As we approach the festive season, many shift workers face the challenge of explaining to their families why they can’t be home for Christmas. For shiftwork operations, this is an unavoidable reality – but it doesn’t have to feel like a burden.
For shift workers – the Christmas season consistently ranks as one of the most valued public holidays for spending time with friends and family. While penalty rates provide financial compensation, the personal cost of missing these special moments cannot always be measured in dollars. The challenge for Operational Managers is finding ways to maintain essential coverage while acknowledging and supporting the people behind the roster.
Strategies for Better Festive Rostering
Operational Flexibility
- Review your minimum coverage requirements. Ask – Can operations run safely with reduced coverage during the Christmas holiday period? Could certain non-essential functions be paused? Even small reductions in required staff can mean more workers get to spend time with their families.
- Adjust shift patterns temporarily. Consider implementing shorter shifts or modified rotations during the Christmas and New Year period. A temporary change to your shift pattern might allow for fairer distribution of holiday shifts while maintaining operational requirements.
Fair and Voluntary Distribution
- Implement a preference-based system. Not everyone celebrates Christmas, and some workers actively prefer working public holidays and to take time off during less busy periods.
- Enable shift swapping. Empower your shift workers to arrange swaps among themselves. Roster management systems like ROSTERkey can streamline this process, making it easy for workers to request changes.
Recognition and Support
- Provide wellbeing resources. Share information about fatigue management, maintaining mental health, and helping families adjust to shiftwork lifestyles.
- Make Christmas shifts special. Organize a festive meal, BBQ, or other celebration for those working on the day. Small gestures like providing a quality lunch or Christmas treats show your shift workers that they are appreciated.
- Senior management visiting the workplace during Christmas shifts sends a powerful message that leadership recognises and values the sacrifice being made. A personal thank you and genuine conversation can boost morale significantly.
Leverage Technology
- Implement a roster management system like ROSTERkey to provide better visibility of who’s working when, streamlining shift change requests, and ensuring fair distribution of holiday shifts. The right tools make it easier to balance operational needs with workforce wellbeing.
This festive season, show your shift workers they’re valued – not just as lines on a roster, but as the dedicated professionals who keep operations running.
All the best for the holidays and for managing your workplace roster.
