Advantages and Disadvantages of 8-hour Shifts: A Balanced Perspective

8-hour vs. 12-hour shifts is still one of the most frequently debated topics in shiftwork operations. Managers, shiftworkers, union representatives, federal regulators, corporate policymakers, and academic experts continue to question and debate which shift length is best: Are 8-hour shifts safer than 12-hour shifts?

In this white paper, CIRCADIAN seeks to highlight both the pros and cons of 8-hour shifts. To provide a balanced perspective, we will highlight these pros and cons from both the viewpoint of a management team running an operation with 8-hour shifts as well as from the viewpoint of shiftworkers working an 8-hour schedule.

PDF 16 pp

Sifting through the thousands of available work schedules leaves many managers lost as to what is the best shift schedule. After all, there is no one-size-fits-all schedule that works for all organizations. In this white paper, we outline best practices for finding the best shift schedule for your organization, including information on balancing:

• Business goals
• Workload requirements
• Shiftworker lifestyle preferences
• Family and social needs of employees
• Biological factors

We will also review the scientific evidence regarding important schedule features.

By Anneke Heitmann, Ph.D. and Andrew Moore-Ede

16 pp

Reducing the Costs, Risks, and Liabilities of Shiftwork: Design Specs of the Human Machine

There are inherent necessities and considerable advantages to running your operations non-stop, 24-hours a day. There are also significant downsides because of increased fatigue, higher performance risks and the negative social impact on our people. Many round-the-clock companies aren’t fully aware of their subsequent losses in operating efficiency, safety, and employee relations.

CIRCADIAN®, the global leader in providing 24/7 workforce performance and safety solutions for businesses that operate around the clock, offers this white paper to help managers:

• Identify shiftwork practices that increase risk
• Examine the consequences of human fatigue
• Provides solutions for mitigating the costs, risks, and liabilities associated with shiftwork 

The Key to Successful Schedules

CIRCADIAN®, the global leader in providing 24/7 workforce performance and safety solutions for businesses that operate around the clock, offers you a complimentary white paper that outlines why an employee-driven scheduling process is the best approach to designing and implementing new shift schedules.

By William Davis & Acacia Aguirre, MD, Phd

PDF 15 pp