Just took a 25% pay cut to increase to 12hr shifts and couldn't be happier!

[Saskatchewstachian]

A little background to this post.

I've recently been following the "How do people make $100+ salary?" thread and was going to post however it looks like I waited too long because I no longer meet that threshold. My previous way of making that wage was to work in a cyclical industry and live in a work camp Mon-Fri and get OT.

With some personnel changes around the office and being assertive on chasing the open position I have been able to transition from a regular 5-2 role (Mon-Fri) working 10 hour days to a 2-2 role (two weeks in two weeks out) working 12 hour days.

From a little analysis I did before I took the role I will go from 143 days off a year to 197 days off.

This is based on:
5-2
52 weeks/yr*2 days off per week = 104 days
Earned days off = 12 days
Stat holidays = 12 days
Vacation Days = 15 days
Total = 143 days off

2-2 Rotation
52weeks/yr*50%= 26 weeks off = 182 days
Earned days off = 0
Stat days off = 0
Vacation days = 15
Total  =  197 days

Difference = (197-143)/143 = 38% more time off!!!

By going rotation I had to give up all of my OT which amounted to 25% of my pay. So by dropping pay by 25% and dropping days worked by 38% I actually increased my $/day. Of course this means longer days while I am at work, but when you live in a camp with nothing to do after work the additional hours aren't that bad.

I have heard that one of the downsides of 2-2 is that you spend much more money while at home  due to all the free time. Has anybody else worked a rotation like this and found that to be true?

[yachi]

downsides of 2-2 is that you spend much more money while at home  due to all the free time. Has anybody else worked a rotation like this and found that to be true?

I don't work like this, but it seems to me that if you're relatively mustachian you should be able to buck this trend.  This would be good early retirement practice since you will be dealing with the same issues (lots of free time at home).  Typical suggestions are free or money-making hobbies, or money saving activities such as cooking your own food from scratch.

[Saskatchewstachian]

Cooking is definitely in the plan! It's one of the things I miss most about not being at home and it's also kind of a hobby. I recently picked up some supplies for molecular gastronomy so will finally have time to try it out on different recipes (approx $50 of supplies that will hopefully last months). I bought the supplies in bulk as opposed to the kits that companies sell which are significantly marked up.

I also would like to get a little more involved with wordworking, I have the basic tools required but very little practive. I'm thinking that I would like to try making plaques and mount for a few of the antlers I have stashed in the corner of the garage. If I can find some cheap or scrap hardwood I would like to use that for the mount.

I believe my spending will rise a small amount simply because right now my room, utilities and food are covered by work but planning to keep it to a relatively small rise.

[Goldy]

I do a lot of rotation work in camps and really enjoy having a two week vacation every month instead of just weekends.

[LovinPSDs]

I just convinced my work to give us 4-10s... unfortunately it was a bargaining chip due to mandatory weekend coverage requirements :(. I did manage a rotation with my co worker so I get 2 day and then 4 day weekends rotating so that's good!  I'm glad your getting a better schedule, I'm coming to terms with the fact that I love to damn far from work for 10 hr days. The place where our plant is located is pretty rough though.