Date: 201508
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZDV.ARTCC, CO
Light: Night
Aircraft: Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Airspace: Class A ZDV; Class E ZDV
ATC / advisory: Center ZDV
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Enroute
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Workload
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Staffing; Weather
Primary problem: Weather

Narrative: Working sector 37 with sectors 38/6400/25/65 combined; getting ready to combine all area for mid configuration. Significant weather around area impacting nearly all flights in airspace. Supervisor initially still sitting at desk aware of number of aircraft and complexity; without providing help or RA side assistance. Aircraft volume built to a very high level; much higher than typical for this time of night. With nearly all aircraft needing deviation clearances it made the frequency unmanageable with congestion. Several traffic conflictions existed with only limited ability to assess and take action for. One confliction ended up passing with a bare minimum 5 miles due to overload of controller. Time was near for me to leave my shift; when the supervisor saw a Mid-shift controller come in the room she left for the night without any direction on where to help out; how long traffic would stay busy or asking whether help was needed. The Mid shift controller approached me and I asked for help; by him working the RA position. He assisted to get the traffic down to a more manageable level. By this time I had passed my shift end time so overtime was required for my shift. This is common occurrence since the area I work in has a later than the rest of the facility push of traffic. The supervisor's time to leave passes and the area is left to fend for itself; without proper staffing to handle the situation. Typically this problem happens as the change to Mid shift controllers.Biggest issue at hand is not staffing enough controllers for this last late traffic push through area 4 in ZDV. This night we only had 3 controllers on duty; and according to normal staffing we should've had 5. With only 3 controllers there isn't anyone to help out on an RA position if needed and no one can be on break if needed. Recent retirements and controllers working on detail jobs took controllers away from the late swing shift this night. Also of concern is the way supervisors wash their hands of responsibility when they leave at their designated time without providing help or direction. Someone needs to have an eye on things; especially when things are not going well like this night. I was held over past my shift end time due to traffic and a supervisor should've been there helping and ensuring needs were being met. During the day/eve at ZDV we have special rules about having RA position assistance at all times available. Once the late night approaches those rules are no longer valid and help isn't provided when needed. In other words they turn a blind eye to providing help; even though it is really needed. This situation is very common; not improving and needs to be addressed. This leads to overloaded controllers; working more traffic than can safely be handled by one person and didn't allow for ANY time to issue weather advisory information to aircraft who needed it.




Synopsis: ZDV Controller reported of traffic overload and weather deviations at the end of the shift. Mid person came in and Front Line Manager left. Controller asked mid person for help and it was given. Reporter stated this happens too often and something needs to be done to help with traffic at the end of this shift.