Hours of Operation. What are the organization's hours and days of operation, e.g., 24/7, 24/6, 16/7, or something else?

Coverage Requirements. How many people do you want working on each shift? Does this stay the same all week? This is not the number assigned to each shift nor is it the number of people needed per day.

Staff Size. How many employees will be working this schedule? Please do not include supervisors unless they count toward the coverage requirements.

Shift Length. What shift length do you prefer?

Schedule Format. Do you want the employees to rotate from shift-to-shift or to be permanently assigned to a single shift (fixed shifts)?

Overtime. Most 24/7 schedules require a small amount of overtime to be built into the schedule. Do you have any restrictions on overtime that is built into the schedule?

Overtime / pay week. Most U.S. non-salaried employees are eligible for overtime after working 40 hours a week. When does your organization start counting the hours of work, e.g. "Sunday with the first shift." Please don't skip this question. It's critical for schedule design.

Objectives or Concerns. What are you trying to accomplish? Why are you searching for help?