Shift rotas

[Extrachilli]

We need a shift rota to cover 24/7, 365 days a year, unfortunately with only 8 guys who may never work alone. The problem is exacerbated by the fact we would need to cover each others absence due to holidays, training and sickness. Everyone is opposed to having their holidays rostered into the system. Looks like the Working Time Directive is going out of the window, any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. The only current option is 12 hour shifts, 4 on 4 off, (which would extend our working time by 210 hours per year, PLUS overtime covering absences). Also posted in Jobs, but hoping to catch some numerically agile people here.

[twiglet4frog]

dont know if it helps but a shift of 2 men working 12 hours a day for 7 days followed by another 2 working 12 hour night for a week and then a week off while the other 4 take there turns for a week? When they return after a week off the night workers switch to days and vice versa so it is equal for all.

it means doing a 7 day week and doing 84 hour week(not un heard of in some workplaces), but u then follow that with a 7 day week off to recover and breaks the 2 weeks down to a 42 hour week in principle, but with all the work concentrated as such it means effectivly only working very hard for 26 weeks of a year and having another 26 weeks of the year off!!

Also with a whole week off this would reduce actual holiday time cover as any longer than a week off would fall under there regular time off (although this causes problems for paid time off)

to provide cover for sickness or holidays u could place the staff that are "week off" on a rota where as 2 of the 4 on there week off are on call for sickness etc, and the other two are guarenteed complete freedom from providing cover, then 2 weeks later on there next week off they swap and the other two are on call to provide cover if emergancy.

 

How much of this is legal/workable/feasible is not for me to say but just trying to throw some ideas in the pot.

[Golem]

I work in an environment that requires the exact same coverage. My shift system is as follows, I'm always with a partner;

• Mon. 0700 - 1900
• Tues 0700 - 1900
• Wed off
• Thur off
• Fri 0700 - 1900
• Sat 0700 - 1900
• Sun 0700 - 1900
• Mon off
• Tues off
• Wed 0700 - 1900
• Thur 0700 - 1900
• Fri off **
• Sat off
• Sun off
• Mon 1900 - 0700
• Tues 1900 - 0700
• Wed off
• Thur off
• Fri 1900 - 0700
• Sat 1900 - 0700
• Sun 1900 - 0700
• Mon off
• Tues off
• Wed 1900 - 0700
• Thur 1900 - 0700
• Fri off
• Sat off
• Sun off
• Mon - pattern starts again

Obviously the other three 'couples' are working a similar pattern to fill in the missing shifts. Eight people is the absolute minimum needed to work 24/7 365 and even then it will put an enormous burden on each of you as you try to cover sickness, holidays etc etc because you only have 2 other individuals to call upon. Look at the Friday I've asterisked, for example. You need a day shift covered. I could do it, my partner could do it. B couple can't because they've just worked all Thursday night. C couple can't because it's already their day shift (and one is off sick, the one you're trying to cover) and D couple will be working Friday night. This is assuming of course that a 12 hour shift is the maximum allowed; I personally think anything longer than that becomes dangerous.

[Golem]

I did also work a shift pattern that extended over a 12 week period before repeating itself; but whatever you choose there will be pros and cons to the pattern. But I would seriously consider trying to find 'relief' staff to cover absences - you will all really need your time off when it comes.