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The ideal shift schedule sits at the sweet spot between maximizing business efficiency and prioritizing employee well-being. However, balancing both can be tricky. There are different types of shift schedules for a variety of work types.
According to NCBI, 25% of the adult workforce follow non-traditional shift schedules.
Managers often struggle with balancing employee inputs, cost control, and workload when it comes to designing work schedules. This ultimately results in scheduling conflicts that hinder operational efficiency and cost the business both revenue and time.
Common Types of Shift Schedules
There are 11 different types of shift schedules, depending on the nature of work, industry, and job role requirements. Businesses can opt for a singular schedule or even a mix of different shift work schedules to find what works best for them.
1. Fixed shifts
These shifts are considered the most stable as they have fixed work hours. Employees work a specific number of hours for a set number of days. Fixed work schedules either have fixed clock-in and clock-out timings or a fixed number of work hours. The latter one offers employees a slightly flexible window for clocking in and clocking out.
As these shifts are predictable, they can allow employees to manage their time better. A consistent work schedule can help them balance their personal commitments and maintain a better work-life balance.
2. Flexible shifts
Flexible work schedules are less rigid in terms of timing, but employees can have a set number of hours. In specific cases, employees also have the option to choose where they can work from.
Flexible shifts can serve as a great incentive, given that employees have greater control over their schedules. This adds to the value of an organization, while also motivating employees to stay loyal.
Besides, employees with flexible shift schedules can also have better work life balance, as the flexibility can allow them to balance personal and professional commitments more effectively.
3. Traditional shifts
Traditional shifts refer to the conventional timings a business day operates in. They are also called 9-to-5 shifts, representative of the clock-in and clock-out timings for a standard business day. These shifts are also stable as they function in 8-hours blocks a day that make up to a 40-hour work week.
4. Part-time shifts
Part-time workers work anywhere between 15 and 30 hours a week. Part-time shifts are generally considered more flexible, and employees are usually hired on a temporary contract and get paid hourly. Depending on the job role and nature of work, part-time shifts can be scheduled during standard work hours or unconventional hours.
5. Rotating shifts
These shift schedules can vary in timing based on daily, weekly, or monthly intervals. They can have unpredictable work hours as shift timings keep changing from day to night. Industries like healthcare and manufacturing implement schedules like these as the nature of work calls for timings like these. Variations of rotational shifts include:
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Dupont shift
Dupont schedule works for a 4-team set-up, where each group works 12-hour shifts. It bolsters a 24/7 coverage. This shift effectively breaks up the 24-hour workday into two 12-hour blocks. This shift pattern implements 4-week cycles where each team has 4 consecutive night shifts followed by 3 off days, followed by 3 day shifts and 1 off day, followed by 3-night shifts and then 3 off days, which is followed by 4 days shifts and 7 off days.
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Pitman shift
Pitman Schedule is like Dupont plan but less exhausting for workers. Pitman uses a 2-2-3 work plan, that works over 4 groups and has a 2-week plan cycle. This shift also ensures 24/7 coverage. It follows a 2-2-3-2-2-3 (2 workdays, 2 rest days, 3 workdays, 2 rest days, 2 workdays, 3 rest days). This schedule also has two variations – a fixed one where teams only work either day or night shifts, and a rotating one where all teams work both shifts, with rotations being made every two weeks.
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Panama Plus shift
Another variation of the 2-2-3 shift schedule, this work plan has alternating 12- and 8-hour shifts rotating between five teams over a 280-day (40-week) cycle. For the first eight weeks, a team must work in 12-hour shifts with 2 working days with 2 days off followed by 3 working days, then 2 days off followed by 2 working days and finally 3 days off. Then, for the next two weeks, the team works an 8-hour weekday shift. This slow rotational schedule offers stability that is otherwise lacked by most rotational work schedules.
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DDNNOO shift
DDNNOO allots employees 12-hour work shifts. 3 teams are required to make DDNNOO shifts functional. It follows a 6-day cycle as the name suggests DDNNOO, two-day shifts, followed by two-night shifts and two rest days.
6. Compressed shifts
Compressed work schedules allow employees to meet a 40-hour work week quota within a fewer number of days, allowing them to have extra off days. This is ideal for roles that require high effort for longer stretches at a time. This shift schedule also allows employees to recuperate effectively because of the longer downtime. The most popular variations of this schedule include:
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4-10 shifts
This work schedule meets the standard 40-hour work-week requirement within four working days instead of five. Employees work four 10-hour workdays and receive a three-day weekend off. The longer downtime is what makes this schedule especially attractive to most employees who choose to opt for it.
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9-80 shifts
9-80 shifts follow a 2-week work cycle. Employees work for 9 days in 2 weeks because employees work long hours. In the second week, they work four 9-hour shifts with the fifth day off. This schedule allows employees to take a three-day weekend every alternate week.
7. Overtime shifts
Overtime shifts or extra shifts are when employees may need to work to manage a sudden surge in workload that requires more hands-on deck. These shift schedules are used along with standard 40-hour-week schedules and can be unpredictable.
A standard and an overtime schedule can often be clubbed together into a single roster for consistency and efficiency. While employees do earn more for overtime, especially hourly-paid ones, the unpredictability risks upsetting employees’ work-life balance.
8. Seasonal shifts
Just like overtime shifts, seasonal shift schedules are used to efficiently distribute increased workload between employees at certain times of the year. For instance, patrons at a pub may need more staffing than usual during New Year’s Eve, or hospitals might require more nurses to deal with a surge of patients during flu season.
This schedule can implement a mix of standard work schedules along with part-time and overtime shifts. Employers can also manage temporary workers hired for that particular time to keep up with the workload, with these schedules.
9. Split shifts
Split shift schedules allow employees to have flexible timing to meet their workday requirements. The workday is split into two or more parts and allows employees to cater to personal commitments during the unpaid intervals between shifts. For instance, a shuttle driver scheduled for morning and evening routes can work 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours at night to meet his 8-hour requirement.
This work schedule can help employers cut down on labor costs by giving employees downtime in between peak work hours. However, workers following these work schedules can also be required to do mandatory overtime if a situation calls for it.
10. Irregular shifts
These are no-schedule shifts where employees are called in according to need. They are commonly used in areas where work cannot be specified in hours. Employers also use these schedules to cover understaffed work hours. Some small businesses that have flexibility also use this kind of work schedule, where work hours need to be adjusted to other commitments that employees have.
11. On-call shifts
Often used to supplement a regular shift schedule, on-call shifts require employees to stay prepared to be called in to work at specific times. Employers implement these measures as a contingency plan for emergencies where either a scheduled staff member has taken an unexpected leave or in any other situation that requires immediate scheduling of alternate workers. On-call shift schedules are followed in the healthcare and aviation industries.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Shift Schedule
Effective shift scheduling goes far beyond just marking slots according to arbitrarily designed work hours. Since a major part of operational efficiency depends on adequate and well-planned staffing, businesses need to consider the following factors:
1. Industry standards
Industry standards are vital while planning a shift schedule. They can determine operational timings, the number of staff required, peak hours, expenses on payroll, and a lot of other elements. That’s why managers and employers must keep industry standards in mind when scheduling shifts.
2. Labor laws
Labor laws safeguard employee well-being by setting parameters to preserve employee rights and prevent exploitation. Businesses must adhere to these laws to avoid penalties for violations.
3. Employee preferences and availability
This is another factor that is easily overlooked. Managers often schedule shifts without consulting employees and their availability. This can not only create scheduling conflicts but also contribute to negative employee sentiment.
4. Employee skillset
Acquiring skilled employees is difficult enough but assigning them efficiently takes even more thought. Not only do employers need to ensure a balanced distribution of expertise across operational hours, but they also need to match skills to tasks.
5. Workload
Businesses must also ensure adequate staffing, especially when there’s a high workload. Similarly, it is counterproductive and can hike expenses when more than the required number of employees are working during slow hours. That’s why managers also need to consider operational patterns when scheduling shifts.
Implementing Shift Management Software for Efficiency
Managing and scheduling shifts can be a strenuous and tedious task. For larger businesses that employ different types of employees working different shifts, it becomes even more difficult to keep track of work schedules. That’s why businesses can greatly benefit from a shift management software like the one from Akrivia HCM.
Akrivia’s Time and Attendance software not only effectively manages multiple types of shift schedules across the organization but can also seamlessly merge the data when integrated with payroll software. This removes room for error, as there’s no need for manually duplicating data.
The software also comes with overtime management and a unified dashboard that can allow managers to access relevant data in a single view. This process is far more efficient than combing through multiple Word files or Excel sheets to access the required information.
Summing Up
Designing shift schedule (or schedules) that work for your employees must be a dynamic process that is receptive to improvements. That’s why understanding different types of shift schedules and the factors that can affect these frameworks is integral. Leveraging technology like shift management software can further enhance the effectiveness of your shift scheduling practices, ensuring both workforce productivity and business growth.
Which of these types of shift schedules would you prefer? What shift schedule does your company follow? Is it effective? Let us know in the comments below.
