DuPont Shift Schedule: Definition, Pros, Cons, and Best Practices

If your business needs 24/7 coverage, the DuPont shift schedule may be the solution you’re looking for.

In this article, we tell you what the DuPont schedule is and discuss the pros, cons, and best practices to help you decide if it’s right for your team and your business.

What is the DuPont shift schedule?
DuPont shift schedule pros
DuPont shift schedule cons
Best practices for the DuPont shift schedule

What is the DuPont shift schedule?

Back in the mid-1900s, the DuPont chemical company was dealing with a two-fold problem that stemmed from running their plants 24 hours, seven days a week.

Problem one: The company was struggling to get coverage for all of its shifts.

Problem two: The “normal” eight-hour work day was creating odd weekend schedules that further complicated things for employees and management.

To solve these problems, DuPont created a wholly unique schedule that revolved around 12-hour shifts instead of eight-hour shifts and achieved 24/7 coverage with four teams instead of five or six (or more).

Within the schedule itself, four teams work 12-hour shifts over a 28-day cycle with the following characteristics:

Week 1: Four night shifts followed by three days off
Week 2: Three day shifts followed by one day off and then three night shifts
Week 3: Three days off followed by four day shifts
Week 4: Seven consecutive days off

Here’s how it all fits together.

Week 1

Team A works Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (the day shift) then has Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off.

Team B works Monday through Wednesday 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. (the night shift), has Thursday off, then works Friday through Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (the day shift).

Team C has Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday off and then works Thursday through Sunday 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Team D has Monday through Sunday off.

Week 2

Team D works Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (the day shift) then has Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off.

Team A works Monday through Wednesday 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. (the night shift), has Thursday off, then works Friday through Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (the day shift).

Team B has Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday off and then works Thursday through Sunday 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Team C has Monday through Sunday off.

Week 3

Team C works Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (the day shift) then has Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off.

Team D works Monday through Wednesday 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. (the night shift), has Thursday off, then works Friday through Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (the day shift).

Team A has Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday off and then works Thursday through Sunday 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Team B has Monday through Sunday off.

Week 4

Team B works Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (the day shift) then has Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off.

Team C works Monday through Wednesday 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. (the night shift), has Thursday off, then works Friday through Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (the day shift).

Team D has Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday off and then works Thursday through Sunday 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Team A has Monday through Sunday off.

After Team A has a full week off, the cycle restarts with week one again regardless of the actual calendar week and month.

DuPont shift schedule pros

24/7 coverage

One of the biggest benefits of the DuPont shift schedule is that it provides 24/7 coverage with a minimum of personnel.

This type of coverage is ideal for all-night diners, nursing departments, manufacturing plants, call centers, and any other operation that needs employees on staff around the clock.

Increased productivity

The 12-hour shifts of the DuPont schedule allow employees to focus on their job and on specific tasks for longer periods of time without interruptions and the delays that can come with handing over responsibilities to another team member.

Such periods of focus can lead to higher output and increased productivity.

Improved efficiency

Fewer shift changes — one instead of two each day — typically means that employees in your business will spend less time transitioning from job to job.

And, less time spent transitioning from shift to shift may improve operations and the overall efficiency of your workflow.

DuPont shift schedule cons

Longer work hours for employees

One of the biggest cons of the DuPont shift schedule is the long work hours for employees.

Team members may not be used to working 12 hours straight — nor working the night shift — and may have a hard time adjusting. This can cause drops in alertness throughout the shift and even lead to physical and mental exhaustion.

Potential for employee burnout

Employee burnout is a very real risk for employees working the DuPont shift schedule.

Long hours combined with the stress of switching from day to night work and poor work-life balance can lead, first, to disgruntled employees, and, second, to complete mental and physical burnout.

Higher possibility of overtime

Because of the 12-hour work days, the DuPont shift schedule contains a higher possibility that employees will cross the line into overtime territory.

If your business has a tight labor budget, be sure to keep an eye on each employee’s total work hours in order to minimize the amount of overtime that each employee has to work.

Best practices for the DuPont shift schedule

Prioritize employee health

If your business chooses to implement a DuPont shift schedule, be sure to prioritize employee health by:

Monitoring total work hours to prevent excessive fatigue
Ensuring that employees have sufficient breaks
Providing mental health support

Overall, encourage a company culture in which all employees have the opportunity to discuss the health concerns of shift work and feel comfortable doing so.

Train your team

If your business is transitioning to a DuPont schedule for the first time — or when new employees are added to the roster — take the time to train your team about variables like:

How the schedule works over a four-week cycle
The rotation of day shifts, night shifts, and off days
The importance of adequate rest
How to adapt when changing from day shift to night shift
Managing sleep patterns
Nutrition for shift workers

Allow flexibility in your schedule

Build a system that makes requesting time off and swapping shifts as simple and straightforward as possible.

Allowing for flexibility within the DuPont shift schedule can help your employees accommodate personal needs and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Ensure fair distribution of shifts

As you schedule your team members to work, do your best to ensure that all shifts are distributed fairly.

A successful DuPont shift schedule will have all teams and all employees moving through the complete four-week cycle so that everyone works the same combination of days and nights and has the same combination of days off.

The fair distribution of shifts can help prevent burnout and reduce the chances that some employees will resent others because of when they work.

Monitor and adjust the schedule

Regularly monitor and adjust the schedule to minimize the negative impacts on both the business and your employees.

Take the time to track metrics such as:

Use the resulting data to improve both the schedule and the way your business operates.

Schedule smarter with Sling

Whether your business uses a DuPont shift schedule, a 2-2-3 work schedule, a hybrid work schedule, or even a more traditional “9-to-5” fixed schedule, Sling can help you save time, improve efficiency, and communicate better with your team.

The Sling app comes with a long list of features, including:

These features can help you organize and optimize your team’s activities within any and every work schedule possible.

To find out more about how our powerful scheduling, timekeeping, and task management features can transform your organization, your workflow, and your team dynamic, visit GetSling.com today.

This content is for informational purposes and is not intended as legal, tax, HR, or any other professional advice. Please contact an attorney or other professional for specific advice.

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