Night shifts
статья по английскому языку (11 класс)

Night Shifts

Night shift is a period of time at night when people regularly work and then sleep during the day. Workers on night shifts face the pros and cons of working odd hours and have to make a deliberate effort to remain healthy and productive.

The first disadvantage of the night shift is a phenomenon, called «shift lag», which affects almost all night shift workers. This word derived from the term «jet lag» which long-distance air passengers suffer from. There is a high proportion of people, who become stressful because of finding it difficult to cope with extra strain of working at night. That lead to a lack of quality sleep, and the result is disorientation and mental and physical fatigue. The second disadvantage is that people even can have a mild body dehydration, which can be caused because of drinking insufficient fluids. Moreover, the problems get worse as workers continue night shift work over an extended period of years.

Talking not only about disadvantages of night shifts, but also about advantages, I would like to give an example of an ambulance driver and attendant, who has been working on the night shift for 11 years. Despite the fact, that he finds his job mostly boring and sometimes a little bit fearful, the best thing about it is that he is always on duty with one of the other guys. Therefore, nasty incidents are much easier to stomach when he is with someone.

Besides, there are some restrictions on night work, which include limits on how long you can work at night and age limit. Under the Working Time Regulations, night time is described as the period between 11.00 pm and 6.00 am. You’re a night worker if you regularly work for at least 3 hours during this period and don’t work more than approximately 8 hours in each 24-hour period. But there are separate special rules for mobile workers in air, sea and road transport. If you’re under 18 but over school leaving age, you’re classed as a young worker.

In my point of view, there are also some advantages of night shifts. For example: you can avoid traffic when you get to work, most companies pay more for the night shift, or if you are a student and have classes in the daytime, this is an opportunity to earn some extra cash. The last advantage of night shifts is that they may be suitable for such type of people, as «owls», who wide awake at night.

But according to my experience, when I had worked as a waitress in Banquet restaurant, it’s better to work day shifts. I had been working there from 10 am till 4 am. It was horrible, I was constantly tired and exhausted. And moreover I had a very low salary.

So, in conclusion I’d like to say, that a person should decide by himself which working hours are more suitable for him. But it seems to me, that night shifts are worse.