We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Finance

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Split Shift?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 17,224
Share

A split shift is a work schedule where a person's workday is broken up into two or more chunks with spans of unpaid time off between them. One of the most typical examples can be seen among school bus drivers, who work in the morning to drop children off at school, have the late morning and early afternoon off, and return in the afternoon to take children back home. Public transit workers and some factory workers may have this shift schedule, with the goal of increasing employee coverage during peak periods of the day without hiring extra personnel.

For employees, the split shift is usually not desirable. Employees may not have time to do very much during their time off, and could find that their time is eaten up by commuting. It can sometimes be difficult to make arrangements for child care, and in some households, it may be hard to see other people in the house, who may be more active during the periods when people are gone on their split shifts.

Other people may find this type of work schedule appealing. Some people may find it easier to work a few hours, have time off, and then return to work. This gives them the chance to rest, sleep, or run small errands during the middle of the day. The flexibility can also allow people to volunteer or work part time at another job in some cases, using the few hours as an opportunity if they can find a workplace close to their original employer.

Employment law does not bar split shifts and other flexible scheduling. People who work more than a set period of hours in a day or week may be entitled to overtime pay, and this includes people who work longer than expected on a split shift. Employees may receive compensation and benefits for the inconvenience of the split shift, like extra pay or access to a break room for sleeping or relaxing, and some employers ask their personnel to rotate through undesirable shifts so people are not stuck permanently with this type of schedule.

People with concerns about their work schedules can discuss them with human resources and supervisors to see if it is possible to make adjustments. A person with commute trouble, for example, might ask for a change to the timing of a split shift to avoid the worst traffic, or a parent who wants to be home when children get out of school can request a different start time for an afternoon or evening shift to accommodate this need. Employers usually understand that split shifts can be challenging and are often willing to address employee needs.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGeek researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By anon983258 — On Dec 28, 2014

The horse racing industry functions entirely around split shifts. It is a low paid industry. Much overtime is unaccounted for.

By Animandel — On Mar 06, 2014

In the medical field, split shifts, swing shifts and 12-hour-and-longer shifts are par for the course. I don't know that we ever get used to them, but we accept them and complain sometimes, but when all is said and done we do our jobs.

By Drentel — On Mar 05, 2014

Except in unavoidable emergency situations or in jobs like the school bus driver position mentioned in the article, I would like to see a split shift law regulating how and when the shifts can and cannot be used.

The other exception would be if an employee wanted and asked for a split shift, but as a mandatory work schedule I am against the split shift.

By Sporkasia — On Mar 04, 2014

With my job, there is much flexibility, and I am able to set my schedule to a point. I have to be in the office in the morning for meetings and then I am usually free to work in my office or clock out and run errands or go home. I have to be back at 5 o'clock to work for at least a couple of hours, depending on what is going on in the office and how much work I have to complete.

As a rule, working split shifts is not attractive to me, but since I am able to mix up the times when I am in the office, I am not adverse to my schedule. Leaving during the middle of the day or in the late morning provides me a chance to break up the work routine, which I enjoy.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-split-shift.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.