Work in the utilities sector can be one of the most rewarding, stimulating and fulfilling career pathways available, giving professionals the opportunity to develop skills over time and take on a wide range of responsibilities. However, people looking to make a career change can sometimes be put off by a lack of understanding surrounding the different shift patterns that are common for these types of roles.

At Lanes Group, staff generally work around 40 hours a week, with some 50-hour weeks when night shifts are involved. Shifts vary in length from around 9 to 12 hours, with a range of working patterns and shift schedules used to ensure that staff are available whenever our services are required.

Each of these working models has its pros and cons, so workers must be familiar with all of them to help them select the approach that suits them best. With this in mind, we’ve compiled an introduction to some of the most common shift patterns used by Lanes employees, with an explanation of how they work and advice on the type of lifestyles for which they are best suited, to give you all the information you will need before exploring our vacancies.

4 on, 4 off

The “4 on, 4 off” model is one of the most common and well-known shift patterns that are available in the sector. This shift rotation is commonly used by our driver/operators and those working in 24-hour office-based customer service roles.

As the name suggests, this approach sees staff members working daily or nightly shifts of nine to 12 hours for four consecutive days, before getting four straight days off, and so on. This approach provides the employer with reliable access to personnel when they are needed, while the staff themselves benefit from a predictable, regular working pattern that they can easily plan around.

For some, 4 on, 4 off shifts are advantageous for allowing them to avoid having to make daily commutes, while providing them with dedicated blocks of time to focus on their home life; many enjoy regularly having entire weekdays off, as this makes it easier for them to attend appointments and look after their families.

It is worth noting that this approach, when extended over an entire year, means you will have more time off than most professionals working Monday to Friday. However, this approach will also mean that your time off from work will not necessarily coincide with those of friends and family, especially at weekends, which could be seen as a downside depending on your lifestyle.

7 on, 7 off

The 7 on, 7 off model is a variant of the 4 on, 4 off approach, and is also often utilised by professional drivers and all-day customer service offices. Again, as the name suggests, this shift pattern involves seven days of consecutive work, followed by a week-long break.

This approach is often favoured for the regular extended break periods it provides, and for the ability to spend a dedicated amount of time concentrating on their professional duties, followed by an equally well-defined period of focus on their personal and family lives.

The nature of 7 on, 7 off shifts means it can be challenging to swap or rearrange shifts when necessary, which can mean that some people find this shift pattern to lack the flexibility they require for their lives. However, for the right person, this working model can offer an ideally-weighted work-life balance.

Monday to Friday day shifts

Due to the on-call nature of utilities work, traditional Monday to Friday, 9-to-5 day shift work in this sector tends to be more common for office-based roles, rather than those in the field.

Because of its widespread nature, the advantages and disadvantages of Monday-to-Friday work will be well known to any professional. Some will always favour this model because it keeps them in sync with the standardised working patterns of their family, and the majority of society, making it easier for them to plan their evening and weekend schedules.

However, for others, the ability to work nights, weekends and irregular workdays is part of the attraction of joining the utilities sector, which is why the ability to accommodate both preferences remains one of the most common selling points the industry has to offer.

Sunday to Thursday night shifts

Companies like Lanes Group simply wouldn’t be able to operate without the availability of drainage workers for night shifts. Not only are they necessary for attending emergency callouts, but they are also essential for performing routine maintenance work that needs to be done during off-hours - rail maintenance projects are a good example of this. Weekend shifts also bring their pros and cons, as they can be antisocial, but provide often have higher pay and can benefit those who have other responsibilities throughout the week.

Night shift work is not for everyone; for many, the idea of working through the night and sleeping during the day will never appeal to them, due to concerns about their physical and mental wellbeing, or worries about the impact on their family life. However, for those who are well-suited to night work, the rewards can be significant.
This is reflected first and foremost in purely practical terms, as pay rates tend to be higher for night shifts, and there is also less competition for jobs. What’s more, many night workers are drawn to the relatively quiet nature of the work and the lack of external distractions.
For those with the right temperament for it, night shifts can be a genuinely fulfilling opportunity, giving staff members a venue to work at their own pace, and be rewarded well for it.

Night tramping

Night tramping is an informal UK trucker slang term given to a specific type of night work available to professional drivers. It refers to jobs where a driver is asked to make a long-distance journey or delivery that takes several days, with much of the travel being done at night.

Within the utilities sector, night tramping is required within tankering divisions, with average breaks of 11 hours between each shift in place to protect staff wellbeing and prevent them from feeling overly fatigued. The hours involved in night tramping are sometimes lengthy, but responsible employers will always make sure that staff are well-rested and properly remunerated for their efforts.

As with other types of night shift work, this will not appeal to every candidate equally. Specifically, night trampers have to contend with the challenges of being out on the road for extended hours, including fatigue, concentration and the difficulty of having to eat and sleep in and around a vehicle.

However, for many, this is part of the appeal. Keen night trampers are often attracted to this type of work due to an affinity for the quiet night roads, where they can keep themselves entertained and carry out their work with few disruptions, and find this to be a peaceful line of work. What’s more, staff willing to commit to night driving are always in demand, and will rarely find themselves short on work.

Find a job with the best shift pattern for you

By weighing up the pros and cons of each of these shift patterns, professionals considering a role in the drainage and utilities sector will be able to find a model that works for them and their lifestyles. Employers like Lanes Group are keen to help talented candidates with shift planning to find a method of working that they will find most fulfilling and use this as a foundation for building a long and successful career.

If you’d like to explore some of the different roles and shift patterns we have to offer, check out our full listing of available vacancies today.