24x7 Shift Pattern Suggestions?

[Rebellion]

I have to organise a 24x7x365 shift pattern for a departnent of 30+ staff. I've managed 24x7 operations before, but left their shift patterns largely untouched, but I didn't like that rota because the staff ended up working 3 hours less per week than their contract and getting them to make that time up elsewhere was a hell of a battle (thanks to the union...lol). Does any one have good suggestions for shift patterns, totalling an average of 40 hours a week? Thanks.

[Big Red]

6-2, 2-10, 10-6 matey

[ben_3.0v6]

Depends as we have to do a hand over and can't leave the office unoccupied and doing the rota like that means no room for breakdowns or shift handover.

[BigWilko]

Personally if i were being governed by the shifts you're doing i'd like to be asked what shifts i'd like to work. I personally don't mind working weekends as my Mrs works weekends and it's easy for us to find a relative to look after our daughter. I know i'd rather work 3 long shifts and have four days off than draw it out over a longer period. If everyone is different, maybe you'll find that the shift people want to work cover all the hrs you need to without you having to do too much work (yeah right)!!

I also think the members of staff might come to terms with it better if they thought the final decision might be down to themselves. If they're less disgruntled about it, it might not affect their performance/ moral as much as having a shift they don't want put on them.

Failing that, i've always been a fan of 12 hrs 4 on 4 off

[Big Red]

Team leaders or supervisors stop back to do quick handover and if there is a problem you get that shift to stop back or ring other shifts to come in

[Grumpy1954]

I'm with Big Wilko, I used to work 24/7, but we did 6am - 6pm one week days, one week nights. Nights, Monday. Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday then days, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Next pattern reversed
It meant everybody got two weekends off per month, one short and one long weekend.
It was part of the contract that shift and section leaders had to be on the shop floor 15 minutes before and after each shift.

[triple595]

dont do em i really hated working shifts lol

[dilan]

I do 4 on 5 off... 0630-1830 days , 1830-0630 nights then 5 off... Well the morning you finish nights is classed as your 1st off day...

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[Betty]

Not really enough info in your post to help much:

How many people do you need on shift at a time?
Is the work even spread between days/nights weekdays/weekends or do you have periods that need more manning?

[Dai69]

I've worked shifts most of my life and the best that I've had, giving a good balance of home/family time in my opinion was a version of continentals. It's a bit hard to get your head around at first glance but......

.......... M T W T F S S
WEEK 1 D D O O N N N
WEEK 2 O O D D O O O
WEEK 3 N N O O D D D
WEEK 4 O O N N O O O

12 hr shifts with teamleaders/supervisors starting 15 mins early and if necessary individuals stopping on for extended handover. This works out as a 42 hour week with any handovers being paid as overtime.

The downside is working two long weekends - Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights are a bit of a downer; but on the up side, every other weekend is a long weekend (especially going from days to nights) and you also have time off during the week when you can get things done :-)

With that many staff you could stagger the start times to maintain cover during the handover periods?