I’ve worked 2nd (afternoon), swing (evening), and 3rd (overnight) shifts for the majority of my life. I recently moved into a training position where I’m Monday through Friday, 8am to ~5:30pm (I get OT while I’m cleaning up and writing reports).
As much as the 2nd/swing/3rd shifts screw with your life in other ways, the difficulty in scheduling any kind of life services outside of working hours is maddening. Doctor’s appointment? Nope. DMV? Maybe Saturday, if you’re lucky. Chaperone your kids field trip? Hahahhah no.
I don’t want to burn sick time for a doctor’s appointment (I need to save those for when my kid is actually sick), and I sure as hell don’t want to use up a “vacation” day for it. How tf are you supposed to get anything done?
IDK how hourly workers do it.
In theory it should be no problem for salaried workers. The point of salary is that you are supposedly being paid for your work output rather than your time. I know that isn’t always the case; companies love to control workers.
I have been lucky. At every place I worked for the last 20-ish years the salaried employees come and go as they please. It’s normal to leave for a mid-day appointment and then come back to the office. All that matters is shit gets done in a timely manner and we’re available when people need us. I wish everyone had that level of flexibility.