50+ Sample Rotation Schedules

What Is a Rotation Schedule?

A rotation schedule is a type of schedule that involves shifting and alternate arrangements instead of a fixed timetable or schedule. Many industries and employers use this method or practice when implementing and operating their business.  

According to an online article by Workforce, an estimated 2.4% of employees in the United States work rotating schedules. And the figure is higher in certain industries where around 5% of workers employed in the wholesale, retail, leisure and hospitality sectors work rotating shift schedules.   

Industries and Sectors that Use Rotating Schedules

There are many sectors and occupations that do not necessarily follow the regular 9 to 5 job schedule. Especially in today’s increasingly competitive and globalized economy, a lot of businesses need to run 24/7 in order to keep up with customer and consumer demands. The following examples are just some major industries that are known to implement rotating schedules in their manpower management.     

Medical Sector. The medical or health services sector is an obvious example. Hospitals and clinics do not have regular business hours or operating hours because you cannot postpone or put off treatment especially when a patient’s life is threatened. For healthcare professionals and providers, a patient’s health is a basic need that needs to be attended to all the time. Nurses and doctors, for example, typically operate on a rotating schedule because hospital duty requires both daytime and nighttime shifts. This is also clearly illustrated in the case of emergency services or emergency rooms in hospitals. The very nature of an emergency medical case is that it is unpredictable and urgent; thus, an emergency services department or a nurses station always needs to be manned around the clock. Retail Industry. The commercial retail industry is known to have unpredictable and irregular working hours. Whether it is at a department store or a mall outlet, it is not uncommon for workers in the industry to follow a rotation schedule. Further, it is typically on the weekends that regular customers find the time to go out and do leisurely things. So it only makes sense that retail workers that are employed in stores, boutiques, and shops are required to attend to these customers during weekends and even holidays. Depending on the employer and work arrangement, others may even work for more than the required eight hours. And since many retail employees work on weekends and holidays, their days off may not be fixed and can fall on different days of the week. Food Business. Just like retail, the hospitality and restaurant business is also an industry that is known to utilize rotations schedules for its employees. Of course, it would depend on the type of restaurant. Dining and service hours may vary from restaurant to restaurant. But behind the scenes, the kitchen is a whole other world. Food preparation and kitchen upkeep requires a considerable amount of time. Employees in the food and restaurant industry may be required to come in very early in the morning, during peak hours at lunchtime, or even stay until closing time past midnight- all depending on how the restaurant is run. So in order to give all workers a fair chance and opportunity, a rotation schedule is normally the answer. To illustrate, a casual diner server may be given morning shifts for a couple of weeks then be given night duty for another two weeks. Transportation Sector. Another important sector that implements rotation schedules for its manpower is the transport sector. In many places around the world, especially metropolitan and urban centers, public transport is a fundamental component of infrastructure that helps keep society running and functioning. Whether it is a subway or a bus line, the people behind these services operate on a different schedule than most regular employees. Trains and airplanes need to cater to the public’s transport needs. And those that work in the industry know that their job often comes with irregular and flexible work schedules. For example, air traffic controllers follow a shifting schedule not just because there are daytime and nighttime flights, but because their challenging and demanding workload also requires them to be alert and responsive at all times.

Tips for Employees on Rotation Schedule

If you are an employee on a rotating or rotation schedule, it can be difficult to adjust especially if you are accustomed to a regular 9 to 5 job schedule. However, the nature of some occupations and professions require shifting as part of effective and efficient deployment. The following tips can help you better manage a shifting or rotating schedule at your workplace.

Use Days off Wisely. If a rotation schedule is imposed on you, you need to make the necessary adjustments in order to maintain a healthy work life. This means spending your off-days wisely and striving to keep a work-life balance despite a shifting arrangement. If you work in hospitality or retail, then it is almost a given that there will be instances where you are required to work on weekends and public holidays. And for employees who work nights or have flexible schedules, this often means changing rest days as well. For instance, some restaurant staff can get two days off during the weekdays if they render work on Saturdays and Sundays. But then on a different week, this may change yet again. It is this nature of fluidity and variability that is characteristic of rotation schedules. Eat healthy. If you work different shifts at various times, it is even more important to take care of your health. Especially if you are regularly on a night shift or graveyard shift, this may have a profound effect, although in varying degrees, on a person’s body and overall well-being. Diet can affect not just one’s physical but also mental and emotional state more than most people realize. Eating healthy is one way you can ensure that your body can perform optimally at work or even outside of work. When it comes to diet, choose better alternatives and more nutritious food as opposed to junk food, fast food, and food high in preservatives. Also, be careful with caffeine. Make sure to take in reasonable amounts. In other words, everything in moderation. You don’t want to take excessive amounts of caffeine that will ultimately do more harm than good. Keep a routine. Even with a flexible work schedule, it is still recommended to maintain some form of structure. Having a routine, despite a rotation arrangement, can help you manage not only your time better but your energy as well-if it’s done properly. Make sure to take meals regularly and practice good sleep hygiene. These two factors are crucial to optimal workplace function and performance. Even if you are working the night shift, try sticking to a fixed or predictable sleeping schedule during your non-work hours. If you have no form of structure or even just boundaries, your body and even mental health will usually pay the price to accommodate a volatile and chaotic schedule.

How to Create a Rotation Schedule

To create a rotation schedule, you need to have a clear and firm understanding as to why a rotating arrangement is best for your manpower and business objectives. And if you are looking for quick and easy templates to use for your own schedule, there are dozens of sample rotation schedules above for download. Just choose one that meets your needs and follow the basic tutorial guide below.   

Step 1: Establish a Format

The first step is to decide on a format. A schedule is usually presented in a table format. And if you are looking for a more efficient and convenient way to create a rotation schedule, an excellent tool to use is Microsoft Excel. You can use a table or spreadsheet to automatically input the schedule. Excel also comes with ready-made templates that you can use for free. But if you are not comfortable using Excel, there are a number of other editable and downloadable rotation schedules in the selection above. It is recommended to use a template, even if just as a reference guide, especially if you are short on time or do not necessarily have the design expertise to create a schedule from scratch.    

Step 2: Plan Out the Teams

After planning out the format, the next step is to prepare the list of names or employees who will be included in the rotation schedule. Make sure you know who is part of your team or department. It is important to get to know not just their job description or roles but their attitude and performance record as well. This is especially applicable and useful if you are the duty or shift manager. In most rotation schedules, employees are divided into different teams. This approach can help make it easier to assign shifts. Plan out these teams and list all the employees’ names down accordingly.   

Step 3: Create the Timetable

The next step is to establish the shifting arrangement itself. In other words, you need to create a timetable. When you have completed your list of employees or names, start assigning each of them a shift. Rotating or rotation schedules rarely stay the same for a long time. There are also typically morning shifts and night time shifts. Whether it is a hospital nursing staff or a 24/7 diner kitchen and crew, there must be manpower present to cover every shift. In some cases, a third shift is even incorporated into the rotation schedule. It all depends on the objective or nature of the business. For this section, using a template is much easier and more convenient because you can simply edit the times and dates.    

Step 4: Set up a Tracker

It is crucial to be able to monitor the people on the rotation schedule. It is not enough to simply assign employees a shift without proper monitoring and follow through. Setting up a monitoring mechanism may look different for various types of schedules. That is where strategic management is key. If you are duty manager or shift manager, you need to ensure that every member of the team is doing their job and showing up to their shift. That means keeping track of their individual shifts as well as their days off.   

FAQs

How do you make a rotation schedule?

The easiest way to make a rotation schedule is to use an existing template, input the staff names and the timetable or shift schedules.

What is a 2 2 3 rotation work schedule?

A 2 2 3 rotation work schedule is an arrangement wherein employees work two or three consecutive days combined with also two or three consecutive days off.

What is the best rotating shift schedule?

The clockwise shift rotation is recommended where there is a day, evening, and night shift.

If you are looking for a better way to manage and organize your manpower work schedule, a rotation arrangement is worth looking into. Browse the wide selection of sample templates above, choose one that meets your objectives and create your own rotation schedule today!