Are 12 Hour Shifts Bad for Your Body in Ireland?

If you’ve ever pulled a 12 hour shift on the wards at St. Vincent’s or behind the bar at Temple Bar, you know it’s not just a long day—it’s a marathon. In Ireland, it’s common across hospitals, Garda shifts, hotels, and even in some factories. But is it actually damaging your health? Spoiler alert: your feet usually feel it first, and that’s where most folks start searching for answers—especially when you’re pounding the floor at Dublin Airport or racing between tables on a busy Friday night.

Here’s something you might not realise: after about eight hours, your risk of accidents and mistakes goes up (there was even a study on Cork nurses that showed tiredness nearly doubled slip-ups). And when your legs ache and feet swell, that’s not just in your head. If you’re stuck in the wrong shoes for 12 hours, your body will pay for it—the difference between a proper pair from Greenes Shoes and a cheap knockoff is real. Before you write those aches off as just ‘a long day’, keep reading. There’s ways to make these shifts safer, easier, and a lot less painful—without quitting your job or heading to the GP every week.

• Why 12 Hour Shifts Happen in Ireland
• The Impact on Your Body—Fact vs. Fiction
• How Good Work Shoes Can Save Your Shift
• Smart Tips to Survive Long Hours
• Real Stories from Irish Workers

Why 12 Hour Shifts Happen in Ireland

There’s no hiding it—12 hour shifts are part of daily life for loads of workers in Ireland, especially if you’re in health, transport, policing, or hospitality. Ever been with an Irish nurse on a missing lunch break? Or watched a Garda wrap up paperwork after an all-day patrol? The shift lengths aren’t just random—they usually happen for specific, practical reasons.

First up, hospitals and care homes. About 65% of nurses in HSE hospitals now work 12 hour shifts, mainly to line up with patient handovers and to offer a steady face to the folks in their care. In places like the Mater and Cork University Hospital, management reckon it helps keep cover during short-staffed periods and means fewer shift changes for everyone. That can mean less confusion, fewer errors, and less time wasted handing things over three times a day.

But it’s not just about efficiency. In some factories and call centres like Amazon in Dublin or Apple in Cork, 12 hour shifts mean fewer commutes per week—great for workers coming from Carrick-on-Suir or Trim. Lots of employers say it’s more “family friendly” because you get more full days off, even if the workdays themselves are proper tough.

There’s a trade-off, of course. Staff are on their feet longer, which is why unions like SIPTU have started pushing for better work shoe allowances and proper break times in big hospitals and supermarkets. Employers don’t just love these long shifts to save money—it’s about keeping the place running when staff are tight and the clock never stops, especially in busy spots like city-centre hotels during summer, or Dublin Airport leading into the holidays.

If you’re in a job that uses 12 hour shifts, you’re definitely not alone, and you’re not imagining the toll it takes. The way schedules are done in Ireland means this won’t change soon. The key is to know how to make it work for your body, not just your wallet—and that’s a lot about what you wear, how you rest, and when you take your breaks.

The Impact on Your Body—Fact vs. Fiction

Let’s separate what’s really going on in your body during those 12 hour shifts from stuff people just say to scare you. Everyone’s heard “ah, you’ll get used to it” or “it’s just part of the job,” but that’s not the full story. Research in Ireland and the UK backs up a few harsh truths: long shifts mean less rest and often worse health for workers.

Here’s what doctors and physios around Dublin and Galway have noticed in people regularly pulling long hours:

• Fatigue sets in fast after eight or nine hours, and for shift workers in healthcare, this can mean more mistakes or even minor accidents on the job.
• Standing or walking for most of your shift puts big pressure on your legs and feet. That’s why so many Irish nurses, retail workers, and chefs talk about swollen ankles and seriously tired feet at the end of a long day.
• Lack of proper breaks makes things worse. If your rota in Cork University Hospital or on the shop floor in Liffey Valley doesn’t guarantee meal and rest breaks, your body feels it big time.
• Sleep gets knocked off track. Switching between day and night shifts—or just working extra long days—means your body clock gets confused. This often leads to trouble falling asleep when you finally get home, which stacks up over time.

The fiction? Some people say a strong cup of tea or a Lucozade fixes everything. Sorry, but caffeine can only mask tiredness for so long. Only proper rest and some smart routines will help your body bounce back after 12 hour shifts.

People sometimes think good shoes don’t matter much, but talk to anyone working the floors at The Mater or Brown Thomas—they’ll tell you poor support will wreck your back, knees, and even shoulders, especially after months or years of these long shifts.

How Good Work Shoes Can Save Your Shift

Ask any nurse at Beaumont or chef in Galway: the wrong shoes can turn a long shift into pure misery. People here in Ireland are spending anywhere from 10,000 to 15,000 steps a shift, and that’s just an average. Typical city centre ward rounds or a stint working the Ferry at Dún Laoghaire can push those numbers even higher. Ever notice how, by the time you clock off, your feet feel like they’ve aged ten years?

The right work shoes are more than a luxury—they’re a necessity. Over half of Irish healthcare workers complain about foot, knee, or back problems linked to poor footwear. And it’s not just a matter of comfort. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) actually lists proper footwear as a key strategy for avoiding workplace injuries. Slips, trips, falls—most happen because shoes aren’t up to scratch when floors get wet or greasy.

If you’re unsure what to look for, here’s a quick checklist that many Irish workers swear by:

• Arch support: Essential for long hours, especially if you have flat feet.
• Non-slip soles: Hospitals and kitchens are minefields for spills.
• Waterproof or wipeable: Handy for wet weather and messy jobs (think Cork porters pushing trolleys or Dublin bar staff mopping up Guinness).
• Breathability: Sweaty feet are a breeding ground for all sorts of problems, especially in rubber boots.
• Roomy toe box: Your toes need space. Tight shoes can cause bunions and other woes within months.

Irish brands like Greenes and Shoe Rack have got lines that tick these boxes, but don’t be afraid to try German or Danish imports from Elverys or Vaughan Shoes, either. It’s worth investing a bit more upfront; regulars say it pays off by avoiding GP visits for ingrown toenails or dodgy backs.

Don’t wait for sore heels or pins and needles to strike. If you’re putting in long hours at Mater, near Grafton Street, or even ferrying boxes around a Centra stockroom, gear up with proper shoes. Your body (and your mood) will thank you by Friday.

Smart Tips to Survive Long Hours

Surviving a 12 hour shift isn’t about powering through with more coffee. Real fixes make all the difference when you’re clocking in at Beaumont or running a deli on O’Connell Street. Let’s break down what actually helps, based on what’s proven to work for Irish workers just like you.

• Good shoes are non-negotiable. You can’t talk about 12 hour shifts in Ireland without mentioning decent work shoes. Supportive, well-fitted shoes cut down on foot pain, swelling, and even back issues. Loads of nurses swear by Skechers or Ecco from Greenes Shoes for a reason—they last, and they work.
• Don’t skip breaks. By Irish law, you’re entitled to rest and meal breaks. Even a quick ten minutes sitting with a cuppa can reset your brain and legs. Make it a habit—don’t let your supervisor guilt-trip you out of it.
• Move smart. If you stand still all day, your legs take the brunt. Change it up whenever you can—sit for a few minutes, stretch, or walk about if you’re allowed. Simple stretches or a lap around the staff room in between calls helps with circulation.
• Stay hydrated and eat real food. Grabbing a breakfast roll from Centra might be tempting, but over a long shift, slow-release carbs and some protein (think porridge with seeds, or chicken and veg from home) will keep your energy up way better. Keep a water bottle handy; most people in Irish workplaces don’t drink enough water, especially in winter.
• Compression socks really work. Any seasoned HSE nurse or retail worker will back these up. They cut down on swelling and help with tired legs during long shifts. You can get them in most Irish pharmacies.

Take a look at this quick comparison of body complaints before and after workers switched to proper shoes and kept up with breaks (based on a survey of healthcare assistants in Galway):

Bottom line: You can’t change the shift pattern overnight. But smart moves like the right shoes, breaks, and simple habits make long hours way easier on your body. Local voices back it up—this stuff actually works if you stick with it.

Real Stories from Irish Workers

Nothing hits home quite like hearing about 12 hour shifts from folks who actually do them every week. Across Ireland, from Drogheda hospitals to busy Galway hotels, workers share similar stories—sore feet, double shifts, and figuring out how to stay healthy when most people are heading home.

Mary, a nurse in Cork, says, “It’s your feet that start begging for mercy by hour nine. I swapped my shoes for a better pair—Ecco, from Greenes in Limerick—and it made a world of difference. Still, by the end of a double, I basically sleepwalk to the bus.” She’s not exaggerating. Hospital staff in Ireland are on their feet for as much as 10 out of 12 hours, according to data from the HSE Internal Survey in 2023.

Take Luke, a chef in a Wexford hotel. “Summer’s mad busy, the kitchen’s like an oven, and if you don’t have grip on your shoes or a half-decent arch, you’ll feel battered for days.” He claims most of the longtime kitchen staff switch to trainers with memory foam insoles, even if they look odd with chef whites. No one’s judging comfort at that point.

Delivery drivers in Dublin, especially during Christmas and big GAA match days, talk about the grind too. “The hardest bit isn’t even the driving—it’s jumping in and out of the van, legging it up apartment stairs, and hoping you don’t slip on a wet step,” says Aisling, who’s done it for five years.

*Includes time jumping out, walking deliveries

One theme shows up time and again: investing in good work gear pays off, but so does how you move. A survey from SIPTU said retail staff in Ireland who take proper breaks and change socks halfway through a 12 hour shift report fewer blisters and swollen ankles. Kilkenny server Aoife recommends foot spray and keeping plasters handy. “At the Christmas market, your feet will thank you if you do both, trust me.”

Sure, there’s no magic fix, but Irish workers aren’t just surviving long shifts—they’re sharing clever hacks to keep the pain down and spirits up. Listening to them, it’s clear: the right shoes matter, but so does looking after yourself in all the small ways you can.