Shift work
All about shift work
Shift work involves working at variable times and days but follows a fixed schedule or roster. It’s commonly used in industries where production or operations need to extend beyond an 8-hour workday, such as in process technology, healthcare, and public transportation.
In process technology, shift work keeps production running smoothly, sometimes even 24/7, minimizing downtime. Employees working in shifts are often eligible for additional pay to compensate for the irregular hours.
Shift Work
Shift work offers a lot of variety, ranging from day shifts only to working in up to seven shifts.
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Shift overhaul
A shift handover takes place between the different shifts. This involves transferring the work of the shift that has finished to the shift that starts work.
The important thing about shift handover is that it takes place quickly and efficiently. It is not for nothing that work is done in shifts to keep the work going. During the handover, not only the work is handed over, but often any peculiarities recorded in the reports are briefly discussed. The new shift has to pick up the thread with this.
Different shifts
There are different shifts, in which the number of shifts but also the schedules differ. For instance, 2, 3, 4 and 5 shifts are most common. Each shift has its own pattern.
It is often referred to as an early shift, day shift, late shift and night shift. Usually, an early shift starts at 7am, a day shift at 3pm and the late shift (or night shift) at 11pm. But this can vary from company to company.
Average shift bonus
Working in shifts can earn significant allowances. Shift work involves working irregular hours, often including nights and weekends. The allowances for different shift patterns are approximately as follows:
- Two-shift system: 8-12% shift allowance
- Three-shift system: 15-20% shift allowance
- Four-shift system: 23-27% shift allowance
- Five-shift system: 28-33% shift allowance
The minimum allowances are specified in the applicable collective labor agreement (CAO). Actual allowance rates may vary by company.
2-shift schedule and times
Roughly, we distinguish three variants within the two-shift system:
- the standard shift schedule
- the fast-rotating shift schedule
- the 38-hour shift schedule
Standard Two-Shift Schedule
The standard variant features five early shifts followed by five late shifts.
Fast-Rotating Two-Shift Schedule
In the fast-rotating schedule, there are shorter sequences of the same shifts, like two or three early shifts followed by two or three late shifts.
38-Hour Two-Shift Schedule
This schedule, as the name suggests, involves a 38-hour workweek. It alternates between one week of five 8-hour early shifts and another week of four 9-hour late shifts. Early shifts generally start at 7:00, with handovers around 14:00 or 15:00, depending on the agreed hours.
Interested in working in a two-shift schedule? Check out the job openings for two-shift positions.
Working in three shifts with a three-shift schedule
At a company operating in three shifts, this usually means three 8-hour shifts rotating to allow for 24-hour work coverage, typically from Monday to Friday.
Three-Shift Schedules and Times
The most common schedules for three-shift work include:
- Backward rotation
- Forward rotation (alternative to backward)
- 3 nights
- No night shifts, with weekend
- No night shifts, with extended shifts
Backward and Forward Three-Shift Schedules
Backward and forward rotation schedules have five identical shifts in a row. Shifts begin progressively earlier (backward) or later (forward): the first five are night shifts, followed by five late shifts, and five early shifts. Shift change times are generally 7:00, 15:00, and 23:00. A forward rotation is usually preferred as it’s easier on the body.
Three-Shift Schedule with 3 Nights
Over three weeks, this schedule includes five late shifts, five early shifts, and three night shifts. The advantage is fewer night shifts and long breaks between shifts.
Three-Shift Schedule without Nights, with Weekend
This option excludes night shifts and distributes work across all 7 days. The schedule repeats every three weeks, allowing three shifts but avoiding night work, which is easier for those sensitive to night shifts.
Three-Shift Schedule without Nights, with Extended Shifts
This variant has long early and late shifts of 9 hours, including Saturday work, without night shifts. Start times are usually 6:00 and 15:00.
Interested in working in three-shift schedules? Check out job openings with three shifts.
Working in Four Shifts with a Four-Shift Schedule
Working in four shifts reduces the workload compared to a three-shift schedule. The four shifts cover 24 hours, typically involving six 6-hour shifts per week. This standard four-shift schedule results in 144 total company hours or 36 hours per employee per week, with shifts covering day, evening, and night. Start and end times are similar to those in three-shift schedules.
Employees in the standard four-shift schedule are usually off on Sundays. Shorter days are helpful for physically demanding jobs, though they may reduce weekend time. Other variations include a fast-rotating schedule with two or three days of early, late, or night shifts or schedules with four identical shifts followed by one or two days off.
Interested in four-shift work? Check out the four-shift job openings.
Working in five shifts with a five-shift schedule
The five-shift system is often used by companies that operate continuously. The shifts rotate non-stop.
Five-Shift Schedule
Employees work in day, evening, and night shifts, with similar hours to previously mentioned schedules. The average workweek is around 33.6 hours per employee, shorter than other setups, but with the highest shift allowance: 28-33%.
In a 2-2-2 schedule, two early, two late, and two night shifts rotate with four days off. In a 3-2 schedule, three days of the same shift are followed by two days off. These are the most common rotations.
Many employees find the five-shift system desirable due to the shorter workweeks and high allowances.
Interested in five-shift work? Check out the five-shift job openings.
Shift work and irregular hours
Working in shifts means dealing with changing hours. Some people are more sensitive to rotating shifts than others.
Research shows that older and younger employees respond similarly to shift work, so younger employees are not necessarily better suited. Whether someone is a morning or evening person seems to predict their response to shift work better.
To minimize the impact of irregular hours, shorter or fewer night shifts are ideal.
Adjusting to irregular hours takes time, but there are great benefits as well.
The 5 biggest benefits of working in shifts
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- The shift allowances
- Certain schedules offer longer stretches of consecutive days off
- With irregular workdays, you also have weekdays off, allowing you to handle tasks during regular ‘9-to-5’ office hours
- You commute before or after peak hours
- Your breaks are (usually) paid
Are you interested in working a specific shift schedule?
Not interested in working shifts despite the attractive allowances? Prefer regular day shifts instead?
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