Shift schedules and schedule examples.

Shift Work Schedules

Our website users are asking: "Can you give me a shift schedule (or shift schedules) that does ________?"

You fill in the blank, and we have probably heard the question.

Each month we will feature a different schedule that either solves a shift schedule problem, or demonstrates a shift scheduling technique. Since we update this page frequently, you may want to use the form below to sign up to be notified when updates are posted. (We will only use the e-mail address you provide to notify you of updates.) You may also want to review some other schedule examples (a link is provided at the bottom of this page) before you look at the current topic.

About Shiftwork Solutions LLC

Shiftwork Solutions LLC is the leading consulting company solving shift work problems for organizations with multi-shift operations. Our solutions are designed to satisfy business requirements, while also meeting the needs of the affected employees. We have helped more than 200 companies in a variety of industries to develop successful shift solutions.

We can help you, so contact us today by email, or call us at (415) 472-3688.

Enter your e-mail address to receive schedule updates:

Background Information on Shift Schedules

Before you look at any shift schedules, you need to understand and define the problems you are trying to solve. Some of the variables that you need to look at include:

• Weekly Coverage Requirements.

• How many hours of coverage?
• How many people for each hour or block of time?
• What skills are required?
• Day-to-day and seasonal coverage variations
• Covering absences

• Shift Length.

• 8-hour shifts
• 10-hour shifts
• 12-hour shifts
• Combinations of 8, 10, or 12-hour shifts
• Other, custom designed shift lengths

• Communication Requirements.

• Shift-to-shift
• Within the shift
• Between managers and shiftworkers
• Day-to-day continuity
• Between departments

• Rotating Shift Issues.

• Fixed shifts
• Rotating shifts
• Fixed days off
• Rotating days off
• Combinations of fixed and rotating shifts and days off

• Limiting Factors.

• Health requirements for shift length, rotation rate, and hours of work
• Cost of coverage (straight time, overtime, double time, etc.)
• Pay policies and or union contracts
• State and Federal requirements

At times all of these variables can come into play. We will define the controlling variables for each of the schedules that we discuss.

Having worked with hundreds of shift schedules, we have found that there are at least 15-20 general classes of shift schedules that can be used to optimize a particular business situation. For each class of shift schedules there may be another ten or more specific variations in day-on/day-off patterns, etc. Technically, the actual number of shift schedules is almost infinite because you can have slight variations in work or pay policies that can make the shift schedule impact on the organization different -- even if the day-on/day-off pattern is the same.

Employee Shift Schedule Preferences

As you know, having support from the workforce is vital to the success of any new shift schedule. While this page focuses on the shift schedules themselves, these schedules will probably fail without the support of the shiftworkers. In fact, the easiest part of implementing a new shift schedule is usually the schedule design step itself.

The most difficult part about making the change to a new shift schedule is doing so with employee and management buy-in. For this reason, we use a process that has been successful at the 200+ companies our consultants have worked with. Contact us today to schedule a free (no-obligation) conference-call consultation with one of our consultants.

Our current shift schedule topic is about building maintenance coverage into a schedule. Click the link below to view the schedule. Be sure to check back soon and view our new schedule releases.

Featured Schedule Topic: Building Maintenance Coverage into a Schedule

Other Schedule Examples

55 Mitchell Boulevard, Suite 2 • San Rafael CA, 94903 • (415) 472-3688