How a retail store shift pattern 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 two overlapping day shifts: opening 10 am to 7 pm and closing 1 pm to 10 pm, each with a one hour break for eight worked hours. The two shifts overlap in the afternoon, the busiest trading time. Two crews cover each shift, resting on different days: the opening crews read PPPPPPO and PPOPPPP, and the closing crews the same on their shift. Between them the store has an opening and a closing crew every day of the week, so the shop is staffed from the shutters up to the shutters down, with extra hands in the afternoon peak.

• P is the opening shift, 10 am to 7 pm.
• Q is the closing shift, 1 pm to 10 pm.
• O is a rest day; two crews cover each shift.
• The shifts overlap in the busy afternoon.

Hours per week worked out

Each crew works six 8 hour days a week, which is 48 hours, the common weekly ceiling; drop to five days for 40 hours by adding rest cover. Each day is at the eight hour ordinary day, so a clean roster carries little overtime; work on a rest day or beyond eight hours is paid at twice the ordinary wage rate with consent. Retail peaks on weekends and festival days, so plan extra hands then and use comp off or overtime for staff who work their rest day during a sale.

Who it suits

This pattern suits shops, showrooms, supermarkets and chain outlets that open long hours every day. Opening and closing shifts match staff to footfall, with more hands in the afternoon and evening peak. The care points are fair weekend and festival rosters, since these are the busiest and least popular to work, and enough cover at closing when cash and stock are handled. Rotate the weekend and late closing duties so the same people are not always on the hardest shifts.

Pros

• Opening and closing shifts match staff to footfall.
• The overlap covers the busy afternoon peak.
• The store is staffed from open to close all week.
• Two crews per shift give cover on rest days.

Cons

• Weekend and festival shifts are the least popular.
• Closing shifts run late and need safe transport.
• Peaks may still need extra temporary hands.
• Six day weeks reach the 48 hour ceiling.

Set it up in ZeniaHR

1. In the shift catalogue add the opening and closing shifts with codes, timings, a one hour break for eight worked hours, grace in and out, and colours.
2. Give two crews per shift their weekly off on different days using the weekly off pattern, so each shift is covered all week.
3. Assign in bulk over up to 92 days and open the day grid, filtered by shift, to confirm an opening and a closing crew appear every day.
4. Plan extra hands for weekend and festival peaks, and use the holiday calendar so festival days flow into attendance and payroll.
5. Use comp off or the overtime policy so staff who work a rest day during a sale are paid at or above twice the rate or take time off later.
6. Use capture controls with a check in spot so punches come from the store, and the live board shows who is on the floor at any time.

Frequently asked questions