Shift work

What it means

Shift work is a way of organising working time in which employees at the same workplace take turns in shifts according to a schedule set in advance. The Labour Code distinguishes single-shift, two-shift, three-shift and continuous working patterns. A shift is the part of daily working time the employee must work under the schedule.

The shift pattern affects the length of the working week. While normal working time is at most 40 hours a week, in a two-shift pattern it is at most 38.75 hours, and in three-shift and continuous patterns at most 37.5 hours. The shorter week compensates for the strain of rotating shifts and night work.

Shift work often includes night work and work at weekends or on public holidays, which attract statutory pay supplements. The employer must schedule shifts so that minimum rest periods are respected, especially uninterrupted daily and weekly rest.

How it works in practice

The employer must notify staff of the shift schedule in advance, usually at least a week ahead, and changes to it are restricted. In continuous production, proven rotation patterns are used that balance working days and days off. The schedule is often combined with uneven distribution of working time.

For payroll, shift work is more demanding. Attendance records must be precise, supplements for nights, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays calculated correctly, and the working time fund tracked according to the pattern. Errors in records lead to underpaid wages and penalties in labour inspections.

When planning costs, remember that the shorter working week in multi-shift patterns means more people are needed to cover the same operation. Supplements and occupational health service costs come on top, since night work requires medical checks. These items belong in the product costing.

What to watch out for

The most common errors are failing to respect rest between shifts, for example a night shift followed by a morning shift, and setting the wrong weekly hours for the pattern. The labour inspectorate imposes fines for breaches and employees can claim back pay. The schedule is best checked before it is published.

Take care assigning employees to the right pattern. If someone actually works two shifts but is recorded as single-shift in the contract or records, their working time is wrongly long and overtime entitlement is miscalculated. The pattern must match how work is actually done, not just the label in the contract.