Swing shift definition
/What is a Swing Shift?
The swing shift is the second work shift in a day, typically extending from 4 p.m. to midnight. The term may also be applied to the people who work during this shift. A shift differential may be paid to any hourly employees working on the swing shift, which is intended to reward them for laboring during a less desirable time slot. When a business is unable to meet customer demand from its production capacity on the first shift, it typically keeps a production line open on the swing shift to manufacture the necessary additional units.
Disadvantages of the Swing Shift
A concern with using a swing shift is that production tends to be less efficient, resulting in less output. This is because the support staff is generally not active or is reduced during the swing shift, so maintenance issues are not dealt with until the following day. In addition, a shift differential is usually paid to those working the swing shift, so the combination of reduced output and increased cost can make it less profitable to run this shift.