How a fixed night shift works

The roster

One row per team, one column per day of the cycle. The cycle then repeats.

Shifts per 7-day cycle

How the roster works

Set a single night shift from 10 pm to 6 am. Two crews cover it: Team A reads NNNNNNO, off on the seventh night, and Team B reads NNONNNN, off on the third night. Because their rest days fall on different nights, at least one crew is always on, so the night is never left uncovered. Each crew works six nights and rests one across the week. Staff stay on nights throughout, so their sleep pattern settles, but it runs against daylight, which needs care with health, transport and family life.

• N is the night shift, 10 pm to 6 am.
• O is the weekly rest night.
• Two crews take their rest on different nights.
• At least one crew is on every night of the week.

Hours per week worked out

Each crew works six 8 hour nights a week, which is 48 hours. That sits at the common weekly ceiling, with each night at the eight hour ordinary day, so a clean roster carries little overtime; any extra night called is paid at twice the ordinary wage rate with consent. Because the work is entirely at night, it usually carries a night shift allowance on top of the base wage. If you want to cut the week below 48 hours, add a third crew and give each person two rest nights.

Who it suits and the rules

Fixed nights suit security, night dispatch and support desks where a steady night crew works better than rotation. The main duty is protecting the people who carry the night load. Women may work nights with their consent and the safety conditions the government sets, such as safe transport, adequate numbers and secure rest areas. Offer regular health checks, since long term night work affects sleep and health, and review the crew so the same people are not left on nights for years.

Pros

• A steady night pattern lets sleep settle.
• Two crews keep the night covered all week.
• Usually earns a night shift allowance.
• Simple to run with just two teams.

Cons

• Long term night work harms sleep and health.
• Runs against family and social life.
• Late travel needs safe transport.
• Forty eight hour weeks leave only one rest night.

Set it up in ZeniaHR

1. In the shift catalogue add the night shift with its code, 10 pm to 6 am timings, break, full and half day hours, grace, and the night shift flag with a colour.
2. Give the two crews their weekly off on different nights using the weekly off pattern or a personal weekly off per employee, so the night is always covered.
3. Assign the night crews in bulk over up to 92 days and check the day grid so at least one crew is on every night.
4. Add a night shift allowance as a payroll input, and keep the overtime policy ready for any extra night at or above twice the ordinary rate.
5. File night punches that cross midnight to the shift day and turn on the missed punch out alert 60 minutes after shift end for the night crew.
6. Record each employee consent for night work and their health check in employee documents, and review the crew regularly.

Frequently asked questions