Scheduling for continuous operations: the Baylor Plan

Round–the–clock operations are becoming increasingly common, but scheduling the workforce in a continuous environment can be quite difficult and many existing work schedules are poor. We present an interesting scheduling alternative known as the Baylor Plan, which calls for three 8–hour shifts each weekday and two 12–hour shifts each weekend day. Workers can choose to be weekday workers only or weekend workers only, with weekend workers enjoying full–time pay and benefits. Experiences suggest that this plan can reduce absenteeism, overtime, and turnover and increase staff satisfaction and morale. Additionally, the plan is attractive to many, helping recruitment.