G'day All,
Blacksheep has raised some good points. The sciences tell us that the long term effects of shift work are only now coming to light, that is the impact on health in the latter years. So far, the latest thinking on what is the best shift pattern for the worker is the 2E's + 2N's then off because it has the least interruption on the circadian rhythms.
It may also impact the wallet and produce less shift allowance (if you're eligible), which is the main reason why one works shift work. Of course the choice of shifts is outside our control as workers, that choice belongs to the employer and is most certainly decided by the needs of the operation and the cost to supply the resources to support the operation. Long term health effects and fatigue don't enter the equation.
And to answer the question, my idea of a perfect shift pattern is shifting from the bar to the pool and eventually shifting back to the bar (to watch the footy) after I've locked the toobox. Good to chat with you - Have a good one.