our department works a 12 hour shift and we rotate 4 weeks on nights and 4 weeks on days. we work 14 out of the 28 days which isnt too bad and get every other weekend off. anyone work straight nights or days and see any advantages or disadvantages?

i work the same rotation as u hcgale, but i only stay on nights, i love nights! i would hate to be stuck on day shift!!

We work 12's also and we rotate every 2 months (56 days actually the way the calendar falls). This schedule works great. Ive worked every police schedule you can name, 8 hrs., 10 hrs, and now 12's for the past 7 years. Its the best schedule out there bar none. Off 3 day weekend every other weekend with 2 days on, 2 off during the week. One weekend you work fri, sat, sun, the next your off fri, sat, sun. Really helps with the family commitments, court appearances etc. Guys are well rested and mentally sharp everyday, not just the beginning of the rotation as some depts.( 8 hrs, 6 days in a row with 2 or 3 days off). By that 4th thru 6th day your burnt out, the 2 days off that follows doesnt even come close to energizing you, before your right back at it.
You'd be surprised how many old dogs are reluctant to leave their comfort zone and get more time off, more frequently. My friends in surrounding Dept.'s are a prime example. They constantly ask me how I can work a 12 hour shift. I tellthem, Id rather work the 12 and get 2 off after 2 on than wait 6 days to get the same 2 off. If Im already at work, the heck with it, lets run the 12 so I can have more time for my family.
Especially if your on specialty teams. Awfully hard to fit it all in working 6 days in a row.

I wish we rotated. Keep from getting stale. Right now I work an overlapping shift 6pm to 2am.

used to work all shifts: first, second, third (on ocassion). i'll admit it was peculiar regulating a sleep schedual that shifted from week to week, but i'm 9-5 gig rite now, and I absolutley hate it..i'm a nite owl. Always have been, probably always will be.

We work 80 hrs every two weeks; 6 12 hr shifts and one 8 hr shift. You pick the day you want the 8 hr shift on and it's yours as long as your on that particular shift(for me nights). Ex. fri, sat, and sun 12hrs.; off mon and tues; 12hrs wed and thurs; off fri, sat, sun; 12hrs mon and 8hrs tue; off wed and thurs... and then your two week shift starts all over again.... plenty of time off and plenty of time to do side jobs or playtime....... every Oct. dept bids for nites and days by seniority..

I would rather work all nights. Our shifts would start out like a 18, then 16, 12, then an 08 on your last day. I don't like that system at all. I would like to have Midnight to 08 all week!

We also work the 12 hr shifts. Although we work 4 weeks on one shift and 2 weeks on the other. I hate that rotation. I'm so used to being up at night that by the time day shift comes around, I don't sleep at night and am worthless during the day. Just when you start to get adjusted to sleeping at night and working during the day we're back on nights. I'd prefer all nights. I can't stand daylight!

I hate the 8hr shift but It works for my family. I have to go back to nights and I dread it cause I know my daughter will have to go to day care and I hate that.....

I think getting used to the shift change would be the hardest. We work a 10 hr shift, 4 on 4 off. We bid our shifts every yr for 6 mo periods unless there are other changes throughout the year.

the department I work for rotates shifts every 18 days (2 work weeks).

Someone told me there was a federal requirement of a 28 day minimum.

Anybody know if that's true or not?

 I have a question about a Police Officers hours. Why do many if not all PD's rotate? My common sense answer would be because the suspect/ or victim would otherwise get use to when the officer is on or off. Like on days here and off nights here. Maybe an odd question, but I'm curious.

Thanks, Rich

 Ok I can see the point. Thanks.