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Night Shifts, Too Much

D

DiabeticSkater

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Hi all,

As some of you may know I work 3 nights a week in a casino as a Croupier. I have worked nights for over ten years normally 10pm til 6am. I now feel that working these night shifts is not doing my health any good at all. I have been diabetic type 1 for nearly 30 years and now suffer with gastroparesis which can add even more complication to the situation.

Now, do you think I am within my rights to ask for afternoon shifts working 4pm til 12 rather than the shifts I already work? returned to work around 12 months ago after a long absence due to gastroparesis and decided I would try working three night shifts rather than the 4 I worked before.

But it is now becoming apparent that working these nights are having a serious effect on my BG. Normally well controlled and HbAC1 or whatever its called for the last ten years have been excellent. But I think overall it could be improved if I lived a more "normal" life.

I know for a fact some of the people I work with will be up in arms if I work afternoons rather than nights, but it me whom has to deal with this day in day out. I hope my employer will be accommodating to my needs as they have been so far for me and other employees. But wonder if I should get a letter from my GP stating the problems working night shifts can cause. I have an appointment Tuesday.

All input welcome

peace

Rich
 
Contact Diabetes Uk and ask what your rights are. they're good at that even if their dietary advice is rubbish.
 
Night shifts often do play havoc with blood sugars.

I can't see that a letter from your doctor would do any harm.
 
I spent the last two and half years doing very late shifts and I do believe that this (in conjunction with caffeine abuse to survive aforementioned shifts) had a large impact on my diagnosis of diabetes. You have rights to be treated in a manner that means you are not discriminated against and I think you have a fair chance of getting your employer to assist you - however, they probably won't have to continue paying your night supplement.
 
oh ok - then they pretty much need to find you an alternative position to suit your health needs ... hope it can be resolved successfully x
 
I can still work as a croupier during the afternoon and evening because the casino opens at 4pm. Should give me a chance to do a little behind the scene work too. On me hols this week might make an appointment to see the GM. see how it goes.
 
sometimes work management can be buggardly (sorry but its the best word for it) and offer you a position they know you won't take ... been there ... anyhow, not being a misery guts, I am sure that given your experience and the availability of such another position with better hours, that they should be able to accomodate your needs :) good luck and let us know how it goes withe GM x
 
Great word and describes management very well. Had a fair few ins and outs with this company over the years. When I went down to three nights and asked for the shifts to be together they put me working every weekend because they thought this would be a disadvantage to me. Suckers. Is the busiest time of the week though so my workload is far heavier than anyone else.
Lucky I have the DDA imprinted on my concious mind. And they don't even realise that because I am registered as a disabled worker the company is entitled to a nice tax break. very strange place indeed. :roll:
Can't see there being a problem as my friend who is ill with some incurable blood virus works odd shifts to suit his needs.
 
oh my word, you'd think with taxation benefits, more people would be advised to register their illnesses ... being that most of us don't I guess it's because we don't want to be treated unfairly ... good luck anyhow, it's good your colleague has had some kind of help, so it bodes well :) x
 
Jem said:
sometimes work management can be buggardly (sorry but its the best word for it) and offer you a position they know you won't take ... been there ...
Click to expand...

Ah yes, "Constructive Dismissal" they tried to pull that on one of my colleagues. Unfortunately this was *after* they sent him on the training course explaining how to do it.

Not the sharpest pencils in the box . . .
 
oh that is classic ... grrrrrrr
 
I was put on overnights which I'm sure was one of the many contributing factors in the type 1 diagnosis. I got a letter from my endo stating working overnights was detrimental to my health, not that it did any good. Their accomodation was to start at 5am and work less hours-huh. I ended up taking early retirement (I had worked there 22 years and cost them too much in wages and benefits). I'm sure that was their aim all along, not that it hadn't been done many times before. My advice, try the letter from the endo and see if management pays any attention. Good luck. Carol
 
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