Types of work schedules and what they mean for your business. 

We are in a time in history when technology seems to be at its peak, and more people in the workforce are doing their best to maximize their work hours. Surprisingly, we have also seen a decline in work hours over time, with the 21st century showing a drop in work hours across developed countries. Between 1880 and 2017, there has been a 40% drop in work hours in the US and a 60% drop within the same time frame in Germany. What does this mean for managers, CEOs, and HRs across the globe? Knowing the different types of work schedules available can help you reinvent your workplace for the future.

Work schedules are vital for human resource managers, and knowing what schedule applies to which employees can drastically improve productivity and reduce stress.

Eight types of work schedules.

Employers can offer a variety of work schedules for their employees; in the following section, we will examine eight of them.

Full-time work schedules 

This refers to the standard work schedule, which usually varies between a 9-to-5 or an 8-to-4. This schedule often culminates in a 40-hour work week. It was popularized by Henry Ford in 1926 and has since become the standard work schedule for most businesses and companies. 

While there are calls for fewer work hours nowadays, the 40-hour work week in the fixed schedule form was a progressive move away from the laborious 80-100-hour work schedule that came with the Industrial Revolution.

Part-time work

As the name indicates, it gives employees the chance not to work for the full 40-hour work week, but rather part-timers work between 20 and 35 hours maximum. This decision is usually based on the job role and the employer’s preference. This can be done by reducing daily working hours to less than the standard 8 hours or compressing the entire working period into 3 days. Businesses such as coffee shops and restaurants often use this model. Retail stores also use this work schedule during holiday periods.

Flexible work hours

A flexible work schedule, also known as flexible time, allows employers to rearrange work hours based on agreements between both parties. Flextime works best when the employer sets a minimum work hour schedule and the employees are willing to follow it.

Flex work hours can involve employees coming into work earlier than scheduled and then closing earlier. It basically allows the employees to rearrange their work hours to what works best for them.

Hybrid work

The hybrid work schedule combines both on-site and remote work schedules for your employees, allowing designated work periods in the office premises and other from-home or remote locations. There are a couple of variations of the hybrid work schedule, they include:

1. The Hybrid Split Week: This is the most common hybrid schedule in our clime. Here the employer has a couple of fixed onsite days in the week and the other days are for remote work. This could be done due to space constraints at the office or because of employee requests.
2. The week-by-week schedule: This hybrid schedule involves a week-in, week-out arrangement. Depending on the employer-employee arrangement, it could be a one-week onsite and three-week remote schedule within the month. 
3. The at-will hybrid schedule: In this case, the worker has to come into work, but he decides when he does but works remotely whenever they prefer. 

Shift work

Shift work schedules are very common with businesses, organizations, and companies that operate 24/7; hospitals, police stations, and hotels generally feature this type of schedule. This schedule type lets employees work specific hours within a workday, giving them a period where they do not work, then they resume to complete their shifts, all within preplanned hours. There are several types of shift work schedules, including;

1. Split shift: People with split shift plans have to split their work day in half. They usually start working a few hours in the morning, take a long break, and then come back in the afternoon or evening to finish the rest of the hours. A good example of these schedules applies to school bus drivers. 
2. Rotating shift: When employees have this kind of plan, they have to work set hours that change at certain times each week or every two weeks. A hospital nurse, for instance, would work four consecutive days from eight in the morning until four in the afternoon, and then six consecutive nights from ten in the evening until six in the morning, and so on.
3. Pitman Shift: With the Pitman Shift schedule, the business’s goal is to provide 24 hours of work coverage, 7 days a week. It achieves this by splitting employees into 4 teams that work in a set pattern. This pattern typically involves two days on, two days off, three days on, two days off, two days on, and three days off. 
4. DuPont Shift: The DuPont Shift schedule is quite similar to the Pitman, only differing in the patterns and length of work time. In the DuPont shift, each shift is 12 hours, and each team has to work four-night shifts before having three days off, then three-day shifts, followed by one day off, then three-night shifts, and then a week off.
5. Kelly Shift: This is also similar to the other shift schedules above, but rather than having four teams, there are three teams with a 24-hour shift and 24 hours off, another 24-hour shift with 24 hours off, and another 24-hour shift with a 4-day off schedule. This shift schedule works well for emergency services.

A great advantage of these work schedules is the possibility of larger rest periods after every shift season. 

Compressed work weeks

Say goodbye to 5-day work weeks and hello to 4-day work weeks but with a catch. Compressed work weeks have been gaining support globally, and fairly so, as they propose a 4-day work week and a 3-day weekend. This is achieved by compressing the 40-hour work week into 4 days rather than 5, which means employees will work 10 hours daily rather than 7-8 hours.

Seasonal 

This kind of work schedule works best for businesses that operate seasonally or get most of their clients during a particular season, such as winter resorts or toymakers. Understanding the right season can help them hire more staff for those seasons, and free employees can manage multiple jobs.

On-call work schedule.

This is not the most common work schedule, as it does not require the employee to be at work every time; rather, the employees must be available for their employers’ calls at a moment’s notice. Professionals such as specialists, doctors, or technicians, who are only required for specific tasks, benefit from this type of work schedule. You can allow them to practice at their own pace, but they must respond immediately if needed. While it may appear to be a great approach, this schedule is not always available for every employee and can also be demanding because it disregards work-life balance.

What’s the best way to determine the ideal work schedule for your employees?

You’ve been able to explore some work schedules that could be beneficial for you and your employees, and you want to jump right into renegotiating with your employees. Hold up just a minute. Not every work schedule applies to every business or organization. Have you ever heard of a doctor or surgeon working remotely? Not to worry, here are a couple of things to look out for when determining work schedules for your employees.

Understand your industry. 

Your industry can largely influence what sort of work schedule works best for your employees. It is not always the best method to reinvent the wheel, especially when the wheel works perfectly well. Some industries are not friendly with remote work, as employees have to be on-site to attend to customers and clear up tasks. A good example would be the hospitality industry. While many services within this industry are not remotely accessible, seasonal and shift systems function effectively here.

Know your employees.

Beyond the industry, knowing your employees will help you better regulate their schedules. Your employees’ skills and personalities influence how well they carry out their tasks. Remote schedules will be suitable for employees who can work independently and produce results without supervision. Still, a more fixed and on-site schedule may be best for those who require constant supervision. Understanding your employees and what makes them tick can help negotiate their ideal work schedule.

Request for feedback 

When you’ve implemented a schedule option, endeavor to track how well your employees are adjusting and take feedback. Ask regular questions on how they adjust and how effective a given work schedule is for them.

Get feedback from your customers in addition to your employees. Your work schedule does not just affect your employees; it also affects your business. Getting customer feedback can help you streamline your employees’ schedules for optimal performance.

To wrap up

In today’s dynamic workplace, understanding and implementing the right work schedule can significantly impact employee satisfaction, productivity, and overall business success. The key to a happy and productive workplace is a well-thought-out schedule that takes into account the demands of your industry, your employees, and your customers.

Keep in mind that the best work schedule is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s crucial to have a positive mentality, be open to new ideas, and listen to what your staff and consumers have to say. 

By trying a variety of work schedules, you can create a more welcoming and inclusive workplace that encourages employees to be creative, invested, and productive.

Curious about HR best practices, such as work schedules, payroll and more? Be sure to check out SalariOpay for more insightful articles.