We can supply you with examples of standard shift patterns (rosters, rotas) with the following characteristics:

• a constant number of staff (ie a team) rostered 24/7
• average of 42 hours rostered per week (assuming paid mealbreaks and no handovers between shifts)
• note that unpaid mealbreaks will reduce the average number of hours rostered per week
• note that handovers between shifts will increase the average number of hours rostered per week

• 8 hour shifts (average of 5.25 shifts and 1.75 rest days per week one weekend off every 4 weeks)
• 12 hour shifts (average of 3.5 shifts and 3.5 rest days per week one weekend off every 2 weeks)

Note that you may also want to consider patterns based on a mix of 8 and 12 hour shifts. So, for example, you might want 8 hour shifts on weekdays and 12-hour shifts at the weekends (average of 4.75 shifts and 2.25 rest days per week one weekend off every 2 weeks)

4 team shift patterns with a reduction in weekly hours

The average number of hours rostered per week in a 4-team system based on full teams, paid mealbreaks and no handovers between shifts is 42. This often exceeds the contracted weekly hours and so some organisations need to reduce the average number of hours rostered per week. One way of doing this is to  roster some  additional rest days for individuals which  effectively means running with less than a full team for part of the week. There are many ways in which this can be done depending on contracted hours required per week and team sizes.

An example: reducing to an average of 36 hours per week
Suppose, for example, you want:a 4 team system with paid mealbreaks, no handovers between shifts, reduced cover at the weekend and an average of 36 hours per week. One way of achieving this is to split each team into two halves making sure that you have the full range of skills and grades in each half. You can then take a standard  4-team shift pattern abd retain full teams during the week and half teams at the weekend by rostering additional rest days on a rota basis.

Let us know if you would like any advice regarding the reduction of hours within a 4-team system and we will be happy to help