A work shift where the workers have eight hours (or less) between the time they get off of work and their next shift. Named this way because workers who are put into this situation are usually overworked and underpaid by their boss and would rather be dead than be forced to be overworked by a company that doesn't give a shit about them. Two notable cases occurred in July
2021 with the Frito-Lays company and in
August 2021 with Nabisco. Unfortunately, this has become more common since the COVID-
19 pandemic started
"One of the most contentious issues throughout the bargaining process, according to union leaders, has been the regular use of forced overtime at the
plant that results in so-called 'suicide shifts' where "'many of the more than 800 workers at the
plant are only getting an eight-hour
break between shifts."'
-NPR
"Alongside
low pay, treatment of employees is coming to the surface. Workers at Frito-Lay—which also exceeded its profit goals during the pandemic—went on
strike for three weeks this summer, citing concerns over forced overtime, 100-degree plus conditions, and 'suicide shifts.' The workers were successful in ending the practice of assigning the grueling
12-hour shifts, which took place less than 8 hours apart...Parent conglomerate Mondelez International angered employees when it proposed turning eight-hour shifts into
12-hour ones without overtime."
-Civileats
