PlanIt Police Blog
What Shift Length Will Increase Your Officers Quality of Work Life?
Research has proven that shift length has an effect on an officer's performance. But what is the perfect length? Having short shifts makes it difficult to make sure you have 24x7 coverage. While on the other hand, having shifts that are too long puts your officers at a higher risk of fatigue, which can affect their performance.
So what is the best shift length for officers on patrol?
According to the Police Foundation's research, shift length impacts an officer's performance, overtime use, safety, health and quality of life. The Police Foundation studied 8-hour shifts, 10-hour shifts, and 12-hour shifts.
Their research found that 10-hour shifts have advantages over 8-hour shifts, and officers working 12-hour shifts showed lower levels of alertness.
Let's take a look at the pros and cons of each shift length to help determine the best fit for work life quality in your department:
8-hour
Pros
- Manageable for officers to stay alert throughout the shift
- Officers will be more available to pick up overtime shifts
- Officers have more personal time
- May be easier to get open shifts filled because of the shorter shift
Cons
- Shorter shifts become more complex to manage
- Officers work more days per week
- Officers filling an open shift will only earn 8 hours of overtime
- Studies have shown that officers on 8-hour shifts work significantly more overtime
10-hour
Pros
- Manageable for officers to stay alert throughout the shift
- Will only have to work 4 days a week for regularly scheduled shifts
- Depending on your department size, 10-hour shifts can maximize savings
Cons
- Longer days (compared to 8-hour shifts)
- Complex to manage
12-hour
Pros
- Less commute time/less days officers have to work
- More full days off for officers
- Easier for administration to manage because there will only be 2 shifts each day
- Officers will earn a significant amount of overtime when covering shifts
Cons
- Higher risk of fatigue which may lead to errors
- If officers take a day off, they're using up more of their time off hours (compared to 8 or 10 hour shifts)
- Hard for officers to manage work and life balance
- May be difficult to fill open shifts since they are a longer time commitment
Ultimately, shifts are not limited to these three options. There are some departments who use shift lengths outside of the ones listed here (e.g., 8.5 or 11 hour shifts). The best shift length for your department should be determined by considering the research here but also understanding your officers. What is best for one department may not necessarily be best for another. Take time to evaluate each option carefully and find the best fit throughout your department.
If you're looking for a software to manage officer schedules, PlanIt Police was built just for that. It will allow everyone to see their schedules from any device, wherever they are. You can easily manage time off, overtime, and court appearances.
Police One.com and PlanIt Schedule worked together on a survey and whitepaper to learn more about the challenges of managing officer scheduling. Download the whitepaper today to learn more about how most departments manage schedules, how shift length can impact officers, and how technology can empower officers.
Read More:
- 5 Simple Excel Formulas You Need to Know For Scheduling
- Personnel Shift Schedule Examples for Law Enforcement Agencies
- Common Shift Times for Day, Mid, and Night - 8, 10, and 12 hour
About Us
PlanIt Police scheduling software is extremely powerful yet easy-to-use. It is meant to simplify scheduling and enhance communication for law enforcement agencies. PlanIt was developed by Ragnasoft, Inc who have specialized in public safety scheduling solutions for over 10 years.
Contact Us
Lancaster PA 17604
sales@planitschedule.com
1-866-471-2001
717-925-3908 (fax)
Contact Us
PlanIt Police is an online scheduling system for police departments. PlanIt is developed by Ragnasoft, Inc which has specialized in public safety scheduling solutions for over 10 years.
More Information
Our Contacts
Lancaster, PA 17604
Phone: 1-866-471-2001
Fax: 1-717-925-3908
Email: sales@planitschedule.com