Split Shifts: Definition and How It Works

It can be not easy to keep track of all the moving parts involved in managing personnel schedules and costs. Split shifts are being considered by more businesses to reduce personnel expenses and boost productivity as flexible schedules continue to gain ground. Splitting shifts not only helps your bottom line but also has many advantages for your staff. Read further to know more about the rules of working a split shift. We also added the pros and cons of split shifts to make you do it the right way.

What Is a Split Shift?

As an alternative to the conventional 9-to-5 workweek or a cyclical shift plan, some companies have begun to implement split shifts for their staff. The start and end periods of the workday are extended, and employees are often given two one-hour unpaid breaks during each shift. In other words, a typical workday with a lunch break of an hour does not qualify as a split shift.

It only counts if they are scheduled in advance and given to employees. It is not considered a split shift if an employee simply asks for a more extended lunch break so they can attend to other personal matters. Working a double shift is different from working a split shift in that the latter involves working two full shifts in a single day, while the former involves splitting typical working hours up over the day.

How Does a Split Shift Work?

Let’s check out a real-world instance of such a timetable. Imagine you’re the manager of a restaurant that serves customers from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. but sees fewer customers between 1 and 5 p.m. Since both lunch and dinner tend to be high-volume times, you should schedule your most seasoned workers for those shifts. The best waiters could work from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 5 p.m. to closing, with the legally mandated meal break falling somewhere in between. In the afternoon, when there are fewer customers, your less seasoned workers can fill the four-hour shift.

Your main staff will work eight hours but take four hours off in the middle before returning for dinner. That time is not counted toward their workweek and is free for them to use however they like.

When Should You Use Split Shifts?

It has been employed for some time by employers in the hospitality and customer service industries, but recent changes in the workplace have made them more generally effective. The advantages include:

Remote teams from around the world
Peak-and-trough businesses
Meetings and other time-sensitive business obligations

Businesses that rely on in-person interactions with customers or clients throughout the day may not benefit from a shift structure that includes split shifts. The health and fitness industry, as well as the service industry (such as restaurants and hotels), data entry (including in contact centers), and event planning, all rely heavily on them.

Split Shifts Pros and Cons

It is important to know about the cons and pros of split shifts, so you can be sure if it’s good for your business. The followings are the cons and pros:

Pros

There are several ways in which implementing split shifts can improve your business and the lives of you and your staff.

#1. Improved work-life balance

The requirements of employees outside of work frequently overlap with those of the employer. It allows workers to accommodate personal obligations like medical visits, child care, and errands without sacrificing time at work or compensation.

Employees’ productivity and happiness on the job can both benefit from flexible work schedules that allow for a split shift.

#2. Increased availability

It can be challenging to meet your company’s labor needs at times, but it can help you focus your efforts during peak periods. Employees who are employed full-time are better able to spread out their time throughout the day and take breaks when the demands of the company are low. Increased hours for part-time workers won’t interfere with the schedules of full-time workers. Strict weekday hours can deter people with greater daytime demands from applying for jobs, but it can help attract a wider pool of candidates by allowing for greater scheduling flexibility.

#3. Controlled labor costs

When it comes to controlling labor and operational expenses, scheduling it can be a useful tactic. You can schedule workers for when they are needed and offer them unpaid time off when they are not because of the business’s peak and slow times of the day.

#4. Increased productivity

Numerous studies have demonstrated a negative correlation between employee productivity and total hours worked. Staff stress, weariness, and burnout can be reduced by using it. Better morale, fewer sick days, and more output could result from happier and healthier workers.

Cons

Although some workers may prefer split shifts, many others do not. They may have to go twice as far to and from work without receiving any additional compensation. Furthermore, there may not be enough time to attend classes, care for children, or complete other duties during the little interval between shifts. Unhappy staff are more likely to argue with one another, finish their work more slowly, or engage poorly with clients, all of which can lead to increased stress for everyone involved and a decrease in service quality.

Are Split Shifts Legal?

Some state and local governments have chosen to use split shift rules in light of the debate surrounding the fair workweek and labor legislation. However, they are not illegal under any federal statutes. When a person works a split shift, their employer may be required to pay a premium in some locations. However, split shift rules differ in each state. Some US legislation that might be relevant includes the following:

California

A split shift, as defined by California law, is a work schedule that includes unpaid breaks other than rest and food times. When working a split shift schedule, employees should be compensated for each hour worked.

If a grocery store employee works from 10 am to noon and again from 2 pm to 8 pm, earning a total of $10 per hour, the employee would work 40 hours a week. Since they would receive their regular wage of $80 plus a $10 extra, they would earn $90 for the day.

Oregon

Higher fines are possible under Oregon’s split shift legislation. They mandate a 10-hour break for workers in between shifts. When employees’ breaks between shifts fall short of this threshold, they are due time and a half compensation.

If an employee normally earns $80 for an eight-hour shift, you would have to pay them $120 if their shift was split in two. If an employee regularly earns $80 for an eight-hour shift, you’d have to pay them $120 because of the shift differential.

Tips for Implementing Split Shifts

There are bound to be difficulties and constraints with any schedule. Here are some things to keep in mind if you want to implement it successfully at your company:

#1. Think About Travel Time

Employees who have a long commute may not profit from having their workdays split. Split schedules may benefit employees, but only if the time, money, and hassle of several commutes are worth it.

#2. Know the Split Shift Rules

While the federal Fair Labor Standards Act establishes minimum standards for salary and hours worked to deter businesses from taking advantage of their workers, local and state split shift rules may vary. It is customary to set start and end times for split shifts within a 24-hour period, and some states, like California and New York, impose split shift premiums because of this.

#3. Keep Accurate Records

Accurately calculating salaries and ensuring they conform with rules requires painstakingly logging all shift activities, both of which are necessary to meet the needs of the firm. Here are some examples:

Times of commencement and termination
Time of actual beginning and ending
Timing of meals
Periods of Rest
Total number of hours per day
Time spent each week in total
Communicate with your employees

It needs advanced notice from employees. Keeping workers informed helps them balance work and personal obligations and reduces the likelihood of problems. During the interview, candidates should be questioned if they are comfortable working split shifts and their availability.

Do Employees Still Work a Full Day?

Employees who work split shifts nonetheless put in a full day’s worth of work. It simply rearranges the total number of hours worked into multiple segments, rather than cutting them. Whether eight hours, 10 hours, or any other full-time equivalent, the total time spent on split shifts still equals a regular workday. The primary distinction is that instead of being completed all at once, these hours are spaced out with a lengthy break in between.

An important notion to keep in mind is a “split shift allowance.” In some places, companies are required by law to pay their employees who work split shifts an additional wage known as a split shift allowance. This is because working split shifts can be inconvenient for workers, who may have to sacrifice personal time or spend more money getting to and from work. Employees are given an allowance to offset split shift costs to make them more desirable and equitable.

How Do You Schedule a Split Shift?

When planning split shifts for employees, it’s crucial to factor in your business’s busiest times so that you can have enough people on hand to serve consumers. However, it helps to have a general idea of who everyone is on your team. They may appreciate a break at 3 p.m. to pick up their kids from school if they have young children.

However, it may be more of a burden than an advantage for workers who have a long way to go to and from the office each day. They could waste a lot of time each day commuting back and forth from home to the office four times. It’s also essential to consult with staff before implementing significant shift changes to ensure that the new schedules will be acceptable. Employees may also enter their hours easily and management can track labor costs in real time.

Are There Any Legal Requirements for Split Shifts Scheduling?

There should never be any impromptu split shifts. Split shifts are not allowed if an employee requests a longer lunch break on a given day. If they have to leave early for an unavoidable family emergency but are willing to put in extra time later in the week, that counts as well. It’s up to you, the manager, but that time cannot be reported as a split shift. Instead, you will compensate the worker for whatever time they clock in at their regular hourly rate.

Are Split Shifts Overtime?

Overtime is unaffected by a split shift.

Are Split Shifts Healthy?

Workplace happiness and productivity both increase with the option of working split shifts. If you want to reap the benefits of a shift-split workday but don’t want to deal with the hassle of implementing it, an app that allows you to coordinate split shifts and the rest of your calendar can help.

What Does Split Mean in Payroll?

Pay for personnel on international assignments can be “split payroll,” or between the local currency and the employee’s home currency. There are various purposes for a split payroll structure.

How Do I Split Shifts When I Work?

A normal split shift has gaps of two hours or more. A server’s typical shift in a restaurant might be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (to accommodate the lunch crowd) and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. (to accommodate the evening crowd).

Final Thoughts

There are already many logistical considerations when running a firm. Split shifts may seem like an unnecessary added burden, but with some planning, they can end up saving you both time and money. There may even be some fringe perks. It may be possible to hire an extra person or two for the busier shifts later in the day with the money you save by giving your staff a break in the middle of the workday. Having more hands on deck reduces the burden on your current staff, which in turn boosts morale.