How a weekend 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 a day shift from 9 am to 6 pm. The weekday crew reads DDDDDOO, working Monday to Friday and resting at the weekend. The weekend crew reads OOOOODD, resting on weekdays and working Saturday and Sunday. Between them the day shift is covered every day of the week, while the weekday team never loses its weekend and the weekend crew works only two days. Weekend shifts are often longer than a weekday shift, or paid at a premium, to make the two day commitment worthwhile.

• D is the day shift, 9 am to 6 pm.
• O is a rest day.
• The weekday crew works Monday to Friday.
• The weekend crew works Saturday and Sunday.

Hours per week worked out

The weekday crew works five 8 hour days, which is 40 hours a week. The weekend crew works two days: at eight hours each that is 16 hours a week, though many sites make weekend shifts longer, so check the day length you set. Each day at eight hours matches the ordinary day, so a clean roster carries little overtime; work beyond eight hours is paid at twice the ordinary wage rate with consent. Weekend work often carries a premium by company policy on top of the base rate.

Who it suits

A weekend crew suits support desks, security, monitoring, plants and stores that need seven day cover but want to protect the weekday team weekend. It also opens weekend only roles, which suit students and people with weekday commitments. The care points are fair pay for weekend work and making sure the weekend crew is not isolated from the main team. Bring the weekend crew into team updates and training, and set a clear premium so weekend duty is worth taking.

Pros

• The weekday team keeps its full weekend off.
• A seven day site stays covered.
• Opens weekend only roles for students and others.
• Weekend work can carry a premium rate.

Cons

• The weekend crew can feel cut off from the main team.
• Weekend pay premiums add to cost.
• A small weekend crew has little cover if someone is absent.
• Weekend only hours may not suit everyone.

Set it up in ZeniaHR

1. In the shift catalogue add the day shift with code, timings, break, full and half day hours, grace, and a colour, and a longer weekend shift if you use one.
2. Set the weekday crew weekly off on Saturday and Sunday, and the weekend crew weekly off on weekdays, using the weekly off pattern.
3. Assign both crews in bulk over up to 92 days and open the day grid to confirm the shift is covered all seven days.
4. Add a weekend premium as a payroll input by company policy, and keep the overtime policy ready for any hours beyond eight at or above twice the rate.
5. Use the company wall and celebrations so the weekend crew stays part of the team and sees announcements and praise.
6. Use the live board filtered by shift so a supervisor can see the weekend crew on duty and any missed punches.

Frequently asked questions