Work,life,financial balance.

[Simon11]

At least driving a train you cant take your work home with you or even on holiday. i hear of office staff being pressured to going online to do work stuff in the evening, days off, while on the sick or even on holiday.
But bus and train driving is very sedentary, more than office work, I think. (Never done either) I imaging keeping a bit fit can be a struggle.

Agree that office staff have pressure to take the work home previously but now office workers, like myself can work from home the balance of work/life has improved significantly since the pandemic. I wouldn't put it past some people on the front line to seriously consider moving into the office to take advantage of having more flexible working patterns and being able to work from home.

This year, I have only been in the office a few days and while I may look at my e-mails around 7am, then float around the laptop during the day for meetings/ e-mails and then look at e-mails around 6pm, I get to squeeze in lots of time with my children, get lots of home chores sorted and fit in volunteering commitments. I do miss getting out and about on the railway, however life is far easier now.

 

[MattyGregs]

I think a lot depends on your work history and background. I’ve applied for a job as conductor so I appreciate the shifts won’t be as crazy as they are for drivers, however it still involves lates and earlies.

I come from a retail, catering and hospitality background where this is all I’ve know. But these jobs have had lots of unpaid work due to being on a salary and the expectation is to carry on until the job is done.

The idea of being on 35 hours a week and overtime being a paid extra is brilliant for me. I really do think it depends on where you’ve worked before to how the shift work will affect you.