By Elise Dobson
Introduction
Fixed shifts from 9 AM to 5 PM are not the preferred schedule for most employees. This is natural.
With rotating schedules or shift patterns, employees change their working hours over a specified period. For instance, store sales employees may follow a rotating shift pattern of three day shifts followed by two night shifts and one day off. The schedule then repeats.
Research indicates that 2.5% of employees (about 3.7 million people) across all sectors work under rotating shifts. However, the retail industry exceeds this average. Approximately 12% of retail or wholesale workers operate under rotating shifts, according to a report by the Economic Policy Institute.
Like many other work patterns, rotating schedules have their advantages and disadvantages. To help you decide whether to implement them for your retail employees, we will share some considerations to keep in mind before creating your own rotating shift pattern.
What is a Rotating Schedule?
A rotating schedule is a pattern that changes employees’ work periods over time.
It is primarily used in industries that require staff to be available at all times, such as those operating machinery, providing emergency services, or working in hotels.
In a retail environment, sales employees may work a rotating shift pattern if your physical store is open 24 hours. You can have one team member covering night shifts while another works during the day. Then, after one week, they rotate. Everyone gets their fair share of good (and bad) shifts.
Young workers aged 18 to 24 are most likely to work under rotating schedules. A report from the Harvard Center for Social Policy found that three out of five young workers have a variable or rotating schedule.
How Does a Rotating Schedule Work?
The first stage in creating a rotating schedule is dividing the workforce into teams. These teams will cover different work periods over alternating weeks.
The labor teams are divided into different groups, with each group working a certain number of shifts before taking a break.
Types of Rotating Schedules
Now that you know how a rotating schedule works, let’s look at specific formats.
Here are eight common examples of rotating shift models you can try in your retail store.
Pitman Shift Schedule
The Pitman schedule is a good option if you need staff available consistently. It is a pattern that divides the workforce into four teams. Each team operates on a schedule that lasts four weeks, rotating as follows: two workdays, two days off, three workdays, two days off, two workdays, three days off.
With the Pitman pattern, employees get a three-day weekend every other weekend. They also do not work more than three consecutive days. Additionally, if the schedule continues to work, employees enjoy some stability in the time pattern for four weeks.
However, the Pitman scheduling has its drawbacks, mainly that employees work for 12 consecutive hours for three days in a row.
DuPont Shift Schedule
The DuPont shift schedule, named after the company that created it, is used in retail operations that run around the clock.
The workforce is divided into four teams, with each team working 12 hours according to the following schedule: four night shifts, three days off, three day shifts, one day off, three night shifts, three days off, four day shifts, seven days off.
The biggest
A feature of the DuPont schedule is the fact that employees get a week off every 28 days. It is also possible for employees not to work a full weekend. However, employees may find it challenging to adjust their sleep schedule when day and night shifts are very close together, such as on the tenth day of the 28-day cycle, where employees have only one day to recover after three day shifts before starting three night shifts.
Rotating Weekend Shift Schedule
The rotating weekend shift schedule is typically used for businesses that are open on Saturdays and Sundays, such as retail businesses.
As its name suggests, the rotating weekend shift schedule allows employees to take turns working on weekends, where they regularly work every weekend or every other weekend before taking a weekend off.
This type of weekend schedule provides employees with ample time to rest and balances responsibility during busy shifts in the retail sector.
2-2, 3-2, 2-3 Shift Schedule
This is a retail shift pattern that provides 24-hour coverage for physical stores. In this case, the workforce is divided into four teams.
Each team works day shifts according to the following schedule in a 28-day cycle: two days on, two days off, three days on, two days off, two days on, three days off.
The cycle for night shifts repeats before returning to day hours.
What is good about this alternating schedule is that employees have more than three consecutive workdays. As an added bonus, they get a long weekend every two weeks. There is also plenty of time to adjust sleep patterns during the three-day breaks between day and night shifts.
However, this alternating schedule means that employees can work many hours in a week. In the first week of the four-day cycle, they will work five shifts of 12 hours (for a total of 60 hours).
24-48 Shift Schedule
Also known as the ABC shift schedule, this pattern provides 24-hour coverage. It is more commonly used in healthcare emergency services and firefighting.
The workforce is divided into three teams, and each team works its shift for 24 hours followed by two consecutive days off. The biggest advantage of the 24-48 shift schedule is that employees do not work a full weekend. They also do not work more than three days a week.
However, this shift pattern is considered exhausting. Working for 24 hours means that employees must focus for long periods of time. They must also work in the eight hours of sleep they missed during their days off.
4-3 Shift Schedule
If you have a larger team that does not want to work very long shifts, the 4-3 shift schedule is a good option. Employees are divided into groups of six to provide 24-hour coverage.
Each team rotates through the types of shifts they work. For example: four days working shifts from 6 AM to 2 PM, three days off, four days working shifts from 2 PM to 10 PM, three days off, four days working shifts from 10 PM to 6 AM, three days off.
The biggest reward of this alternating schedule is that employees do not work long hours. Depending on the week in which the cycle falls, employees may work 40 hours (which is closest to the average of 37.5 hours for full-time employees in the United States). Each team also has plenty of time to adjust their sleep schedule before the next shift starts.
And with
that note, the 4-3 shift pattern may not be the best option if employees do not wish to work many weekends. Depending on how the rotating schedule falls, teams will work three consecutive weekends before getting one weekend off.
6-4 6-4 6-4 Shift Schedule
This type of rotating schedule is slightly longer than most other shift patterns – it operates on a 30-day cycle.
The workforce is divided into five teams and rotates through one of three 10-hour shifts, such as: six days of work on shifts from 6 AM to 2 PM, four days off, six days of work on shifts from 2 PM to 10 PM, four days off, six days of work on shifts from 10 PM to 6 AM, four days off.
This rotating pattern is considered good because each team gets an above-average break of four days. Employees also receive two non-working weekends in each 30-day cycle.
However, working six consecutive days can be tough for some employees – especially those with school-aged children. They may likely need help with childcare since they are working longer than school workdays.
5-3 5-4 5-3 Shift Schedule
This rotating schedule divides the workforce into five teams, with each team working one of three shifts in a 25-day cycle. For example: five days of work on shifts from 6 AM to 2 PM, three days off, five days of work on shifts from 2 PM to 10 PM, four days off, five days of work on shifts from 10 PM to 6 AM, three days off.
The longer cycle means employees are more likely to be confused about which shifts they are working, as they change frequently. However, it also means they receive a longer break – four consecutive days – during the middle of each cycle.
4-2 4-3 4-3 Shift Schedule
Here’s another option if you wish to cover 24 hours in a shorter cycle. This rotating schedule repeats every 20 days. It requires having five teams working 10-hour shifts according to the following pattern: four days of work on the first shifts, two days off, four days of work on the second shifts, three days off, four days of work on the third shifts, three days off.
The biggest advantage of this shift pattern is that employees get their fair share. No one bears the burden of night shifts. Everyone takes their turn during the best (and worst) work hours.
Fixed Schedules vs. Rotating Schedules
If you do not provide rotating schedules for employees, you are likely to offer fixed schedules. In this case, employees come to work at a specific time on set days.
We can see fixed schedules in action with most office jobs that follow Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. Sales assistants might have similar patterns – such as working from 10 AM to 5 PM, Tuesday to Saturday, instead of working three days and taking three days off.
Employees on rotating shifts also typically work longer periods. Companies that operate 24 hours can have three shifts, dividing the patterns into three shifts lasting eight hours each. Other companies that only have two teams can cover 24 hours with two shifts lasting 12 hours each.
On
Anyhow, the data indicates a correlation between alternating shifts and mandatory overtime – which further increases the average shift length.
On the other hand, those with fixed schedules tend to work shorter periods. They work the same hours every day, regardless of whether their coworkers are around them or not.
Benefits of Rotating Schedules
Although rotating schedules are less stable than fixed schedules, there is something about them that keeps employees engaged. A report found that 51% of workers with a rotating schedule have been in their current job for over three years.
Among some of the reasons employees enjoy rotating work schedules:
Avoiding Burnout
Burnout occurs when employees work excessively hard and spend too much time in a state of stress.
Resistance to taking leave is one of the main causes of burnout. In fact, a study by Deloitte found that one in four professionals does not take all or rarely takes their leave. Depending on how the schedule falls, employees with rotating shift patterns will have more days off each week compared to their counterparts with fixed schedules. For example, the DuPont schedule provides employees with a seven-day break at the end of each 28-day cycle – like a short vacation.
Flexibility
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, office workers with 9-to-5 schedules were demanding flexible work options.
Workers on rotating shifts enjoy greater flexibility in terms of time compared to those on fixed schedules. They are likely to work outside of “normal” working hours. This gives them flexibility in external work arrangements – like scheduling a medical appointment at noon when most people are working a fixed 9-to-5 schedule. For this reason, two-thirds of shift workers say flexibility is the top benefit. A small percentage also say that a rotating shift pattern allows time for studying or working another job and provides better arrangements for their families.
A Fair Share of Both Good and Bad Shifts
With a rotating schedule, everyone gets their fair share of good (and bad) shifts.
Teams do not have to rely on certain team members to cover for missing weekend shifts. Everyone takes their turn working weekends, during peak hours, and in the early quiet morning shifts.
Additionally, if you are rotating schedules to ensure staff coverage around the clock, no one will get an unequal share of overnight shifts that extend from late at night until early morning (like 10 PM to 6 AM).
Experience with Different Shifts
Employees who perform the same roles and responsibilities are likely to have different tasks they need to complete depending on the time of their shift.
If a sales associate takes the morning shift before the store opens, they will check inventory and unload deliveries. The employees on the evening shift after the store closes will clean and prepare the cash report at the end of the day.
A rotating schedule gives everyone a chance to work different shifts. They can build new skills and diversify their daily tasks.
Drawbacks of Rotating Schedules
Although rotating shifts have their advantages, data suggests that 60% of employees working a weekly rotating schedule say they would choose a different schedule if options were available.
Let’s take a look at why rotating schedules might not be the best option for retail.
Lack of Scheduling Stability
The biggest
A disadvantage of rotating schedules is that they are not fixed. If employees work three days on and two days off, they may struggle with the idea of not working on specific days (or hours) of the week.
Disruption of the Daily Rhythm
People spend one-third of their lives sleeping – and for this reason. According to “Medical News Today,” “getting enough sleep is essential for helping to maintain a person’s optimal health and well-being.”
However, rotating schedules disrupt the body’s natural daily rhythm – also known as the body’s internal clock. Waking up at different times each day is hard on the body. For this reason, the number of people reporting a mismatch between their sleep schedules and work hours is higher among those with rotating shifts.
Research has also found that workers who have rotated shifts for more than 15 days have a much higher chance of experiencing insomnia.
Health Risks of Shift Work
Irregular shift patterns that take the body out of its natural system can make an individual more susceptible to injuries. Fatigue accounts for 13% of workplace injuries.
There is also a link between workers who have rotating shifts and serious health problems:
- Employees working rotating shifts have a 42% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- Police officers working evening and night shifts report having more stressful days compared to those working morning shifts.
- Gastrointestinal problems like stomach aches, heartburn, and gastritis are more common among rotating shift workers.
These increased health risks can lead to long-term adverse effects. A study on the impact of shift work on health concluded that “women who work rotating night shifts for 5 years or more have a slight increase in overall mortality rates and cardiovascular disease mortality rates; and those working rotating night shifts for 15 years or more have a slight increase in lung cancer mortality rates.”
Work-Life Balance Issues
The benefit of rotating shifts means that everyone gets their fair share of good (and bad) shifts. But this is a double-edged sword. Depending on how the schedule falls, employees’ work-life balance may suffer.
For example, a rotating Baton schedule means that employees may work 12-hour shifts for three consecutive days. This leaves little time to spend with family, enjoy a social life, or accomplish personal tasks.
For this reason, 19% of rotating shift workers say they regularly experience a conflict between work and family (compared to only 11% of those on fixed schedules).
Decreased Productivity Due to Long Shifts
Rotating shifts are associated with longer working hours. Employees on rotating schedules can work 10 to 12 consecutive hours, disrupting our natural sleep hours even more.
The body’s natural periodic activities peak after the start of the workday, which is why most people are more productive in the morning. They begin to taper off after eating and gradually rise towards the end of the day.
The workday for rotating shift workers is not aligned with their natural periodic activities. Therefore, they can work longer hours but are less productive overall.
How to Create a Rotating Schedule
If you decide that a rotating shift schedule works for your business, here are steps you can take to create a schedule for employees.
1. Divide Employees into Balanced Teams
The first step in creating a rotating schedule is to divide…
Source: https://www.shopify.com/retail/rotating-schedules
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