Over the last 20 years, the use of 12-hour shift in the United States has taken off. About the only place you see 8-hour shifts when 12's would work just as well is in California. The reason for this is that California law states that you must pay overtime after 8 hours in a day. More on that another time.
Twelves are popular for one reason - They have a lot more days off than 8's.
For example: If you were to work a 24/7 schedule, you would probably be on some sort of 4-crew system. This means that you would work 2,184 hours in a year. To work this many hours, you need to have either 273 8-hour shifts or 182 12-hour shifts. This means that 12's, while longer, give you 91 more days off a year.
There are several downsides associated with 12's. No schedule is perfect. However, the problem that we hear about the most is Open Shift Management. How can you fill an opening on a shift when the only crew available to do so has been away from work for 2 or more days? How can you get in touch with them? You can't ask a person to stay after 12 hours in a day. If they work a double, that is 24 hours and if they have to work the next day as part of their regular shift, that is now 36 hours!
You have to bring in someone that is not already there.
There is a solution. Shiftwork Solutions now offers Open Shift Management software. This is the answer you have been looking for to solve the number one problem with 12-hour shifts.
To find out more about this software, visit us at www.shift-work.com or call us at (415) 472-3688.
Jim
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