Staffing Calculators
Instructions
Choose one of the five different calculators shown below. Note that there are separate calculators for fixed and rotating shifts with 8-hour or 10-hour shifts. Fixed shifts often require more personnel with 8 and 10-hour shifts, so they require different calculators. This is not the case with 12-hour shifts.
In the boxes with the gold background, enter the coverage requirements for each shift on both weekdays and weekends. Coverage is defined as the number of people actually working, not the number assigned to a shift. The results will be shown to the right, in the boxes with the blue background.
Average Hours of Work
For 12-hour shift schedules, the staffing requirements are based on an average work week of 42 hours. In most 12-hour schedules, half the work weeks are 36 hours (three 12-hour shifts) and half are 48 hours (four 12-hour shifts). This averages 42 hours/week.
For 8-hour and 10-hour shift schedules, most of the average work weeks are either 40 hours or 42 hours. You should look at both options to compare the staffing requirements. For example, 2-person coverage with 8-hour rotating shifts requires:
The schedules that average 40 hours a week always use five 8-hour shifts per week or four 10-hour shifts per week. The schedules that average 42-hours a week have one 48-hour week every 4 weeks (with 8-hour shifts) or one 50-hour week every 5 weeks (with 10-hour shifts). The first column in the Resources Required box is based on 40-hour work weeks and the second column is based on work weeks that average 42 hours.
Staffing Requirements
Here are some considerations when using the calculators:
Absences
The 5 staffing calculators DO NOT take absences (vacations, illness, training, etc.) into account. Many organizations rely on overtime to cover absences. However, if there is a high absence rate, this can lead to a number of problems, as described here. If there is more staff than the minimum necessary to achieve the desired coverage levels, you could either build extra coverage into the schedule or build relief coverage into the schedule (my personal preference). If you would like to learn more about how relief coverage works or how to take advantage of it, please contact us today. Imagine how much money you could save by reducing your headcount by just one person.
Requirements | ||
Shift | Mon-Fri Coverage | Sat-Sun Coverage |
Days | ||
Nights |
Resources Required | ||
Staff Req'd | Avg Hrs Per Week |
|
42 | ||
42 | ||
Total |
Requirements | ||
Shift | Mon-Fri Coverage | Sat-Sun Coverage |
Days | ||
Afternoons | ||
Nights |
Resources Required | ||||
Staff Req'd | Avg Hrs Per Week |
Staff Req'd | Avg Hrs Per Week |
|
40 | 42 | |||
40 | 42 | |||
40 | 42 | |||
Total |
Requirements | ||
Shift | Mon-Fri Coverage | Sat-Sun Coverage |
Days | ||
Afternoons | ||
Nights |
Resources Required | ||||
Staff Req'd | Avg Hrs Per Week |
Staff Req'd | Avg Hrs Per Week |
|
40 | 42 | |||
40 | 42 | |||
40 | 42 | |||
Total |
Requirements | ||
Shift | Mon-Fri Coverage | Sat-Sun Coverage |
Days | ||
Afternoons | ||
Nights |
Resources Required | ||||
Staff Req'd | Avg Hrs Per Week |
Staff Req'd | Avg Hrs Per Week |
|
40 | 42 | |||
40 | 42 | |||
40 | 42 | |||
Total |
Requirements | ||
Shift | Mon-Fri Coverage | Sat-Sun Coverage |
Days | ||
Afternoons | ||
Nights |
Resources Required | ||||
Staff Req'd | Avg Hrs Per Week |
Staff Req'd | Avg Hrs Per Week |
|
40 | 42 | |||
40 | 42 | |||
40 | 42 | |||
Total |
Resources
Here are links to articles I've written over the past 20+ years about different shift lengths:
If you'd like to see examples of different 24/7 schedules, we sell 5 different packages (see list below). You can read more here: Schedule Examples
If you don't work 24/7 or you don't have steady coverage at all times, we can custom design schedules for you. Read more here: Custom Schedule Design
If you want the best possible schedule or have additional questions: Contact Us.