Coronavirus (COVID-19) -  Watch our webinar on how to deliver effective workforce planning in a crisis

Our expert consultants can help you find the most efficient, effective & engaged way to manage your shift workers.

For over 25 years, Working Time Solutions’ subject matter expertise has helped create highly productive shift-based workforces for organisations of all sizes & sectors. 

Our team has extensive experience in workforce optimisation strategies, shift pattern design, shift worker management systems, union engagement & employee communications. 

This specialist knowledge & consultancy is the foundation for a range of services.

So, whether it’s training around scheduling best practice, or implementing Annualised Hours & Demand-Led Rostering systems, our experts can provide you with professional, dependable support.

Labour Demand Planning Labour Demand Planning   Shift pattern design consultancy servicesShift Pattern Design  Employee engagement & communication servicesEmployee Engagement Implementation and project management for changing shift patterns.pngImplementation Data analysisInsight

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Labour Demand Planning consultancy and services

Labour Demand Planning

Our expert consultants will help you maximise productivity & efficiency by creating an accurate demand model & a forecast of precise staffing requirements: 

  • Source & overlay demand data from across your organisation, including undertaking process mapping & activity sampling.   
  • Map variability & volatility 24/7/365 to build an accurate picture of demand through the day, week, month, season & year.
  • Use as a platform to design & implement fully optimised shift patterns.
  • Analyse overtime, absence & labour cost data to identify & overcome challenges or issues.
  • Model demand, cover & throughput requirements, factoring in variations from seasonal peaks to hour-by-hour changes.
Our comprehensive labour demand planning service & consultancy will help you to understand the challenges you face & the best route to simplifying complex patterns or pay rules.

It is the best starting point for workforce optimisation & can be used as the basis to implement new resourcing models such as Demand-led Rostering & Annualised Hours.

You can learn more about demand planning here.

Shift pattern design consultancy and services

Shift Pattern Design

Our specialist consultants will help you find the best solution by appraising shift pattern options, experimenting with variants using WORKSuite® design tools & understanding their potential impact:

  • Design shift patterns that resolve issues identified as harming productivity or shift worker wellbeing.
  • Harness WORKSuite®’s interactive tools in a working party environment to co-design shift patterns with employees & ensure their preferences are reflected.
  • Model potential scenarios & create a bank of patterns designed to maintain productivity, efficiency & compliance.
  • Create custom patterns that are differentiated from the competition & well suited to different employee demographics.
  • Combine the service with WORKSuite®’s shift pattern design tools to create innovative, flexible shift patterns that meet your specific requirements.
Shift pattern design consultancy and services for shift working organisaitons
You can use our shift pattern design service & consultancy to access deep workforce optimisation subject matter expertise, knowledge & experience in shift working environments.

Our team have the know-how to design shift patterns that effectively balance the needs of organisations (productivity & efficiency) with employees (health & work-life balance).

Employee Engagement & Communications consultancy and services to help change shift patterns

Employee Engagement & Communications

Our expert consultants will help ensure your employees & unions are fully engaged in the workforce planning &  management process & that shift patterns reflect their needs or preferences:  

  • Use demand data & analysis to evidence the need for change & the positive impact on stable pay, job protection/creation, work-life balance, health & wellbeing.   
  • Collaborate with employees to ensure their insight & preferences are considered & that you create appealing patterns that support recruitment & retention.
  • Create comprehensive communication & engagement strategies that effectively support the shift pattern design & implementation process. 
  • Achieve transparency & fairness in design by using WORKSuite®’s visual & interactive design tools to directly involve the workforce in the shift pattern design process. 
  • Reduce the time taken to implement new patterns by ensuring solutions are optimised for both the organisation & its employees.
Employee Engagement & Communications consultancy and services to help design shift patterns
Our employee engagement & communications services & consultancy enables employees & unions to engage in the shift planning, scheduling & management process in a transparent, collaborative manner.

We’ll help ensure your shift workers understand the need for changes to working time & that they can play a central role in arriving at the best solution.

Implementation and project management for changing shift patterns

Implementation & Project Management

Our specialist consultants will help you take the optimal approach to changing shift patterns…making sure you get it right first time:

  • Adopt a structured implementation based on best practice project management techniques.
  • Secure organisation-wide buy-in for the project by evidencing the quantitative & qualitative benefits of making changes.

  • Reduce risk around implementation & see the benefits of optimised shift patterns & rotas realised quicker.
Implementation and project management consultancy for changing shift patterns
Our team of consultants is qualified in project management & highly experienced in helping employers implement new processes & approaches.

Let them help you find the best way to optimise your shift-based workforce.

You can learn more about implementation here.

Working time , shift patterns, rota and scheduling Data Analysis & Insight services

Data Analysis & Insight

Our expert consultants will ensure your shift patterns & rotas remain optimised & aligned to changing demand & employee needs:

  • Establish regular monitoring, reviews & fine-tuning of systems to anticipate & respond to change   
  • Regular compliance & best practice ‘health checks’ to keep up with changing regulations, policies & standards.
  • Sharing best practice in shift work planning & management through comprehensive training courses suitable for all levels of management.
  • Helpline support for consultancy, training or technical enquiries.  
Working time, shift patterns, rota and scheduling Data Analysis & Insight services
Our data analysis & insight services & consultancy will ensure you maintain a fully optimised workforce & continuously improve your approach to planning, management & monitoring.

Through knowledge transfer, we’ll help you build the skills, understanding & capabilities in-house to maintain productivity & shift worker wellbeing over the long-term.

You can learn more about continuous improvement here.

Siemens Healthineers Premier Foods South Western Ambulance Service Wales & West Utilities Dublin Airport Authority Maritime & Coastguard Agency PPG

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Blogs & Latest News

On-Demand Webinar | COVID-19 and Shift Work Challenges

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is placing huge strain on employers and shift workers as demand profiles change dramatically and labour supply is disrupted by absence. Listen to our webinar...

Blogs & Latest News

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Adapting shift patterns, rotas and rosters

Our aim is to help as many organisations as possible protect health, livelihoods and essential services using our specialist shift working knowledge and software. Read here about w...

Blogs & Latest News

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Ways we are supporting service levels and employee well-being

With the uncertainty around Coronavirus (COVID-19), we wanted to ensure all customers and other stakeholders are aware of our plans to support well-being, business continuity, serv...

Blogs & Latest News

Managing change: Overcoming common shift work challenges in Manufacturing

Read our article on overcoming common shift work challenges within the Manufacturing industry

Blogs & Latest News

A brief introduction to Demand-Led Rostering and Annualised Hours

This article looks at Demand-Led Rostering and Annualised Hours and covers strategies to implement and manage this resourcing system

Blogs & Latest News

Exploring a 'new' way of working with Demand-Led Rostering and Annualised Hours

Explore the fundamentals of Demand-Led Rostering and Annualised Hours including how the framework can address issues around productivity, flexibility and employee wellbeing

Blogs & Latest News

10 signs you should consider Demand-Led Rostering and Annualised Hours

Adopting Annualised Hours enables truly responsive Demand-Led Rostering systems to be created

Blogs & Latest News

Overcoming common shift work planning and management challenges in manufacturing

Exploring shared sector pain points and how to address them

Blogs & Latest News

Highlights from the Ambulance Leadership Forum 2019 

Highlights from the Ambulance Leadership Forum 2019

Blogs & Latest News

Working Time Solutions views on skills shortages featured in Manufacturing Management

A summary of our article in Manufacturing Management which discusses whether manufacturers’ shift patterns are fit for purpose in tackling staff shortages.

Blogs & Latest News

Ports & Airports - Why continued Brexit uncertainty is pushing workforce planning up the agenda

Workforce planning will be key to avoiding operational problems or capitalising on opportunities.  

Blogs & Latest News

On route to optimisation: Transforming shift working for field-based employees

This article explores the benefits optimised shift working delivers for employers and field-based service managers or engineers

Blogs & Latest News

Shifting the dial: Workforce optimisation and regulatory frameworks in Utilities

Creating optimised and flexible shift patterns and rotas could strengthen utilities companies’ RIIO-2, PR19 and AMP7 plans.

Blogs & Latest News

Seasonal shift patterns in manufacturing: Don’t let peak production periods harm your business

Responsive resourcing systems are key to managing cyclical demand efficiently and effectively.

Blogs & Latest News

The importance of cloud software in shift working environments

Major new release brings our specialist workforce planning and management system to the cloud

Blogs & Latest News

Views from the ‘Digital Works for People’ conference 2018

We're proud to have been recognised as delivering one of the most innovative European projects in the 'digitalisation at work’ field

Blogs & Latest News

Increasing predictability with Demand-Led Rostering and Annualised Hours

Organisations which depend on zero hour contracts to meet fluctuating demand need to look at alternative resourcing models

Blogs & Latest News

Sharing best practice at the Emergency Services Roster Review Seminar

Working Time Solutions hosted a unique event for Emergency Services focused on designing dynamic rosters that respond to changing demand profiles

Blogs & Latest News

Rotas that meet demand and employee aspirations will be key to the future of ambulance services

Discussions at the Ambulance Leadership Forum highlighted the importance of engagement and adapting to change

Blogs & Latest News

Managing 24/7 shift patterns for Siemens

WORKSuite® software helps Siemens Healthineers manage 7 days a week operation

Events

Free remote 1-2-1 session

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Adapting shift work. Free remote 1-2-1 session with our consultants

Events

Workforce Planning Masterclass

The UK's leading event on optimising shift work

Events

Demo request

Demo our cloud software...

Events

Webinars

Case Studies

South Western Ambulance Service

“Helping deliver a highly successful roster review”

Case Studies

Siemens Healthineers

A workforce planning and management solution to help Siemens Healthineers work 7 days a week

Case Studies

Maritime & Coastguard Agency

By designing optimised shift patterns, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency could meet variations in demand while reducing labour costs and protecting vital skills

Case Studies

Premier Foods

One of the UK's largest food manufacturers saved £1m by designing seasonal shift patterns that better met demand...reducing use of overtime and temporary labour

Case Studies

Wales & West Utilities

This utility company modernised shift patterns for 300 emergency engineers to boost efficiency, streamline practices and meet new regulatory requirements

Case Studies

London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Designing new shift patterns for 5,000 employees

Case Studies

Dublin Airport Authority

Dublin Airport Authority made significant and sustainable payroll savings by designing shift patterns that accurately reflect seasonal demand

Case Studies

PPG

Introducing Demand-Led Rostering and Annualised Hours delivered a wide range of benefits for this manufacturer

Case Studies

Thames Water

This utility company designed new shift patterns to create £10m of efficiencies and meet regulatory demands

Case Studies

Unilever

This food manufacturer's new shift patterns increased efficiency from 55% to 85%, while reducing administration time and boosting staff morale

Case Studies

Emirates Aluminium

New shift patterns prioritise work-life balance for Emirates Aluminium employees

Case Studies

Accolade Wines

This wine distributor implemented a new shift pattern with fully rostered holidays and an allowance of reserve hours to use during seasonal peaks in production

Case Studies

Celtic Manor

This venue removed its over-reliance on agency workers by designing efficient new shift patterns

Case Studies

INEOS

Installing specialist software to provide a comprehensive database for the day-to-day planning, management and monitoring of working time

Case Studies

l'Anson

Implementing new shift patterns allowed this feed manufacturer to flex up during very busy periods and flex down during the quieter summer months

Case Studies

York Minster

This venue's security team implemented an annualised hours system that reduced administration and provided clear visibility over shift patterns

Case Studies

The University of Northampton

The security team at this university reduced high levels of overtime, improving operational planning and giving employees a better work-life balance

Case Studies

University of London

This university implemented an annualised hours system which helped save money, reduce overtime and improve employees work-life balance

Case Studies

Health Assured

This healthcare business designed a 24/7 shift pattern to meet fluctuating demand for its services and provide flexibility for growth

Case Studies

Transportation and logistics services

Shift pattern design and rota scheduling software and services

White Papers

A ticking time bomb?...The 'top 10' Working Time risks

Does your approach to managing shift workers put you at risk of punitive fines, lost business or reputational damage?

White Papers

Workforce optimisation...plugging technology gaps in an airport environment

As passenger numbers increase, airports face significant challenges in ensuring that they have the right amount of staff in place at all times

White Papers

Healthy…happy…flexible - Using shift patterns to enhance employer brand

The battle for talent feels like it’s turning into a war of attrition

White Papers

Mind the gap - Overcoming Working Time shortfalls in T&A / ERP systems

Identify where the principal Working Time-related gaps may be in T&A/ERP systems and the common issues this creates

White Papers

Shifting sands...Brexit's impact on workforce planning and management

We explore the questions Brexit poses around workforce productivity, flexibility and compliance

White Papers

Smarter not harder...avoiding the trap of excessive working hours

Identify common causes of excessive hours, evidence the impact and look at how to tackle overworking

White Papers

Weather the storm…preparing the utilities workforce for extreme events

How workforce planning can be used to mitigate risk, increase resilience and maintain compliance

White Papers

National Living Wage...using shift patterns to offset rising costs

Offsetting rising labour costs through shift pattern design and effective roster management

White Papers

Solving the puzzle...improving workforce productivity

We look at how organisations can improve their productivity through changes to Working Time

White Papers

Holiday headaches...planning annual leave for shift workers

Identify common issues, evaluate gross/net hours systems and explore how to maintain productivity whilst accommodating annual leave

White Papers

All aboard...gaining employee buy-in for a Working Time change

The importance of employee engagement when making changes to Working Time

White Papers

The great debate...8 Vs 12 hour shift patterns

We look at the 8 vs 12 hr shift debate, explore the advantages and disadvantages of both and help define the best solution for your organisation

White Papers

Mind your step...managing a workforce during adverse weather

Tips and guidance on how to minimise disruption to the workforce during adverse weather

White Papers

Hard day's night ...permanent night shifts and the alternatives

Arguments for and against these shift patterns and potential alternatives

White Papers

Flexi friend...handling flexible working requests from shift workers

Explore changes to flexible working regulations and how to assess requests in a shift work environment

White Papers

In the mix...rotational Vs fixed shift patterns

We provide an analysis of these two systems including advice for designing new shift patterns

Blogs & Latest News

On-Demand Webinar | COVID-19 and Shift Work Challenges

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is placing huge strain on employers and shift workers as demand profiles change dramatically and labour supply is disrupted by absence. Listen to our webinar...

Blogs & Latest News

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Adapting shift patterns, rotas and rosters

Our aim is to help as many organisations as possible protect health, livelihoods and essential services using our specialist shift working knowledge and software. Read here about w...

Blogs & Latest News

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Ways we are supporting service levels and employee well-being

With the uncertainty around Coronavirus (COVID-19), we wanted to ensure all customers and other stakeholders are aware of our plans to support well-being, business continuity, serv...

Blogs & Latest News

Managing change: Overcoming common shift work challenges in Manufacturing

Read our article on overcoming common shift work challenges within the Manufacturing industry

Blogs & Latest News

A brief introduction to Demand-Led Rostering and Annualised Hours

This article looks at Demand-Led Rostering and Annualised Hours and covers strategies to implement and manage this resourcing system

Events

Free remote 1-2-1 session

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Adapting shift work. Free remote 1-2-1 session with our consultants

Events

Workforce Planning Masterclass

The UK's leading event on optimising shift work

Events

Demo request

Demo our cloud software...

Events

Webinars

Case Studies

South Western Ambulance Service

“Helping deliver a highly successful roster review”

Case Studies

Siemens Healthineers

A workforce planning and management solution to help Siemens Healthineers work 7 days a week

Case Studies

Maritime & Coastguard Agency

By designing optimised shift patterns, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency could meet variations in demand while reducing labour costs and protecting vital skills

Case Studies

Premier Foods

One of the UK's largest food manufacturers saved £1m by designing seasonal shift patterns that better met demand...reducing use of overtime and temporary labour

Case Studies

Wales & West Utilities

This utility company modernised shift patterns for 300 emergency engineers to boost efficiency, streamline practices and meet new regulatory requirements

White Papers

A ticking time bomb?...The 'top 10' Working Time risks

Does your approach to managing shift workers put you at risk of punitive fines, lost business or reputational damage?

White Papers

Workforce optimisation...plugging technology gaps in an airport environment

As passenger numbers increase, airports face significant challenges in ensuring that they have the right amount of staff in place at all times

White Papers

Healthy…happy…flexible - Using shift patterns to enhance employer brand

The battle for talent feels like it’s turning into a war of attrition

White Papers

Mind the gap - Overcoming Working Time shortfalls in T&A / ERP systems

Identify where the principal Working Time-related gaps may be in T&A/ERP systems and the common issues this creates

White Papers

Shifting sands...Brexit's impact on workforce planning and management

We explore the questions Brexit poses around workforce productivity, flexibility and compliance

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