FIFO ?????? Is it hard?

**michelledenham** · 01-04-2011, 04:32 PM

Hubby got offered a FIFO job. 2weeks on and 2weeks off... Good money but will I find it too hard!

**Malkitek** · 01-04-2011, 04:40 PM

Hi,
We're not yet in oz, but hubbie works On ships for different lengths of time at the moment and will keep doing this when we get to oz. Have to say I quite like it, and get a bit grumpy if he's home too long ;) but am worried in oz will feel very lonely when he is away, think it'll be important to have at least one supportive person around while he is away, especially if you have family. Probably worth a try though if good money involved?

**michelledenham** · 01-04-2011, 04:45 PM

Thanks,
Where abouts are you heading? Well to be honest he does shift work at the moment, 12 hrs shifts. So if he is on days he leaves at 5:30am and gets home about 8pm. Then he does nights of which he then needs to sleep on and off in the days, so....... I am thinking that the 2weeks off will be good quality time with the family, rather then a few days here and there between shifts!

**MicheleW** · 01-04-2011, 08:04 PM

I did a 2 week on 2 week off FIFO for a few years and it certainly has positives and negatives. For a family I imagine it could be a bit more difficult than it was for me as a single person, but I know for some many the straight 2 weeks with family out of every 4 was better than they ever had working the 9-5 shifts.

Positives

A lot more time off work
Annual leave allowed for a 6 week break once a year
Great separation between work and home time
Home time is definitely home time, no popping into work to do more
As long as you can get to the airport you really aren't restricted to where you live. My boss lived in Yeppoon in Qld and we flew out of Perth airport for our work, another guy lived on a boat and just travelled around Australia and docked his boat wherever he was and flew to Perth to catch his flight to work.
The money is usually great

Negatives

Hard to be involved in regular activities such as sporting clubs at home
If a family member is ill you won't be there every evening to help out, chances are you may not be able to leave work before the end of the roster to get home and help
Dependent on the job, friends at work don't transfer to home location, ie great times on site don't necessarily transfer to great times with the same people in hometown.

Some families will love FIFO, some will hate it, but how you manage your OH being away for 2 weeks at a time really depends on how independent you are. If you rely on your OH to make all the decisions around the house, or be there to change a lightbulb when it blows then in all honesty you may struggle. Don't forget you have the added stress of being in a new country where you may not know anybody, you would have to ensure that you went out and got involved in things.

**2and3** · 01-04-2011, 08:36 PM

Mums I know who husbands do shift work in the uk love it - lol.

Suppose being in a new place , new surroundings,perhaps no friends ?? maybe a bit different. Depends what sort of person you are perhaps? And I think the age of the kids may come into it? If you had one at home and could get out in the day meeting other mums as opposed to all the kids being at school all day and knowing no-one??

Exciting stuff though.

**siamsusie** · 02-04-2011, 12:32 AM

My husband and I do FIFO... we have to be more organised but no we dont find it hard at all.
Two first 2 days of R & R are for relaxing days for us only .

We dont have children living with us, so our time is our own, but the majority of our mining friends are doing FIFO and if its 2 & 2 like us they love it.

8 & 6 is another pattern which is also recommended for families

Susie

**michelledenham** · 02-04-2011, 06:45 AM

Thanks all.
We have a few friends in Perth already so am hoping I want get to lonely. More concerned about family life and the Money! Yes the money is very good, but at a price. But then do you get to dependant on the high wages to ever be abe to leave? And family life, will hubby miss out on alot of things i.e.... sports day, events etc....

**Sandisonsonthemove** · 02-04-2011, 07:26 AM

HI Michelle

What does your OH do? Mine is a chef manager and is thinking of FIFO when we get there we think the money is quite good but it is difficult to find out what that actually is. You will be fine if you already have a few friends there as they will no doubt help you settle in. My OH was in the army so I am used to him being away and I am fairly independent. Saying that I still had family and friends within a few hours drive so it will be very different. Good luck with sorting out your removals.

Donna x

**Malkitek** · 02-04-2011, 08:01 AM

Originally Posted by michelledenham

Thanks,
Where abouts are you heading? Well to be honest he does shift work at the moment, 12 hrs shifts. So if he is on days he leaves at 5:30am and gets home about 8pm. Then he does nights of which he then needs to sleep on and off in the days, so....... I am thinking that the 2weeks off will be good quality time with the family, rather then a few days here and there between shifts!

Hi
We are moving to adelaide, as doesn't matter where hubbie is as long as there is an airport, I got to choose! (does add a wee bit to his flight, oops). mal always knackered first two days home, we normally fight on the second day (may just be us!) then it's great having him around for the whole time. Although I do like to see him leave if its been to long (don't tell him!). He has got used to missing things though like weddings, and even his grans funeral. Is easier for me than him I think, as I get to stay at home with friends, work etc, and do agree that it is harder for him to make friends cos workmates are all over world, and he's away too often for regular clubs etc. It is also a bit too easy for me to cancel other arrangements because he is home, my friends are very forgiving but will ahve to be stricter in Oz when trying to make new friends!
Still worth a try I think, you sound an independent soul, and sounds like you will probably get more time together than now!
Good Luck
Gill

**siamsusie** · 02-04-2011, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by michelledenham

Thanks all.
We have a few friends in Perth already so am hoping I want get to lonely. More concerned about family life and the Money! Yes the money is very good, but at a price. But then do you get to dependant on the high wages to ever be abe to leave? And family life, will hubby miss out on alot of things i.e.... sports day, events etc....

The wives I know in Perth do manage, it is of course two different existences! And as with anything it can come at a price.

If the company are reasonable it is possible to ask for a day or so leave even on FIFO and people do stand in for each other. It totally depends on the situation.

Money.... sure you become dependent, its never easy to drop a salary but it can be a good footing into a good company with a transfer back down to Perth eventually.

Susie x