We can supply you with examples of shift patterns (rosters, rotas) for continuous work based on 5 teams based on:

• 8 hour shifts   
• 12 hour shifts
• mix of 8 and 12 hour shifts (typically 8 hours during the week and 12 hours at the weekend)

The traditional way of covering a 24/7 continuous operation is to use 4 teams  based on 42 hours per week if mealbreaks are paid and there are no handovers between shifts.  However, a common alternative is to use 5 teams and this is often in response to the need  to reduce weekly hours from 42.  The average number of hours needed to cover 24/7 with a full team  is 33.6 hours, again assuming paid mealbreaks and no handovers between shifts. This  is lower than the typical contracted working week. However, there are a number of ways of using the "spare" hours, the difference between contracted weekly hours and 33.6.

• annualised hours, in which a person is contracted to work a given number of hours per year and typically has fully or partially rostered holiday
• use of a float (reserve, relief) team to cover holiday, sickness and other absence or operational requirements
• additional rostered spare shifts
• longer shifts with overlaps (handovers)

Annualised hours for continuous 5-team 24/7 operations

We can provide you with examples of standard annual rosters used within an annualised agreement. They are often based on two different shift patterns - one with long breaks during the holiday period and the other with no long breaks but  rest days evenly spread out. Let us know if you need any help with constructing an annual roster.