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Shift Employees Days Work Common Patterns Employers Business

Id ESLPod_0836_CN
Episode Id ESLPod 836
Episode Title Working Shifts
Title Types of Shift Patterns
Text

"Shift work" allows employers to run their business "around the clock" (24 hours a day, seven days a week). The day is divided into shifts, usually eight-hour shifts, and employees are assigned to each shift. Usually employees rotate through different shifts, so that they do not always work the same shift.

The "three-shift system" is the most common shift pattern. The first shift is from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the second shift is from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and the third shift is from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Employees work a shift Monday through Friday and then have some weekends "off" (when they do not have to work). In general, employers assign employees to a single shift, but some companies move employees around.

Other common shift patterns include "four on, four off," where employees work one shift on each of four "consecutive" (immediately following each other, without any break) days and then have four days off. "Four on, three off" and "four on, one off" are also common shift patterns.

Many manufacturing companies "prefer" the "DuPont 12-hour rotating shift" which uses four "crews" (groups of workers) in 12-hour shifts. Each employee works an average of 42 hours per week, but there is one 72-hour week. Then the employee receives one "full" (entire) week off.

There are many other "variations" (different versions) of shift patterns, depending on the industry and the specific needs of the businesses, such as whether shifts need to "overlap" (with one starting before the previous one has ended).

Topics Business

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