The Right Way To Change A Shift Schedule
Win-Win Scheduling
The "Win-Win" Process
- Put key answers in writing
- Work within the theme for cultural change
- Create process of involvement
- Establish clean operating boundaries
- Outline issues of concern and negotiate compromises
- Set up representative task team
- Utilize confidential employee preference criteria
- Measure criteria against alternative options
- Define trial period for change
- Task team to monitor process and assist implementation
- Plan for post-evaluation monitoring system
Cost Neutrality and Implementation Issues
Cost Neutrality
Why the issue?
- Most 12 hour schedules result in 50% 36 hour work weeks and 50% 48 hour work weeks
(frequently alternating).
- Total weekly pay equals 36, 52, 36, and 52 hours in a 4 week cycle (52 from time and a
half for 8 hours over 40 in a 48 hour work week). Total in the 4 week cycle is 176 hours
or an average of 44 hours pay per week.
- For most 8 hour schedules, total weekly pay equals 40, 40, 40 and 52 hours in a 4 week
cycle. Total is 172 hours for the four week cycle or an average of 43 hours per pay week.
- Therefore, on an annual basis, employees are paid for an average of 52 hours more than
on an 8 hour schedule (all other things being equal).
Issues for 12 Hour Schedule
- Cost neutrality
- Detailed vacation scheduling policy
- Overtime policy
- Shift production reports
- Shift turnovers
- Shutdowns
- Vacation/Bank days
- Breaks
- Relief coverage/call-ins
- Shift differentials
- Premium pay (e.g. somebody in day maintenance filling in - how to handle short term fill
in [sic]
- Snow emergency
- Preferred hours (pay jobs)
- 12 workload - too difficult?
- Supervisor coverage
- Communications/plant wide
- Holiday pay - 8 hours?
- Outside contracts - canteen, credit union, etc.
- Pay in lieu of vacation
- Environmental issues - exposures, OSHA
- Trading shifts
- Day person temporarily going on shift
- Length of work week - what is maximum?
- Team, safety, quality meetings
- Accident and sickness benefits
- Jury duty/funeral leave
Back — Home
