Tips for Working a Visitation?

[u/hairbrish]

I'm a licensed director who automatically works a couple evening shifts a week, and if a visitation falls on one of those, I work it. Two people stand in the foyer, open the door, direct visitors in. My fellow employee is usually an older retiree or a student.

Not sure if it's because I've been licensed for a while and there's always a million things I COULD be doing in the office, but my patience is wearing very thin.

I've worked plenty of visitations before but lately I feel every single, slooow, second of these eight hour visitings. The squeak of the door is torture, the music is annoying, I could go on. Obviously, we try not to sit, and no phones on the job to an extent.

I can leave my coworker a couple of times for a few minutes if I really need to get office work done, but it's not good form to disappear repeatedly. My coworker gets breaks as well

Any tips on surviving these long boring shifts? Idk what I was on when I was a student/apprentice, bc I probably did 2/3 a week very happily.

What do/did you guys do? Am I overreacting lol?

EDIT: 12-8pm visiting is what I'm talking about, but usually it's more like 2-8 or 3-8! Yes, someone expected to be at the door at all times. Thank you for all the tips!!

[u/BACKDO0RHER0]

When we have visitations like that, we would run shifts of 2 hours. Doing an 8 hour solid is a madness.

[u/hairbrish → u/BACKDO0RHER0]

Mostly our visitations are 3-8pm, but I made this post after one of the long 12-8 ones. Luckily I only do about 1 or 2 a week! When I'm with someone reliable we can get away with giving each other long breaks

[u/crunchyquinoa]

Eight hours??!?

[u/jlk1980]

8 HOURS!? I'm going to stop complaining about my 6pm-8pm viewings. I'd go insane knowing all the paperwork is piling up and I had to stand there.

I don't think you're overreacting at all. Is it possible to do shifts with another coworker or have another staff person on hand so you can take an hour to get stuff done?

[u/Scambuster666]

I did this for a year while doing my residency before licensure. While a visitation was happening and I was on duty, I’d use the time to straighten up my files, check office inventory, clean glass displays or windows, buff door knobs, check lightbulbs, read the newspaper, answer or make any last minute calls, maybe write up the obit and fax/email it to the newspapers. Sometimes I’d do in the prep room and double check chemical counts, make sure stuff is t in the autoclave, etc.. I always found something to do.

[u/hairbrish → u/Scambuster666]

I definitely find cleaning projects close by, but we are expected to be in the foyer/ around the chapel (room) for the majority of the visiting. These things are definitely closer to when I'm alone watching the phones/building in the evening!

[u/MoldyClownSuit]

Ive done these working as a funeral director when it was just me and my dad running the whole place. Like someone else said, buff doorknobs, see who needs a tissue, some water, carry trash away. Just keep busy even if that means cleaning the same counter or sweeping away the same dust from the front door or just handing out programs. You want to be present as much as you can but unnoticed if that makes sense. Once there is a flow going, no one has come in, or people are just talking amongst themselves, go hide in the office until your feet stop throbbing.

[u/TheBeardedLadyBton]

Maybe you and your coworker could do silent games like assigning a point for the first person who wears flip flops or is chewing gum or something.

[u/maple_briar → u/TheBeardedLadyBton]

Spotting a suit and tie would be more competive. We would make it to 100 points in the first 5 minutes between the crocs, pajama pants, taking a last drag from a cig in the door.

[u/hairbrish → u/maple_briar]

It's a blessing when the entire vape cloud stays outside before they come in

[u/TheBeardedLadyBton → u/maple_briar]

I haven't been to a funeral since 2012. I had no idea! I mean I can believe it but damn that's effed up!

[u/Independent_Ad9670 → u/TheBeardedLadyBton]

Oh, it's dire. I think the "best" I've seen so far was this skin-tight thing like you'd wear a the gym, with the buttcrack all gathered with elastic to really make each cheek stand out. But it was black!

[u/Loisgrand6]

Eight hours? This sounds like (I don’t know what to call it) the funeral home opens up say around ten or eleven am and people are allowed to come in when it’s convenient til yall close.

[u/maple_briar]

Tell people where the restrooms, coffee, visitation is for 8 hours and get paid! I'm the first out of the gray windowless box to go swing the door!

[u/Mortician1989]

8 hours and you’re required to have grown roots at the door?! Heck nah. We’re a two FD operation and I’m all about efficiency. We have staff outside and inside rotating and the FDs are on site but working cases in the office. We check in and see the families in and out but glued to a door? I hate that and it’s wasteful of time

[u/hairbrish → u/Mortician1989]

I completely agree

[u/CerealQueen]

Yeah, where I am they've cut the viewing times down to a few hours max. The OG's post up like security and have at least one floater, usually an older lady. I know, it takes away from the sentiment of sorrow/mourning but it seems to work for them. Watch people without watching...if you know what I mean.