Shift patterns at work: How to find the right fit for your team

Managing a workforce isn’t just about hiring the right people; it’s about creating an environment where they can thrive. And one key factor of people management is shift patterns and employee scheduling.

The way you organise shift working patterns can make or break employee morale, productivity, and even staff retention. After all, nobody wants to feel like they’re stuck in a mismatched routine.

So, let’s dive into what working shift patterns really mean for your business and how to choose the best one for your team.

What are shift patterns?

In the simplest terms, a shift pattern is how you structure the working hours of your workforce. Whether it’s the classic 9-to-5, rotating shifts, or compressed workweeks, these patterns define the rhythm of your workplace.

Why do they matter? Because no two workplaces—or teams—are the same. What works for a 24/7 call centre won’t necessarily suit a retail store or a creative agency.

Popular working shift patterns

Here’s a quick rundown of some common shift working patterns and their pros and cons:

Fixed shifts

Probably the most common shift pattern, fixed shifts are when your employees work the same hours every day. This is ideal for roles where consistency is key—think office jobs or customer service roles.

• Pro: Predictable schedules make it easy for employees to plan their lives.

• Con: It can get monotonous and lead to burnout over time.

Rotating shifts

If you choose to use rotating shifts, your employees will alternate between day, evening, and night shifts.

• Pro: Fairer distribution of unpopular hours, especially in industries like healthcare or hospitality.

• Con: Rotating schedules can disrupt sleep and personal routines.

Split shifts

Employees who work split shifts tend to work in blocks, such as a morning and an evening shift with a break in between.

• Pro: Maximises coverage during peak hours.

• Con: Can feel disjointed and inconvenient for workers.

Night shifts

As the name suggests, night shifts is when your employees work primarily during nighttime hours, typically in industries like healthcare, security, and logistics.

• Pro: Essential for 24/7 operations, with fewer distractions during working hours.

• Con: Can impact physical health and disrupt social life due to the body’s natural sleep cycle.

Continental shifts

A common shift pattern for 24/7 operations, typically those in healthcare and warehousing, continental shifts involve a rotation of day, evening, and night shifts over a set period, often with longer shifts and more days off.

For example, your employee might work two mornings, two evenings and two nights, followed by several days off.

• Pro: Offers longer periods of rest after completing a cycle, ensuring recovery time.

• Con: The intense rotation can disrupt sleep and be physically demanding, especially during night shifts.

Open shifts 

Open shifts are when you post your schedule and allotted times for shifts and allow employees to claim them on a first come, first served basis. This can work alongside other types of shift patterns. Will require careful shift scheduling to work well. 

• Pro: Ultimate flexibility, ensuring that your staff have the freedom to claim shifts when they want more work time. 

• Con: Can be difficult to manage, and if not managed properly, could lead to certain staff burning out or difficulty with working time regulations and overtime. 

Compressed workweeks

If you decide to have your employees work longer hours over fewer days. For example, they work four 10-hour shifts instead of five 8-hour ones, this is called a compressed workweek.

• Pro: Offers more flexibility and extended days off.

• Con: Long shifts can be draining, especially in physically demanding roles.

Custom or flexible shifts

Giving your employees custom or flexible shifts is when they have some control over when they work, within reason.

• Pro: Promotes work-life balance and employee satisfaction.

• Con: Can be tricky to coordinate if teamwork is essential.

How to choose the right shift pattern

Choosing the right working shift pattern isn’t just about what’s convenient for your business; it’s also about what works for your team.

Here are some tips:

Understand your industry’s needs

If your business operates 24/7, rotating or split shifts might be unavoidable. For office-based roles, flexibility often wins. In fact, according to research by Statista, over 4.2 million people in 2024 in the UK have flexitime employment contracts,  which is an increase of around 31.25% compared to those with flexible shifts in 2013.

meanwhile, industries like retail and hospitality may benefit from a combination of shift patterns. Depending on the opening hours of the business, split shifts often work well, partiuclalry when a restaurant operates over both the busy afternoon and evening periods.

Watch the video below to hear how BrightHR's HR software supports businesses in the hospitality sector:

Ask your team

It’s easy to assume what employees want, but why not ask them directly? A quick survey can reveal a lot about their preferences.

Balance business goals with employee wellbeing

The best shift working patterns strike a balance between meeting operational demands and supporting your team’s mental and physical health.

Plan ahead

Don’t make last-minute changes to shifts unless it’s absolutely necessary. A predictable schedule shows employees you value their time.

Make time for rest periods

Staying compliant with The Working Time Regulations 1998 and ensuring employee wellbeing requires you to prove adequate breaks between shifts. An essential element of your employee scheduling. This will be as simple as scheduling a day off between working days or making sure staff are not exceeding maximum working hours per week.

There are specific guidelines and laws you must follow which we detail in our 'breaks at work' guide for employers.

Consider overtime

if you offer your staff the option to work additional hours, it is essential to have an overtime policy in place. This will help you establish when overtime can be taken, how it can be requested by staff, and how it will be paid.

Why shift patterns matter

Good shift patterns can boost productivity, improve morale, and even reduce absenteeism. On the flip side, poor planning can lead to burnout, stress, and high turnover rates.

Remember, flexibility goes a long way. Whether it’s offering hybrid options or tweaking working shift patterns, small changes can make a big difference.

Employee scheduling software for all types of shift patterns

At the end of the day, shift patterns aren’t just about filling hours on a rota—they’re about creating a workplace that works for everyone. When you get them right, both your employees and your bottom line will thank you.

So, take the time to review your shift working patterns, listen to your team, and find a structure that fits. If you need help with your shift patterns or creating your rota, why not discover a rota management system that works for any working pattern.

With BrightHR, our digital solution for employee scheduling helps businesses streamline operations and effectively manage shifts and rotas for all staff. Book a free demo today to see for yourself.