a second job that an individual is likely to do after leaving his/her normal source of work. In general, second-shift working hours may commence in the late afternoon or early evening and extend into the late night or early morning. Second-shift jobs are prominent in various fields, and it is becoming a norm in today’s workplaces.
What Is a Second Shift?
The second shift is a work schedule that is a shift during the afternoon, evening, and/or night after the normal working hours of a person. The hours could be anywhere between precise; however, the second shift usually covers 3 or 4 in the afternoon till 11 at night or midnight. Some examples of second-shift schedules are:
Some examples of second-shift schedules are:
- 3 in the afternoon to 11 at night
- 4 pm to midnight
- These are 5 pm to 1 am.
The nature of the second shift comparatively to the first shift, which is a traditional working nine-to-five shift, or third, night shift is that the working hours are mainly in the evening. It reflects the fact that many companies now implement a 24/7 business model to achieve optimal efficiency and, thus, require employees to work during that time. you can track your time via Time Tracking Software.
The most common second shift jobs tend to be in sectors like The most common second shift jobs tend to be in sectors like:
- Manufacturing
- Healthcare
- Transportation/shipping
- Retail and hospitality
It is worth mentioning that some employees prefer to work the second shift on purpose since they can manage their schedule or other obligations more efficiently with such work hours. For most, the second shift schedule is as essential as any other requirement of the job that they are bound to embrace.
Advantages of Working the Second Shift
While working outside of standard business hours doesn’t appeal to everyone’s preferences, second shift roles do come with some advantages: While working outside of standard business hours doesn’t appeal to everyone’s preferences, second shift roles do come with some advantages:
- Less Competition: They reveal that there is usually low competition compared to when one is applying for first-shift jobs since few people wish to work during the evening or at night. This can help you in securing a job interview or even the job you have been targeting for quite some time now.
- Wage Differentials: Some employers, for instance, have shift differential policies where second and third-shift workers receive slightly more than their base pay due to inconvenient working hours.
- Quieter Work Environment: As for the second shift of the day, the workers of many companies like healthcare, call centers, and manufacturing industries find it a bit calmer than other daytime shifts. The measuring of calibrations may not be as stringent too, and the atmosphere may be more relaxed.
- Schedule Compatibility: A second shift job is also suitable for people with many commitments during their daytime such as school, childcare, or another form of employment since it offers an income that you require during night time, when other activities can be handled during the day.
Drawbacks of Attending Second-Shift Jobs
Working outside of normal business hours certainly comes with its unique challenges too: Working outside of normal business hours certainly comes with its unique challenges too:
- Disrupts Work/Social Life: Even getting a chance to hang with friends or attend a particular event becomes very difficult especially when you work as everyone else is going off. Second shifters tend to experience the feeling of loneliness and they live their lives in harmony with everyone else’s but in their different parallel universe. Others might be affected by their family interactions and bonding.
- Health Issues: Research has revealed that employees who work the evening shift have a higher health risk than their counterparts who work during the day. Habits such as late night working followed by waking up at night also pose certain risks such as obesity, depression, diabetes, and even heart disease in the long run due to exposure to light at night.
- Increased Fatigue & Errors: Second shift jobs are not natural with our bodies being designed to be asleep at night, and thus we are forced to compromise our sleep to work on the second shift. This leads to more exhaustion, not to mention the conditions that arise due to the overnight shift. This is the reason why, when staff becomes tired, they are more likely to have slip-ups and cause accidents.
- Childcare Problems: Obtaining baby care that offers a second shift can sometimes turn out to be a nightmare. As much as daycare centers are common, most of them have a rather early closing time and thus cannot adequately accommodate the needs of parents who work at night. Specialty facilities also come at high costs too. This leads to many parents who work in shifts losing out on job stability and opportunities to change shifts.
The second Shift Schedule can be effectively managed through the following steps:
If you plan to pursue or have already accepted a second shift job, keep these tips in mind to help make the adjustment smoother: If you plan to pursue or have already accepted a second shift job, keep these tips in mind to help make the adjustment smoother:
- This is the reason why people should carefully select the hours they wish to dedicate to sleeping. Avoid exposure to light during bedtime. Sunlight may be an issue so some blackout curtains or an eye mask will be useful.
- However, it is equally important to keep the body clock on other days off also so one should maintain rigid timings for sleep.
- It is recommended to have a heavy meal and caffeine intake in the middle of the shift so as not to interfere with the night rest.
- They should also wake up and go to bed as most employees do, that is, develop morning and evening programs. It is a way of maintaining the healthy rhythms.
- It is important to take breaks for approximately 10-15 minutes of the shift and move around, stretch, or splash water on the face. This combats fatigue.
- Ensure that the person maintains regular contact with friends and family that they only meet during the day so that they do not feel that they are not as close as they used to be.
- It is always advisable to take your lunch break and go out into the sun for some fresh air and Vitamin N whenever you can. This, in turn, aids in increasing energy and concentration as well.
However, working under unpredictable schedules is not always a walk in the park; therefore, understanding and embracing the role of a second-shift worker can be helpful in a great way. Some tips that could help include getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, staying in touch with family and friends, and talking to your employer about any accommodation you may need. In any case, with some coordinated plan, it is possible to have a highly paid and well-deserved job on the second shift.
