Your opinion

[YELLOWLAB]

My dept. is on a 4 month schedule rotation. So each officer will have his current shift for 4 months. All officers at one time or another, will work during the year; day, swing, and grave shift. Seniority applies only to the days off an officer chooses on each shift.

At the beginning of our last rotation in Jan. I was working the swing, 1600-0200 hours, off on Wed, Thur, and Fri. My partner was working the grave, 2000-0600 hours, off on Sun, Mon, and Tues. He has children and I don't. He was having day care issues, and he asked if I would trade my swing for his grave. This would give him more weekdays off, and able to watch his children while his wife was at work. I told him sure.

In May, we begin a new rotation. I'm staying on the grave, on the same days off. He will be going to day shift 0600-1600, off on Sat, Sun, and Mon.

The question is; should I ask him if he would trade with me, since I stepped up and did him a solid a few months ago? I would like to think he would at least ask me? I'm the guy who will go that extra mile for anyone at work.

I know this is a small issue, but I would appreciate any input, and how other officers would react. I know the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Thanks.

[Tex4720]

You could tell him if he is gonna swap the shift again you want first choice. Besides that, he still has the kids and it may work better for him to keep the shift. You did him a favor. I would not expect anything for that. Besides nights is the shift to work. It would kill me to swap shifts every 4 months.

[YELLOWLAB]

Tex, good point. Thats why I wanted an outside opinion. I guess it has been sometime since I have seen a full weekend off. I did do him a favor, and I feel a little guilty of thinking of myself. Thank you.

[jswwjw]

He can always say know but next shift he is going to need your help again. What comes around........just my thoughts, be safe.

[jswwjw]

Worked late last night, sorry, He can always say "no" (some times I am just a dumba**

[CwboyScooby]

I would not ask him switch. I know you did him a great favor giving him your swing shift, but the shift he works means 10x as much to him than it does to you. Maybe one day when you have young kids and his are older he will be the one repaying the favor, but right now he is the friend in need.

I LOVED working midnights before my kids came along. Now it is makes life extremely difficult. I sometimes have to go 2-3 days without sleeping more than 2 hours at a time because of it. Unfortunately, our dept. does not allow us to trade shifts. We rotate every 6 months and most of the dept hates it. Some guys love days, some love nights.

Why can't the brass just let everyone work what shifts they are best suited for and allow seniority to choose where they want to be?

[YELLOWLAB]

Scooby, I see your point. I don't think i'll approach him about it. I just needed some feedback. FYI, I wont be having any children, little old for that now. LOL.

[Tex4720]

I dont get the shift change thing either. I've been nights my whole carreer, hell I've had the same Lt. for the last 17. Making people move just to move them is stupid. And it cant be healthy at all. I know they say nights are not healthy but changing every 4 to 6 months has gotta kill ya.

[CwboyScooby]

The change every 6 months does kill you. It takes forever to adjust. Then you have those with kids who have to find new childcare facilities and even hire people to stay with your kids all night if your spouse is away.

It could be worse.... Our local troopers rotate every 2 weeks. They NEVER adjust.

[mnbulldawg]

yeah that shi% sucks. Id ask him, the worse thing he can say is no. I don't know, i'm a bitter AH but you said you are the guy to go the extra mile, id get away from that. Most cops are in it for them self's. but as i said im a bitter AH

Good luck (not that big of an AH)