One possible downside to the shift working is the planning ahead.
No more arranging with your mates on Thursday evening to go out on Friday. That's something that 'real world' friends might have problems understanding. They often can't seem to grasp the fact that when you say you can't, becasue you're working, means you really, really can't; there's no more leave available.
ATCOs are very incestuous (must be all that time off together) and promiscuous; the number of affairs that go on must be above average, as must be the rate of divorce. Also the number of ATCO couples is high.