How second and fourth Saturday off works

The roster

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

Shifts per 28-day cycle

How the roster works

Set a day shift from 9 am to 6 pm with a one hour break, so full day hours are eight. Over a 28 day view the second and fourth Saturdays and every Sunday are rest days for Team A, while the first and third Saturdays are worked. Team A reads DDDDDDODDDDDOODDDDDDODDDDDOO across the four weeks. Where the business stays open, Team B covers those rest days and takes its own offs on other days, so at least one team works every day. Where the office closes, the second and fourth Saturday and every Sunday are simply blank for all.

• D is the day shift, 9 am to 6 pm.
• O is a rest day.
• Second and fourth Saturdays and every Sunday are off.
• First and third Saturdays are working days.

Hours per week worked out

Over the four week cycle Team A works 22 of the 28 days on 8 hour shifts, which is 176 hours, or 44 hours a week on average. Two weeks are six day weeks and two are five day weeks, which is why the average sits between 40 and 48. Each day is at the eight hour ordinary day, so a clean roster carries little overtime; extra hours or work on a rest day are paid at twice the ordinary wage rate with consent. The pattern is easy on payroll once the Saturday rule is set.

Who it suits

This pattern suits banks, financial firms, government linked offices and corporates that follow the banking calendar. Staff get two full weekends a month and two Saturdays free, which is popular. The main task is applying the Saturday rule correctly, since it depends on which Saturday of the month it is, not a simple alternate count. Set the rule once in the shift so the second and fourth Saturdays are marked off automatically each month, and let the holiday calendar handle festival days.

Pros

• Two full weekends off each month.
• Follows the familiar banking calendar.
• Lighter than a full six day week.
• Easy on payroll once the Saturday rule is set.

Cons

• The Saturday rule depends on the week of the month.
• First and third Saturdays are still working days.
• Open businesses need a relief crew for cover.
• Two different week lengths can confuse new staff.

Set it up in ZeniaHR

1. In the shift catalogue add the day shift with code, 9 to 6 timings, a one hour break so full day hours are eight, grace in and out, and a colour.
2. In the weekly off pattern set every Sunday off and choose the second and fourth Saturday rule so those Saturdays are marked off automatically each month.
3. If you stay open, give the relief crew personal weekly offs on other days and assign them to the Saturdays and Sundays the main team rests.
4. Assign in bulk over up to 92 days and open the day grid to confirm the Saturday rule lands on the correct dates and cover holds.
5. Keep the overtime policy ready so work on an off Saturday, on Sunday or beyond eight hours is paid at or above twice the ordinary rate.
6. Let the holiday calendar feed attendance and payroll so festival days combine cleanly with the Saturday and Sunday rests.

Frequently asked questions