Professionally tired.

We have an evening shift in work at the moment, which is providing me with a tantalizing reminder of what it was like when I wasn't tired all of the time, as it means a six hour working day instead of eight, and, better yet, not having to get up at five in the morning. Getting up at five probably doesn't represent a challenge for those who can fall asleep on cue. I'm a totally different person at the moment, with energy and enthusiasm. I suspect that I'm also doing the job better. It's a pity that it's only temporary.

I read (coincidentally) in the paper that a shoe factory that introduced shift work, with six hour shifts instead of eight, found that sick leave fell from 17% to 4%. There is something wrong when sick leave is at 17%. What must it be like for workers in China, with twelve hour shifts. I want Fair Trade marks on everything, not just my chocolate and bananas, work should not deprive one of a life.