FIFO work
Dec 18th 2014, 9:01 am
#1
Account Closed
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 0
FIFO work
Been FIFO for nearly 3 years now, and before that I was DIDO, spending 1 weekend out of 3 at home. It's hard at times, but we're doing it for a reason, so you won't hear me complain as its entirely my choice, my wife would support me any time I wanted to knock it on the head. My particular job is pretty specialized and I get a fair bit of travel elsewhere too. I love my job too, in the 2 months I've been in Malaysia my team and I have achieved the unachievable, so it looks like Vietnam, Thailand and China may be on the cards too. The one thing that concerns me is losing touch with the wife and kids, I do find it hard at times, as do they. Are there any other FIFO guys and gals in here? I'm reaching the stage where I'm itching to spend more than 3 months a year at home, but at the same time I'm a total suckered when it comes to going above and beyond at work.
Thoughts anyone? Toughen up princess ain't an option, Chuck Norris is a girl compared with me
Thoughts anyone? Toughen up princess ain't an option, Chuck Norris is a girl compared with me
Dec 18th 2014, 9:23 am
#2
Waiting to be a grown-up
Joined: May 2010
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 4,695
Re: FIFO work
Been FIFO for nearly 3 years now, and before that I was DIDO, spending 1 weekend out of 3 at home. It's hard at times, but we're doing it for a reason, so you won't hear me complain as its entirely my choice, my wife would support me any time I wanted to knock it on the head. My particular job is pretty specialized and I get a fair bit of travel elsewhere too. I love my job too, in the 2 months I've been in Malaysia my team and I have achieved the unachievable, so it looks like Vietnam, Thailand and China may be on the cards too. The one thing that concerns me is losing touch with the wife and kids, I do find it hard at times, as do they. Are there any other FIFO guys and gals in here? I'm reaching the stage where I'm itching to spend more than 3 months a year at home, but at the same time I'm a total suckered when it comes to going above and beyond at work.
Thoughts anyone? Toughen up princess ain't an option, Chuck Norris is a girl compared with me
Thoughts anyone? Toughen up princess ain't an option, Chuck Norris is a girl compared with me
With the advent of email, Skype etc, working away is much easier IMO as you can have regular contact.Do you have a time limit for FIFO? IE, have you a plan forwhen you will finish? Perhaps setting a timeframe and then re-evaluating it then might help. So maybe say, carry on FIFO for the next 18 months and then see how you feel. I would imagine the financial rewards help to ease the pain too
If you are going to be working in some of the places you mentioned, how about getting the wife/family to join you for a week or so at a time?
Dec 18th 2014, 9:28 am
#3
da Bonehead
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Lion in da jungle
Posts: 22,767
Re: FIFO work
No experience of DIDO but I witnessed the effects of FIFO over a few years.
Seen it:
make and break marriages.
make and break dreams.
make men of wimps and crackpots of the sane.
give a family to those without.
drive people to drink and drugs until they're caught.
As I'm sure you already know there aint any fit-all about it.
No way of knowing who or how a person will handle it.
It's a career to some but I found most thought they were using it as a stepping stone. Some to better jobs but most to wealth.
Some actually reached their perceived goal but what did they do then? That was often a dilemma.
If you have reached a satisfactory level of comfort and attained enough of your targets my advice would be to rearrange the work life to better balance the home life. Your family grows at a pace and is soon gone and you said you want a bit more of it.
I aint no expert in anything at all and am just a scribble from the ether, but that's my opinion mate.
Seen it:
make and break marriages.
make and break dreams.
make men of wimps and crackpots of the sane.
give a family to those without.
drive people to drink and drugs until they're caught.
As I'm sure you already know there aint any fit-all about it.
No way of knowing who or how a person will handle it.
It's a career to some but I found most thought they were using it as a stepping stone. Some to better jobs but most to wealth.
Some actually reached their perceived goal but what did they do then? That was often a dilemma.
If you have reached a satisfactory level of comfort and attained enough of your targets my advice would be to rearrange the work life to better balance the home life. Your family grows at a pace and is soon gone and you said you want a bit more of it.
I aint no expert in anything at all and am just a scribble from the ether, but that's my opinion mate.
Dec 18th 2014, 9:59 am
#4
Account Closed
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 0
Re: FIFO work
Cheers guys, I guess what's triggered this is that I was looking odds on to miss my flight from Penang this arvo and it proper sent me into a panic, almost to the point of tears. I did get there in time but I was in a right mess. I've been offered a job in sydney which I'm thinking about, but then I'd be letting my current boss down, which I won't do. My poxy work ethic causes me much misery at times haha
I'll keep ya posted, not sure whether this is just a down day or more long term. The things we do for the ones we love eh?
I'll keep ya posted, not sure whether this is just a down day or more long term. The things we do for the ones we love eh?
Dec 18th 2014, 1:29 pm
#5
Concierge
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,137
Re: FIFO work
Been FIFO for nearly 3 years now, and before that I was DIDO, spending 1 weekend out of 3 at home. It's hard at times, but we're doing it for a reason, so you won't hear me complain as its entirely my choice, my wife would support me any time I wanted to knock it on the head. My particular job is pretty specialized and I get a fair bit of travel elsewhere too. I love my job too, in the 2 months I've been in Malaysia my team and I have achieved the unachievable, so it looks like Vietnam, Thailand and China may be on the cards too. The one thing that concerns me is losing touch with the wife and kids, I do find it hard at times, as do they. Are there any other FIFO guys and gals in here? I'm reaching the stage where I'm itching to spend more than 3 months a year at home, but at the same time I'm a total suckered when it comes to going above and beyond at work.
Thoughts anyone? Toughen up princess ain't an option, Chuck Norris is a girl compared with me
Thoughts anyone? Toughen up princess ain't an option, Chuck Norris is a girl compared with me
Sometimes he'd be lucky and get something that allowed him to drive home for the weekends, but more often than not it'd be months at a time in Germany or similar.
He moved over to Oz in 1990, and almost immediately got taken on FIFO work on offshore oil and gas rigs. I didn't know Scouse's first wife (obviously!), as she died before Scouse and I met. But as I've gradually got to know her friends, they've talked a fair bit about it, and of course Scouse and I have had conversations.
His swing was 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off. He retired last year, but prior to that I had 6 years as the girlfriend, then live in partner, then wife of a FIFO worker. Did we miss each other? Yes, like crazy. But we spoke on the phone every night (several times usually, he'd only hang up when one of the Maori riggers threatened to batter him for hogging the phone). I'd cry when I dropped him off at the airport, every single time.
But! The excitement I felt every time I'd go to the airport to pick him up! I'd get all done up and be waiting for him as he came into Arrivals - oh my, the reunions we had!
From talking to Scouse and friend's of his first wife, the only 'downside', and certainly not an insurmountable one, was that the partner at home gets used to doing things a certain way, at a certain time, particularly when there's kids involved. For example, a couple will usually work out together the house rules for the kids, and the consequences for stepping outside those boundaries.
With one partner away regularly, it falls to the other to be the sole voice of authority, and if their way is very different to the other's, it has the potential to be a bit disruptive. But that's nothing that two sensible people can't sort out.
There's no doubt that you'll miss some of the milestones/achievements of the kids, ie school assemblies, sports days, concerts etc (though some would view this as a blessing!) And of course, you and the trouble and strife will always miss each other.
My take on it is you're both working hard to secure your future, and yes, sometimes some sacrifices have to be made for that. If two people keep communicating honestly and sort any niggling things out before they become huge obstacles, then they have every chance of making this work.
On the other hand, if the absence of one is putting a huge strain on either - then it might be time to rethink priorities.
Well - I've just written a whole load of stuff that's probably crap, but hopefully there's something you can glean from it.
Dec 18th 2014, 7:46 pm
#6
Account Closed
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 0
Re: FIFO work
Hi Steve - Scouse has spent a good deal of his life working away from home. Through the 80s, when there was no work to be found in Liverpool (UK), he'd travel anywhere and everywhere to work.
Sometimes he'd be lucky and get something that allowed him to drive home for the weekends, but more often than not it'd be months at a time in Germany or similar.
He moved over to Oz in 1990, and almost immediately got taken on FIFO work on offshore oil and gas rigs. I didn't know Scouse's first wife (obviously!), as she died before Scouse and I met. But as I've gradually got to know her friends, they've talked a fair bit about it, and of course Scouse and I have had conversations.
His swing was 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off. He retired last year, but prior to that I had 6 years as the girlfriend, then live in partner, then wife of a FIFO worker. Did we miss each other? Yes, like crazy. But we spoke on the phone every night (several times usually, he'd only hang up when one of the Maori riggers threatened to batter him for hogging the phone). I'd cry when I dropped him off at the airport, every single time.
But! The excitement I felt every time I'd go to the airport to pick him up! I'd get all done up and be waiting for him as he came into Arrivals - oh my, the reunions we had!
From talking to Scouse and friend's of his first wife, the only 'downside', and certainly not an insurmountable one, was that the partner at home gets used to doing things a certain way, at a certain time, particularly when there's kids involved. For example, a couple will usually work out together the house rules for the kids, and the consequences for stepping outside those boundaries.
With one partner away regularly, it falls to the other to be the sole voice of authority, and if their way is very different to the other's, it has the potential to be a bit disruptive. But that's nothing that two sensible people can't sort out.
There's no doubt that you'll miss some of the milestones/achievements of the kids, ie school assemblies, sports days, concerts etc (though some would view this as a blessing!) And of course, you and the trouble and strife will always miss each other.
My take on it is you're both working hard to secure your future, and yes, sometimes some sacrifices have to be made for that. If two people keep communicating honestly and sort any niggling things out before they become huge obstacles, then they have every chance of making this work.
On the other hand, if the absence of one is putting a huge strain on either - then it might be time to rethink priorities.
Well - I've just written a whole load of stuff that's probably crap, but hopefully there's something you can glean from it.
Sometimes he'd be lucky and get something that allowed him to drive home for the weekends, but more often than not it'd be months at a time in Germany or similar.
He moved over to Oz in 1990, and almost immediately got taken on FIFO work on offshore oil and gas rigs. I didn't know Scouse's first wife (obviously!), as she died before Scouse and I met. But as I've gradually got to know her friends, they've talked a fair bit about it, and of course Scouse and I have had conversations.
His swing was 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off. He retired last year, but prior to that I had 6 years as the girlfriend, then live in partner, then wife of a FIFO worker. Did we miss each other? Yes, like crazy. But we spoke on the phone every night (several times usually, he'd only hang up when one of the Maori riggers threatened to batter him for hogging the phone). I'd cry when I dropped him off at the airport, every single time.
But! The excitement I felt every time I'd go to the airport to pick him up! I'd get all done up and be waiting for him as he came into Arrivals - oh my, the reunions we had!
From talking to Scouse and friend's of his first wife, the only 'downside', and certainly not an insurmountable one, was that the partner at home gets used to doing things a certain way, at a certain time, particularly when there's kids involved. For example, a couple will usually work out together the house rules for the kids, and the consequences for stepping outside those boundaries.
With one partner away regularly, it falls to the other to be the sole voice of authority, and if their way is very different to the other's, it has the potential to be a bit disruptive. But that's nothing that two sensible people can't sort out.
There's no doubt that you'll miss some of the milestones/achievements of the kids, ie school assemblies, sports days, concerts etc (though some would view this as a blessing!) And of course, you and the trouble and strife will always miss each other.
My take on it is you're both working hard to secure your future, and yes, sometimes some sacrifices have to be made for that. If two people keep communicating honestly and sort any niggling things out before they become huge obstacles, then they have every chance of making this work.
On the other hand, if the absence of one is putting a huge strain on either - then it might be time to rethink priorities.
Well - I've just written a whole load of stuff that's probably crap, but hopefully there's something you can glean from it.
. I think there's gonna be afew conversations on this subject over Christmas, it's doing 6 week stints that is destroying me, hopefully next year will bring a 21/7 that stays 21/7. They'll always flog a willing horse I suppose, just gotta be a bit firmer and say no. Ta bird, I'll let you know the score
Dec 19th 2014, 9:33 am
#7
Concierge
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,137
Re: FIFO work
So far from being crap you wouldn't believe, thank you for taking the time. Hopped straight on a train to the Gong, should be home in a couple of hours, at bloody last . I think there's gonna be afew conversations on this subject over Christmas, it's doing 6 week stints that is destroying me, hopefully next year will bring a 21/7 that stays 21/7. They'll always flog a willing horse I suppose, just gotta be a bit firmer and say no. Ta bird, I'll let you know the score
. I think there's gonna be afew conversations on this subject over Christmas, it's doing 6 week stints that is destroying me, hopefully next year will bring a 21/7 that stays 21/7. They'll always flog a willing horse I suppose, just gotta be a bit firmer and say no. Ta bird, I'll let you know the score 
(you and the missus, working it out) xx
Jan 11th 2015, 5:23 pm
#8
Account Closed
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 0
Re: FIFO work
Back to work tomorrow, don't want to
oh well, can't have everything we want I suppose
oh well, can't have everything we want I suppose
Jan 11th 2015, 8:04 pm
#9
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,375
Re: FIFO work
The reason?. She said they had seen too many friends around their age ( mid 50's ) start to get sick or die while working all hours to get enough money to start enjoying life when they retired!
Jan 11th 2015, 9:46 pm
#10
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,804
Jan 12th 2015, 5:18 am
#12
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,804
Jan 12th 2015, 9:15 pm
#15
(It's not my real name)
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Ilukapool. WA
Posts: 12,467
Re: FIFO work
I'm planning to start FIFO later this year, hopefully for 5 or so years then retire.
That's the plan, we'll see if it happens though...
That's the plan, we'll see if it happens though...
