Best shift patterns
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Some interesting ideas here as I am looking at different options for the shifts here as we speak.
For 2 years I worked 7 Days/7 Nights/14 Off (12 hour shifts), of course this was the military and therefore wasn't questioned...... very tiring but 2 weeks "holiday" every month felt like a bonus at the time !
............. just checking the Austrian Law to see if I can find a loophole
For 2 years I worked 7 Days/7 Nights/14 Off (12 hour shifts), of course this was the military and therefore wasn't questioned...... very tiring but 2 weeks "holiday" every month felt like a bonus at the time !
............. just checking the Austrian Law to see if I can find a loophole
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not an ops support but private biz jet operator... and thats the worrying thing!
Main reason he's doin this is casue of staff shortage so less leave means more staff avaliable!
Main reason he's doin this is casue of staff shortage so less leave means more staff avaliable!
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Alley
You need to refer to your contract of employment, if you haven't already. If you're on a 4 on 4 off roster pattern weekends don't mean anything to you. Usually, shift workers have a number of annual leave days that refer to a 'day off shift'- so if you apply for leave for a 4 day period of work, you can enjoy the days off prior to and after the leave dates- if your roster sticks to the pattern. But I have also know this to be contested in airlines I have worked for in the past. It's the same for 9-5 workers- if they apply for a week holiday- i.e. 5 days off M-F the weekend days off prior to, and after, don't come into the leave equation- but they enjoy 9 days away from work- do they not? Try that as an argument to support your issue.
You need to refer to your contract of employment, if you haven't already. If you're on a 4 on 4 off roster pattern weekends don't mean anything to you. Usually, shift workers have a number of annual leave days that refer to a 'day off shift'- so if you apply for leave for a 4 day period of work, you can enjoy the days off prior to and after the leave dates- if your roster sticks to the pattern. But I have also know this to be contested in airlines I have worked for in the past. It's the same for 9-5 workers- if they apply for a week holiday- i.e. 5 days off M-F the weekend days off prior to, and after, don't come into the leave equation- but they enjoy 9 days away from work- do they not? Try that as an argument to support your issue.
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It would be illegal in the UK....If it was not, all employers would be pulling that one. Some people just don't deserve to breath.....................Best advice is to find another employer, preferably one with a Union (or a heart!!)...
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Same old story with HR and management who have no idea of what it's like to "work the desk" in this part of this industry.
If your roster pattern is fixed, then your time off is yours. Your leave days are just that and anything else is off duty time.
I agree with no sig and I have also know this to be contested in airlines I have worked for but no matter how you try to explain it to them, they can't understand even when you equate it to "day workers" M-F and Sa,Su off.
Keep trying and at least you've got a job.
If your roster pattern is fixed, then your time off is yours. Your leave days are just that and anything else is off duty time.
I agree with no sig and I have also know this to be contested in airlines I have worked for but no matter how you try to explain it to them, they can't understand even when you equate it to "day workers" M-F and Sa,Su off.
Keep trying and at least you've got a job.
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Our shift pattern is based on a 4/4 rotation as well but it entails 2 - 12 hour morning shifts 0700 - 1900 and 2 - 12 hour evening shifts 1900-0700.
You could work 4 straight mornings and 4 straight evenings but we prefer having the break in between the last morning to the first evening shift although your last night shift cuts into your first day off.
You could work 4 straight mornings and 4 straight evenings but we prefer having the break in between the last morning to the first evening shift although your last night shift cuts into your first day off.
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Mon – Tues – Weds – Thurs – Fri – Sat – Sun
R R R R D D D
N N R R R R D
D D N N R R R
C C C C C C C
R R D D N N N
D - 0630-1830
N - 1830-0630
C – 0900-1700 or cover any holidays
I liked this when working in cargo at LHR. The cover week you either took holiday or covered when others on holiday or maybe a few 8hour days as an extra!
R R R R D D D
N N R R R R D
D D N N R R R
C C C C C C C
R R D D N N N
D - 0630-1830
N - 1830-0630
C – 0900-1700 or cover any holidays
I liked this when working in cargo at LHR. The cover week you either took holiday or covered when others on holiday or maybe a few 8hour days as an extra!
A question for those on 12hours shift:
What happen if the guy taking over your shift go sickie? Do you extend you shift,someone else to be call out of standby or other methods to cover for the shortage?
What happen if the guy taking over your shift go sickie? Do you extend you shift,someone else to be call out of standby or other methods to cover for the shortage?
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2 nights - 2 days - 4 off
For 6 years I have been working a 2 day 2 night 4 off shift pattern.
Generally it works pretty well with obvious pluses and minuses. Recently I have heard of a shift variation that follows the same pattern but starts with nights and ends with days. Socially I can see advantages to this as my days off are immediately preceded by a day working pattern. Usually my first day off after nights is spent in a zombie like state and only good for recovery. Also the last night off before starting early on my first day back at work is usually an inferior sleep and does not set me up well for the rest of the first day. Has anyone heard of this 2 night 2 day 4 off variation to the usual 4 on 4 off scenario?
Generally it works pretty well with obvious pluses and minuses. Recently I have heard of a shift variation that follows the same pattern but starts with nights and ends with days. Socially I can see advantages to this as my days off are immediately preceded by a day working pattern. Usually my first day off after nights is spent in a zombie like state and only good for recovery. Also the last night off before starting early on my first day back at work is usually an inferior sleep and does not set me up well for the rest of the first day. Has anyone heard of this 2 night 2 day 4 off variation to the usual 4 on 4 off scenario?
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2 nights 2 days cannot work as that would mean a 24 hour shift in the middle...
i am working a general 2 days 2 nights shift pattern with a few changes here and there, but never going over the 14/15/16 shifts a month...
For my personal preference the finishing at 0700 on my first day off is perfectly acceptable, its weighed off against the 24 hours between my day and night shift...
As for the annual leave allowance, my 18 days are plenty (plus BH lieu days if i choose to take), i'm currently a week into 3 weeks off, and i used 6 days AL for that...
so for me, 2days 2 nights 4off, best shift pattern there is!
cheers,
buzzz
i am working a general 2 days 2 nights shift pattern with a few changes here and there, but never going over the 14/15/16 shifts a month...
For my personal preference the finishing at 0700 on my first day off is perfectly acceptable, its weighed off against the 24 hours between my day and night shift...
As for the annual leave allowance, my 18 days are plenty (plus BH lieu days if i choose to take), i'm currently a week into 3 weeks off, and i used 6 days AL for that...
so for me, 2days 2 nights 4off, best shift pattern there is!
cheers,
buzzz
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Well we do a 4 on 4 off, the 4 on being 2 days then 2 nights, the shift being 12 hours 7 to 7 seems to work ok but as many others have said weekends and public hols tend to be pot luck !
Join Date: Aug 2012
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Best Shift Patterns
As a professional schedule designer, I felt compelled to respond to this discussion.
In our work with clients, we show the affected workers a variety of scheduling possibilities, e.g., 8-hour shift patterns, 12-hour shift patterns, and 8 and 12-hour combined shift patterns. Roughly 90% of the time, the top-rated schedule uses 12-hour shifts. But the preferred pattern varies.
The reason for no clear winner is that the employees at each facility we work with has a different set of demographics (gender, age, marital status, childcare responsibilities, second jobs, etc.). They also have different experience with shift schedules. As a result, it is inappropriate to think there is a single "best" shift pattern. It really depends on the group you ask.
If you want to choose the "best" schedule, you could either hire a consultant to facilitate the change process, or you could purchase a package of schedule examples and let the group decide which pattern they like best. So, instead of asking for all pilots' opinions, narrow it down to a smaller group and find out what their preferences are.
In our work with clients, we show the affected workers a variety of scheduling possibilities, e.g., 8-hour shift patterns, 12-hour shift patterns, and 8 and 12-hour combined shift patterns. Roughly 90% of the time, the top-rated schedule uses 12-hour shifts. But the preferred pattern varies.
The reason for no clear winner is that the employees at each facility we work with has a different set of demographics (gender, age, marital status, childcare responsibilities, second jobs, etc.). They also have different experience with shift schedules. As a result, it is inappropriate to think there is a single "best" shift pattern. It really depends on the group you ask.
If you want to choose the "best" schedule, you could either hire a consultant to facilitate the change process, or you could purchase a package of schedule examples and let the group decide which pattern they like best. So, instead of asking for all pilots' opinions, narrow it down to a smaller group and find out what their preferences are.
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For christs sake wake up..
You all quote a shift pattern with N followed by an OFF. If you finish after 2359 i.e. 06 or 07 that's a bloody duty day, not am off day. WAKE UP 
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Before our company screws the workforce into working a shift pattern the workforce don't want. Does anyone have any good shift patterns to cover seven days a week, 7am to 7pm for two teams.
Join Date: Dec 2006
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Merlin, My company does not care at all about you finishing into your day off. They can not see any issues at all with it. I very often along with my colleagues finish at 0300 on my first rostered day off!
Our Shift pattern is 6 on, 3 off, consisting of usually 3 early shifts (0500-1330) and 3 late shifts, earliest start is 1200, latest start at 1830.
Merlin I agree with you it is immoral but it is perfectly fine. If you are in the UK, read the fine print of your contract. No doubt somewhere it will exempt you from the working regs hours
Our Shift pattern is 6 on, 3 off, consisting of usually 3 early shifts (0500-1330) and 3 late shifts, earliest start is 1200, latest start at 1830.
Merlin I agree with you it is immoral but it is perfectly fine. If you are in the UK, read the fine print of your contract. No doubt somewhere it will exempt you from the working regs hours
