Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 1
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Human Factors
[I was working my] first FPL mid-shift. Weather in the area and abnormal runway configurations at all of our airports. At the beginning of the shift the CIC (another controller; not FLM) asked me how I wanted to work the shift. I said that I didn't care; but that I wasn't going to get left in the room with 2 bays of strips by myself. When I returned [from my break]; he gave me a brief and I took the position. He then walked out of the room and I didn't see him again for about 2 hours. I was left with the 2 bays of strips and no help. I had to put aircraft in holding at ZZZZ and one went missed approach due to poor weather in and around the area. I worked the other overflights and inbounds to the other airports as well.I would like someone to pull the tape and radar data and ask themselves if it would be generally a good idea to work that volume of traffic and complexity without a D side or any other help. I will share my thoughts regarding my CIC's behavior when I see a member of management. This splitting of the position in this manner is commonplace in this facility and I feel is unsafe and unwise to put anyone in that situation. Culture change regarding several things needs to occur in this facility. This culture change will not occur from inside these walls. Several of us push for it; but have gotten nowhere. The CIC should stay in the operating quarters with the exception of short restroom breaks at all times and pay attention to the operation.
ZZZ Center Controller reported the shift Controller in Charge left the operation for 2 hours on a mid-shift.