Do any of your hospitals out there have 7-on/7-off schedules?

 These schedules have been highly successful for second and third shift for our labs. Turnover on third shift is practically nil, and so far on second shift (2 years) has been zero since implementation.

 Management (for 5 hospital labs) is now considering eliminating the 7-on/7-off schedule, and one of the cited reasons is that "no other hospitals use these schedules."

We're working on our persuasive reasons to keep the schedules...

Thanks,

Marcy 

No.  Unfortunately our hospital does not have a schedule that makes working second and third shifts any easier.  I would love to have a 7 on 7 off schedule, a 3-12hr or 4-10hr schedule...  but as we well know, that wont happen.  Nurses love it.

I know a majority of people have left our hospital due to the schedule and the eternity they will have to endure working second and third shifts, awaiting a coveted day job.  Many have left the field.  Many have taken a significant cut in pay to get day M-F jobs.

I have heard of other hospitals using the (8-10hr on and 10 off) shift schedule as well (very similar to yours).  There is one that has a specific coined name (which I forget), but it is simply working 2 doubles on the weekend only , and the facility makes it FT-equivalent (37.5) for the inconvienence of working the weekend, BUT you are off M-F.

I would almost bet that having a smooth schedule would be better appreciated by the employees than the mere pittance some places pay for shift differential. 

Stress to your managers about the decreased turnover and the increased retention and how this has benefitted the hospital. 

(sarcasm) ask them how they would like to work evening or night shift with whatever schedule they are proposing... 

Although I no longer work for ARUP in Salt Lake City, I know that they use to utilize the 7 on/off at the University of Utah Hospital and Huntsman Cancer Institute that they support. I believe that they still do use it, but you could contact them to make sure. It seems like most people loved it. I wish I had the schedule.

There is a hospital laboratory in Three Rivers, MI advertising for a 7 on/7 off third shift position in a non trade newspaper.  I have seen many such positions advertised in Advance.  Also, check out the post re: flexible scheduling and 12hr shifts from 12/06/2007--there are several techs who work the 7 on/7 off and are quite happy and the retention rate is also good, especially in the "off" shifts.  Hope this helps.

We do have that schedule for night shift only.  I'm a big fan of the schedule--it usually results in much less absenteeism and the techs doing it usually really like it.  I would imagine that given the opportunity, many people on all shifts would love to do that.  I'm amazed that management would consider doing away with it for lab if it's working.

As a former Lab Director of one of the Baylor labs, I know all of Baylor Health Care System uses 7on/7off. The upsides have been mentioned by several individuals, however, the downsides are: increased errors towards the end of the shift, fatique, difficult follow up with employees with issues (because they are off) and whether employees admit it or not several want to take off another week to leave the country for an extended vacation.

Our hospital uses 7 on 7 off for the night shift.  One of the night shift techs has been doing that  shift for about 10 years and really likes it.  Our techs work 9 hour shifts so they get enough hours.  They also get PAL time  (Paid Annual Leave) which is vacation and sick time all in one category. 

I previously worked at Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City and worked 7 on and 7 off nights there.  At that hospital you worked 10 hr shifts and then got paid for 80.  You didn't accrue any vacation time- it was like you were cashing it out every week but, we did get some sick time.  That was a number of years ago but, you might check if they still do it.

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Kristin MT(ASCP)

I worked 7on/7off schedules years ago. Most found them too physically taxing. I preferred it. As a director, I have worked to allow any staffing pattern that would meet the service needs of the hospital and meet the personal and family needs of the highest percentage of staff. Most of the time that has resulted in 3 12 hour shifts back to back.

Our main hospital in Bryan uses 7on/7off throughout all shifts, with only a few "technical specialists" as 5 day a week workers.  The management allows two people to change a shift, with one person working Monday-Thursday and the second person working Friday,Saturday and Sunday for as long as they both agree to it.  (We only have two people doing that now.)  The smaller "critical access" hospital where I work only does 7 on/7 off on deep nights.  That's why I work that shift, although I would rather work a second shift.  For some reason, our lab supervisor doesn't want the entire lab to change to 7on/7off.  I think it's great and would rather not go back to the 5 day a week grind.

For the past 16 years, our Pathology labs have implemented the 7 on 7off / work 70 paid 80hrs for 3rd shift employees.  July 1st, third shift

employees received a memo from management stating that this special pay practice could no longer be financially supported.  Ten additional

hours would have to be worked to receive 80 hours pay. 

An update to your situation would be very helpful as we look to maintain our 3rd shift schedule here.. Thanks!

Our afternoon and night shifts all utilize either 7on/7off or 8on/6off.  I currently

work the 8 on/ 6 off and wouldn't have it any other way.  For a long time I didn't

like the idea of it because I thought that I wouldn't make it through the 8 days

every other week.  Now it's a piece of cake and I actually get more done around

the house!  My husband likes that I have a longer stretch off so we can travel more.

My coworkers and I agree that if they took away our unique schedules, we'd be very

unhappy and possibly quit.