4 ms·

This is a 4x10, 3rd shift schedule which is pretty normal for factory/warehouse jobs.

ceilingcorner 6y ago
According to the article, employees previously not on the 3rd shift schedule were given a week to either agree to it or lose their jobs. I don't know about you, but if my employer said I had to start working 1:20am to 11:50am within a week or lose my job, I'd be pretty angry too. Especially if I was a warehouse worker making a low salary that couldn't afford to find a new job easily.
- mc32 6y ago
  I think you’re both right. Some people love these schedules _if_ they don’t have other commitments (like a second job or child care, etc). But making it mandatory and not making it elective, usually with some incentive (like 25% premium), is a bit predatory, or at least strong arming workers.
  - efsavage 6y ago
    Sounds like that's kind of the point, you impose a policy only a certain type of worker can manage. The fact that this type of worker skews cheaper and more flexible (younger, single, no kids, lower cost of living, etc.) is probably not a coincidence.
    - mc32 6y ago
      When I was in my late teens I briefly worked in a warehouse. Work was okay. Pay for what it was was okay. I would _not_ have liked an abrupt no options policy like this imposed. At least make it palatable with a premium per shift as well as make it optional. Ramming it like this will only make people resent it. In a non surveillance world, I’m certain shrinkage would go up from either theft or from intentional mishandling/damage.
batmaniam 6y ago
I don't think the point of the article was to normalize this schedule for 'factory workers'. To me, it's trying to say that this is an unhealthy way of life, and should not be implemented or tolerated in the workplace. Those people need better labor rights From the article: "Megacycle isn't not just bad for lifestyle reasons," a warehouse worker at a delivery station in Queens, New York and a member of the group Amazonians United NYC, told Motherboard. "It's bad for your body. I don't think everyone can handle this."
- KozmoNau7 6y ago
  Back when I worked on a rotating 8 hour shift schedule in a NOC, we had a very thorough introduction on how to handle such a schedule, plus the health effects and tips on how to deal with the sleep cycle changes and so on. There were regular medical checkups, we got hazard pay and the NOC had a workout room, massage chairs and everything. Even with all of that, it beat the hell out of me, and I was doing glorified office work, no hard physical work at all. The average graveyard shift security guard or warehouse worker will presumably have none of those benefits, and will be so much worse off.
- matz1 6y ago
  Thats the point of the comment, to show counter argument/view.
_Understated_ 6y ago
From September 2020 I had to work at an Amazon Warehouse in the UK. Nightshift. Our shifts were 4 x 10.5 with two 30 mins breaks (which you only got paid for one!) It was absolute shite and the toughest job I've ever done but, hey, I kept my roof over my head. It's not nice but unfortunately when you don't have a job and prospects suck then they hold all the cards :(
- sthnblllII 6y ago
  Thats not an accident. Offshoring and immigration have killed the ability of labor to walk when given terrible choices like this.
  - yunohn 6y ago
    > Offshoring and immigration That is a straw man. Instead, corporates need to be forced to follow labor laws and respect human rights.
    - ku-man 6y ago
      "...corporates need to be forced to follow labor laws and respect human rights." You dirty commie, why you don't move to North Korea?
    - sthnblllII 6y ago
      Increasing supply and reducing demand lowers the price. Thats why everyone who opposes immigration and offshoring is called a racist by corporate media.
  - tuxxy 6y ago
    Are you really coming on HN to try and blame immigrants for this? Do you know the kind of contributions immigrants have had in this industry? Do you know how important open immigration has been to the rise of tech?
    - throwaway3699 6y ago
nickpinkston 6y ago
Yea, when I ran a factory, our team preferred the 4x10 to 5x8 by a long shot.
- clajiness 6y ago
  I don't think that's the point being debated.

According to the article, employees previously not on the 3rd shift schedule were given a week to either agree to it or lose their jobs. I don't know about you, but if my employer said I had to start working 1:20am to 11:50am within a week or lose my job, I'd be pretty angry too. Especially if I was a warehouse worker making a low salary that couldn't afford to find a new job easily.

mc32 6y ago
I think you’re both right. Some people love these schedules _if_ they don’t have other commitments (like a second job or child care, etc). But making it mandatory and not making it elective, usually with some incentive (like 25% premium), is a bit predatory, or at least strong arming workers.
- efsavage 6y ago
  Sounds like that's kind of the point, you impose a policy only a certain type of worker can manage. The fact that this type of worker skews cheaper and more flexible (younger, single, no kids, lower cost of living, etc.) is probably not a coincidence.
  - mc32 6y ago
    When I was in my late teens I briefly worked in a warehouse. Work was okay. Pay for what it was was okay. I would _not_ have liked an abrupt no options policy like this imposed. At least make it palatable with a premium per shift as well as make it optional. Ramming it like this will only make people resent it. In a non surveillance world, I’m certain shrinkage would go up from either theft or from intentional mishandling/damage.

batmaniam 6y ago

I don't think the point of the article was to normalize this schedule for 'factory workers'. To me, it's trying to say that this is an unhealthy way of life, and should not be implemented or tolerated in the workplace. Those people need better labor rights From the article: "Megacycle isn't not just bad for lifestyle reasons," a warehouse worker at a delivery station in Queens, New York and a member of the group Amazonians United NYC, told Motherboard. "It's bad for your body. I don't think everyone can handle this."

KozmoNau7 6y ago
Back when I worked on a rotating 8 hour shift schedule in a NOC, we had a very thorough introduction on how to handle such a schedule, plus the health effects and tips on how to deal with the sleep cycle changes and so on. There were regular medical checkups, we got hazard pay and the NOC had a workout room, massage chairs and everything. Even with all of that, it beat the hell out of me, and I was doing glorified office work, no hard physical work at all. The average graveyard shift security guard or warehouse worker will presumably have none of those benefits, and will be so much worse off.
matz1 6y ago
Thats the point of the comment, to show counter argument/view.

_Understated_ 6y ago

From September 2020 I had to work at an Amazon Warehouse in the UK. Nightshift. Our shifts were 4 x 10.5 with two 30 mins breaks (which you only got paid for one!) It was absolute shite and the toughest job I've ever done but, hey, I kept my roof over my head. It's not nice but unfortunately when you don't have a job and prospects suck then they hold all the cards :(

sthnblllII 6y ago
Thats not an accident. Offshoring and immigration have killed the ability of labor to walk when given terrible choices like this.
- yunohn 6y ago
  > Offshoring and immigration That is a straw man. Instead, corporates need to be forced to follow labor laws and respect human rights.
  - ku-man 6y ago
    "...corporates need to be forced to follow labor laws and respect human rights." You dirty commie, why you don't move to North Korea?
  - sthnblllII 6y ago
    Increasing supply and reducing demand lowers the price. Thats why everyone who opposes immigration and offshoring is called a racist by corporate media.
- tuxxy 6y ago
  Are you really coming on HN to try and blame immigrants for this? Do you know the kind of contributions immigrants have had in this industry? Do you know how important open immigration has been to the rise of tech?
  - throwaway3699 6y ago

nickpinkston 6y ago

Yea, when I ran a factory, our team preferred the 4x10 to 5x8 by a long shot.

clajiness 6y ago
I don't think that's the point being debated.