Mr. Griffiths works nights by choice. For others, nonstandard hours are mandatory. His wife, Karen, an employee at the same plant, has logged 23 years on shifts. Often, as one of them pulls into the parking lot, the other is leaving. We exchanged one present, gave each other a kiss, and went to bed.
Holidays represent only one challenge.
We've had one Sunday that coordinated this year, so we could grab a couple kids and go to church. Yet Mrs. Gavin takes a pragmatic approach. I enjoy my job too, so that helps. And my department is pretty flexible if you've got a problem. Janie O'Connor, a shift-work specialist in St. Paul, Minn., finds that couples who succeed with shift work make a concerted effort to communicate.