Fixed schedules

As its name implies, a fixed schedule is when staff work to a rota or schedule that never changes — sometimes for weeks, months, or whole years on end.

Fixed schedules have the advantage of giving staff consistency in their lives — if you know that you always work 10-6 on weekdays, for example, then it’s much easier to make plans ahead of time.

On the other hand, fixed schedules can sometimes cause problems for employees in that requests for changes (for example, to accommodate study or unexpected childcare commitments) are often problematic for managers, and are thus unlikely to be permitted.

When building a fixed schedule, managers are advised to consider a shift pattern that allows all staff to rest and recuperate equally, regardless of the shifts they’re given. Staff who switch between day and night shifts, in particular, should be given adequate time off between their switch in order to adjust.