Shift Employees: How to keep Them Happy Healthy and Prductive

Due to technology, commerce interactionsand family functions in advance, and the company
transcending continents and the relentless desirewon't have to juggle schedules every couple of
to get ahead, businesses compete in a worldweeks.Use Time Tracking Computer Software
where the economy is active 24 hours a day,Time tracking and management software can
seven days a week. This has created a need foreasily track all of your employees' schedules
employees to work a nonstandard or "shift" workmaking it easy to regulate shift hours. The
schedule, hours worked outside the standard 8software can also provide valuable reports so you
a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday thru Friday. Although shiftcan make informed executive decisions when it
workers are still the exception, it may be morecomes to employee scheduling.Avoid Changing
common than you think.Shift StatisticsEmployees Schedules Without a Break in Between
(1997)Service oriented jobs have the highestChanging an employee from a night shift to a
percentage of shift hour work.27.6% of workersday shift or visa versa can be challenging, both
have a flexible work schedule.19.1% of men andphysically and mentally. Consider giving employees
13.7% of women have a nontraditional workan adjustment period of at least 48 hours in
schedule.4.6% work evening shifts (swings).3.9%between drastic schedule changes.Allow
work employer-arranged irregular schedules.3.5%Employees One or Two Free Weekends Each
work night shifts (graves). 2.9% work rotatingMonth
shifts. An employer profits if the employees areEveryone needs time to spend with their families,
happy and healthy; happy and healthy employeesto get out of town for the weekend or to catch
are productive employees. At first look,up on household chores. Employees who generally
undesirable work schedules may appear to bework weekends should be given a weekend off
nothing more than undesirable, and that's theoccasionally. They will value the time off, ask for
bottom line. Nevertheless, there are thingsless time off and come back ready to work
employers can do to help shift-workingwithout feeling as if they have been denied the
employees stay happy and healthy.Minimize Nightopportunity to have a 'normal' life.Having happy
Shiftsand healthy shift workers is essential to running a
No one fully adjusts to graveyard or swing shifts.profitable, productive business. The employees,
This is mainly because people have obligationsafter all, not only affect profit margin but also
during the day to spend time with friends, familyultimately determine
and run errands. Keeping a nocturnal schedule canproductivity.ReferencesBanwell, Wilson. Vitality:
exhaust employees and lead to low productivity.Working Around the Clock. [2005] Oct. 17,
If night shifts are necessary, try to find people2005PMPA: Alternative Work Schedules[2001] Oct.
that can adjust their life to unusual hours and17, 2005Schmitt, John. Baker, Dean. cepr: Bad
maintain adequate rest.Try Temporary ChangesTimes: The Impact of Changes in Work Schedules
and Ask for Feedbackon Productivity Growth. [2005] Oct. 17,
When you make a change in employees'2005Cristopher Fowers
schedules, start out with a trial period.
Afterwards, ask for employees' input so you canCristopher Fowers is a Writer/Reviewer for
come up with the best schedule to fit their andTopTenREVIEWS features expert reviews for
the company's needs.Keep Regular and Predictabletechnology and entertainment products and
Schedulesservices. For more information and an in-depth
Once an optimal schedule is established, keep itreview on Time tracking and management
regular and predictable. This will not only benefitsoftware, see the TopTenREVIEWS Time
the employees but will also benefit the company.Tracking & Management Sofware Review. We do
Employees will enjoy being able to plan vacationsthe research so you don't have to (TM) .