Swing Shifts: what they are, what shift patterns use them, and how they can benefit your business
Find out what swing shifts are and how you can implement them in your business.
23. May 2022 • 4 minute read
What is a swing shift?
A swing shift is a work shift that typically covers the hours between the daytime and overnight shifts, usually starting in the afternoon and ending late at night.
What are typical swing shift hours?
The usual hours for a swing shift are from about two in the afternoon to midnight. A swing shift usually lasts eight hours, but can be longer or shorter depending on the used shift pattern.
How do swing shift schedules work?
How swing shift schedules work depends on the shift pattern used in your business. There are different shift patterns in which swing shifts are used, some examples are: the continental shift pattern, the 4 on 3 off shift pattern, and the 4 on 2 off schedule.
The 4 on 2 off schedule is a common shift pattern for companies working swing shifts. In case of the 4 on 2 off schedule, employees works four consecutive days, followed by two days off.
Here is an example of the 4 on 2 off schedule:
D = Day shift S = Swing shift N = Night shift O = Rest day
If you are looking for a way to improve the working conditions for your employees and your business, then you could consider implementing a swing shift schedule. They offer many benefits for both employers and employees. For instance, using swing shifts can increase productivity, reduce costs, improve morale, and increase retention.
The benefits of using a swing shift schedule:
Increased productivity
Reduced staff costs
Improved morale
Increased employee retention
What are the challenges of working with a swing shift schedule for employees and employers alike?
1. Employees may have difficulty adjusting to working different hours on different days.
Working with swing shift schedules can be difficult for your employees because they have to adjust their sleeping and eating habits. It can also be difficult for employees with children to find childcare if they work swing shifts.
2. Employers may have difficulty finding qualified employees who are willing to work swing shifts.
Finding qualified employees willing to work shifts can be difficult because not everyone is willing to work with constantly fluctuating work hours. However, it can be helpful to showcase the above-mentioned benefits that come with swing shift hours when looking for qualified employees.
Note: Carefully consider whether you have enough employees to start working with a swing shift schedule.
3. Employees may miss out on social activities or family time due to their work schedules.
If you work swing shift hours, your employees may have to sacrifice their social lives and family time every now and then. As a manager, you should be considerate of this and find ways to compromise every now and then to keep morale high.
4. You need to provide support to help your employees adjust to swing shift schedules.
If you're planning to implement a shift pattern that contains swing shifts, make sure to provide your employees with support. This may include helping them adjust to their new work schedules, providing childcare options, and being understanding of their need for flexible hours.
How to implement a swing shift schedule in your business
If you are considering to implement a swing schedule, there are a few things you should keep in mind: First, you will need to ensure that your employees are willing to work with the new shift schedule. Second, make sure to create a schedule that allows employees to have some flexibility in their work hours. Third, you will need to provide employment support in order for them to adjust to their new work schedules. Finally, you should consider the challenges and benefits of using swing shifts before making a decision.
How Workfeed can help you to make working with swing shift schedules easy
Unlike Excel, Workfeed provides a great overview when making work schedules, which comes in very handy with more advanced scheduling methods. It is very common with swing shift schedules to repeat the schedule every 4 weeks or so, and Workfeed allows you to automate this. By saving your rotational schedule as a template, it only takes you a few clicks to schedule months ahead. On top of that, your employees can see their shifts in Workfeed's app, where they're also able to swap shifts with each other if they're not able to work a certain shift, meaning you do not have to adjust the schedule manually.
Workfeed puts all your shift scheduling and timesheets into one tidy little app that help you engage staff, automate admin and take control of your time.
