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Working nights. Should I turn down the job?

NAS62726

I left a permanent job voluntarily as The job was affecting my mental health. The manager was an absolute bully and it had become hell working there.

I took some time off and applied for other opportunities. I’m a qualified nurse. I am on strong anti-depressants which I take before bed as they can leave you drowsy and lethargic. They should be taken the same time every day. Therefore I’ve always ruled out night work.

However after applying for every position going which is day time hours and not getting anywhere. I finally accepted defeat and took a shift work job.

It’s 4 days a week day time, 4 days off and then 4 days nights.

I was glad to be offered the position as my 7 weeks of unemployment has left me in debt by £2000 (had to take out a loan to pay rent) which I need to pay back ASAP. I also cannot survive on the amount I get on universal credit. I mean I could technically but it would be just about surviving and I’d be constantly worried about money.

I’ve requested a refund of my pension contributions and this with my housing support will keep me okay with rent for around 9 months but after that I’m going to struggle.

I just really can’t see how I can cope with night time working. I’m usually asleep by 11pm and I can’t sleep in the day. I will go insane having my body clock disrupted like that. I will be drowsy from my medication and I just feel I’m going to be utterly miserable and quit within a few weeks.

This isn’t my only option. I can stay on universal credit until I find something which won’t negatively affect my mental health (this has been agreed). I can use this time to find something that will suit me longterm. I could also take a lower paid job to keep me going for now.

I just don’t know what to do.

If you were me would you turn down the offer of a fairly high paid job to remain unemployed?

  • Former Member
    Former Member in reply to Calvin&Hobbes Fan

    The £2000 debt is only one of the numerous issues that is effecting the OP though and that came as a result of the other issues not being addressed, causing the OP to take time off work. As such, focusing on the debt is still likely to leave the OP struggling and may result in a cycle where their MH doesn't improve and they're forced to give up work again. 

    The debt issue could be the easiest to manage. Charities such as Step Change (I used to work for them) can work with the OPs creditor to stop any interest being charged and to agree on an affordable payment plan. This could be a min of £1 a month whilst they're off work and then they can increase the payments to pay off the debt when you're well enough to work.

    If the OP goes back to work and is no longer compliant with her GPs instructions re her medication and is taking a post that is high risk for causing MH issues (shift work) is this more likely to set her back? If they are based in the UK the OP is in a really privileged position where the gov will give you enough money to pay for the basics whilst they take a breather to figure what's causing them so many problems and giving them the time they get back on your feet. I believe luxuries are nice but resolving the underlying issues and developing good MH is far more important, that a short term fix.

  • in reply to Former Member
    Unknown said:
    You say you can manage on universal credit but you don't want to 'manage'.

    I personally think that this is a rather harsh evaluation of the situation. From my perspective, this is a person which is struggling both with mental health and problems with finances- problems which affect both m of which affect mental health with organisations such as the debt & support trust saying that suicide is thought of in 50% of those who are struggling with debt in the U.K. I don't know what the statistics are for where this person is living, but that should give you an idea of the severity of the situation. Concerns about debt is a real factor to consider here- which is why I think she should take the job in question. As a means of safeguarding, I shall be leaving some helplines on here. Being that no country/region has been mentioned, I am making the 'foolish assumption' that the place being mentioned is in the U.K.

    Debt support trust:

    Phone: 0800 085 0226

    Email: contact@debtsupporttrust.org.uk

    Samaritans:

    Phone: 116 123

    Email: jo@samaritans.org

  • Former Member
    Former Member

    You say you can manage on universal credit but you don't want to 'manage'. I've been in your position both in terms of leaving a post and where I had to take the medication at the same time every day. If I didn't take the medication as prescribed it had a significant negative effect on me. Plus, shift work takes a terrible toll on the body, therefore if you're already struggling it's likley this new post will make things worse.

    It comes across as though you might be making a mistake and prioritising money overtaking the time you need to sort out your health. If you do this are you likely to end up in the same situation all over again? I wouldn't accept the post.

  • Hello, I agree with the last post. Talk to your GP regarding your medication. Maybe they can come up with a solution. Shift work can be  a nighmare at first but I got used to it. I have worked 2 weeks of days then 1 week of nights pattern They Day shift ended weds the nights started thursday! Then I worked 2 week's of nights 2 weeks off on board a ship which had passengers at all hours. As I was on 12 hour shifts on all of the above shifts, sleeping wasent an issue as I was exhausted by bed time I also liked nights as they were quieter passenger wise. So you may get on better than you think after a little adjustment time.

  • NAS62726 said:
    If you were me would you turn down the offer of a fairly high paid job to remain unemployed?

    Hey here are my thoughts on your situation. First and foremost, I would like to say that you have (in my opinion) done the right thing in leaving the first job- bullying can have negative implications on mental health and frankly ain't nobody got time for that! As for whether you should go for the job in question, I think that you should, but you also need to explore how best to mitigate the consequences of the £2,000 debt as I am concerned that the interest may mean that this debt may make it more difficult to pay it off than you first envisioned. Have you sought any help to pay this off? Also, I know that your main concern in amongst all this is your antidepressant medication but is there any means through which you may be able to take these at a different hour of the day? Would you be able to get some doctoral advice on this subject through your personal connections to qualified professionals?

    I am sorry to hear of your difficult dilemma and am hoping that things get better for you in the foreseeable future.

    Calvin&Hobbes Fan