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Originally Posted by StirCrazy
hey, how does this coast guard thing work with the 4 on 4 off? I am due to retire from the navy in 4 years and I am starting to look at other jobs now.
Steve
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Basically, during the 4 week on cycle we work 12 hours a day, including weekends. It's called the LayDay system. So the extra hours, over and above 8 hours Monday to Friday (the Conventional system) is how we earn the 4 weeks off, with pay.
The Lifeboat Stations are slightly different. They are 2 weeks on/ 2 weeks off. Again, weekends included.
They work 8 hour days, but because they are Primary Search and Rescue they are on "Standby" for the other 16 hours/day. It's been a long time since I worked at a Lifeboat Station but I think the standby rate is 1/3 of an hour pay for each hour standby. Something like that. So 16x1/3=5.33.
8+5.33=13.33 hours/day (approx.) This system is called the Averaging System. Again, similar to the LayDay system in that the extra hours earned over and above the normal 8, and the hours earned on weekends, carries the employee through with a regular paycheque right through their time off.
On top of that, we are entitled to Annual Leave (aka Holiday Pay as some people might know it), by law.
As well, an employee can "Bank" (into a leave bank) OT and Stats , if they wish, and use that as leave, too.
So, it's very common to take at least one "trip" off each year, which means having 12 weeks off. Straight. With pay.
Sometimes, if one has enough leave and it's approved, they could take two or three "trips" off in a year, and still receive a steady paycheque.
(It's common to do this to go to school for a Navigation or Engineering certificate).
Of course, the more trips one takes off, the less leave they are earning, (and are actually burning leave), so taking alot of trips off would eventually catch up to you and you'd have to work towards building up your banks again.
The only downer is that when it is time to go to work, it's just that. You have to go. Away. From home. Some of the Lifeboat people live where they work, but for ship crews that's different.
But, if you are Navy, 4 weeks oughta be a walk in the park!
Cheers,