Split shift

A split shift refers to an arrangement where an employee works two separate periods of time on the same day, typically with a break in between. This can be seen as a form of flexible working pattern, but it may also incur additional costs for employers, such as paying employees for the intervening period.

In terms of employment law, split shifts are considered to be a type of ‘split shift’ under the Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR). The WTR stipulates that an employee who works a split shift must receive at least 11 hours’ rest between the two periods of work. This means that if an employee starts their first period of work at, for example, 7am and finishes at 1pm, they would be entitled to at least 11 hours’ rest before commencing their second period of work.

Employers must also take into account any potential impact on employees who are required to work split shifts. For instance, employees may need additional time off to recover from the physical or mental demands of working two separate periods of time in one day. As such, employers should consider whether split shifts are feasible and reasonable for their employees.

In terms of rotas, split shifts can be particularly challenging to manage, as they require careful planning to ensure that adequate staffing levels are maintained throughout the day. Employers may need to use creative scheduling techniques or adjust their rota systems to accommodate split shift arrangements.

AceRota’s automated scheduling feature can assist with split shifts by ensuring that staff are allocated to specific time slots, taking into account their availability and contractual requirements. This helps prevent over- or under-allocation of hours, which is often a challenge when managing split shifts.