5 on 3 off

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

Hi guys Id like to run something by you just to see if what I’ve worked out makes sense. I’ve recently started working a 5 on 3 off shift pattern. I’m paid per shift and my pay week is Sun - Sun with pay day being on Fridays. Ok here’s the bit that I’ m having trouble with. From my calculations I’ve worked out that I will be paid for 3 weeks @ 5 days but for 5 weeks I will only be paid for 4 days even though I’ve worked 5.

I start Sunday and work to Thurs. Paid 5 days the following Friday

I start work Monday and work to Friday. Paid 5 days the following Friday

I start work Tuesday and work to Sat. Paid 5 days the following Friday

Here’s the change:

I start work Wednesday and work to Sun, but pay week kicks in(sun - sun), so I’m only getting paid Wed to Sat the following week. 4 days (w,t,f,s)

I start work Thursday and work to Mon, again pay week kicks in, so I only get paid Thurs to Sat (but include the Sunday from the previous week)

4 days (s…t,f,s)

I start work Friday and work to tues, again pay week kicks in, so I only get paid Fri & Sat (but include the Sunday and Monday from the previous week)

4 days (s,m…f,s)

I hope you understand what I’m getting at. It appears that a 5 on 3 off pattern with my pay structure actually aquates to
3 weeks paid for 5 days and 5 weeks paid for 4 days.

If I’ve made any errors in my calculations or can suggest any way of managing this shift pattern please let me know.

Hope all this made sense.

Cheers Kneal

2

the problem is your paid PER SHIFT …
your pay week runs Sunday to Saturday 7 days but your working over a 8 day week
M T W T F =5 PAY DAYS s s m = rest T W T F S = 5 PAY DAYS s m t = rest W T F S (S) = 4 PAY DAYS the (S) is carried to the following week as its in the next weeks pay week…

If you were paid salary it would be worked out better and you would be paid the same every week

3

Sounds right to me… Over a year you’re working quite a few days less than you would if you were on a 5 on 2 off pattern.

What sort of hours can you get out of each shift? Assuming you’re paid per hour it shouldn’t be the end of the world on the 4 day weeks.

4

With the way you are paid all you can do is to take something like an eight week period and then average out the weekly amount and budget that way

If your contract allows and you can keep legall with driving hours then you should be able to fit in a few agency shifts if you want to

5

Yes either you should be on salary (depending on hours) to benefit from reduced annual working days versus weekend working, or you should be getting enhanced rates for the weekend days you’re working, indeed maybe you are already getting an enhanced rate for sat/sun/bank hols.

If you’re getting a standard rate (unless that rate is enhanced across the board to include weekend working for this continental style shift) then the company is having its cake and eating it.

6

Kneal:
From my calculations I’ve worked out that I will be paid for 3 weeks @ 5 days but for 5 weeks I will only be paid for 4 days

Correct. It is important to note, that a pay week is a fixed period.

Kneal:
even though I’ve worked 5.

Granted, you have worked 5 days in a row, but you haven’t worked 5 days in the fixed period.

Here, take a look at the table below. It’s a repeating 8 week cycle.

8on_3off.jpg

7

Thanks for your response guys, I haven’t work a shift pattern like this before so it takes a little getting used to. I think I’ll just average my pay over an 8 week period and use that to calculate my earnings.
Cheers

8

or just treat as 5 weeks of famine, 3 of feast! :laughing:

9

macplaxton:
or just treat as 5 weeks of famine, 3 of feast! :laughing:

That’s a good way to think of it… :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

10

I would expect the Sunday to Sunday to be Sunday 00.00 to sunday 24.00.
Therefore:

I start Sunday and work to Thurs. Paid 5 days the following Friday

You would have worked: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed, then off Thurs, Fri, Sat, Start work sunday, So paid for four days.

11

I do 4 on 4 off on a rolling week and its the same i get 3 days pay some weeks just the way it is you get used to it

12

Is you pay week 0000 Sunday to 2400 Saturday? OR 0000 Monday to 2400 Sunday?

13

Sorry I should have been more specific. Its actually midnight Saturday to midnight Saturday. .

14

I do 5 on 3 off, you don’t work the opposite end of the week to me do you, running out of Wigan?