32 Types of Work Schedules: Guide For Small Business Owners

As a small business owner, figuring out the right types of work schedules for your team isn’t always simple. From the classic 9-to-5 to flexible or rotating shifts, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The best work schedule depends on your industry, your employees, and your customers.

In this guide, we’ll break down different work schedules, highlight some real examples, and help you decide what's the best work schedule for your business. Along the way, we’ll also show you how scheduling software can simplify the process.

TL;DR: Types of work schedules for small business owners

Choosing a work schedule depends on your business model and staffing needs. We know 32 types of schedules is a lot to read through, so here are the different schedules in a nutshell:

A work schedule is a plan that outlines employee work hours, days, and shifts. The most common work schedule is the standard 9-to-5, but here are the other types of work shifts and schedule options:

• Hour-based schedules: Depend on weekly hours worked (full-time, part-time).
• Flexibility-based schedules: Offer more autonomy (flextime, no set schedule, freelance).
• Compressed schedules: Same weekly hours in fewer days (4-10, 9-80).
• Split and rotating schedules: Divide or alternate shifts (split shift, rotating shift).
• Complex rotating schedules: More advanced patterns (DuPont, 2-2-3, Pitman).
• Availability-based schedules: Depend on demand (on-call, seasonal, alternate).
• Shift-based schedules: Day, evening, night, swing or double shifts.
• Irregular shifts: Overtime, weekends, or irregular coverage.
• Modern work schedules: Remote, job sharing, zero-hours contracts, or temporary contracts.

To manage employee shift schedules, you can go manual with tools like Excel or Google Sheets, or something easier to use and more automated, like scheduling software.

When choosing the right working schedule for employees, here’s a handy checklist to help you:

• Business hours: What are typical business hours for you, and when do customers need you?
• Staffing needs: How many employees are available?
• Industry standards: Some industries rely on specific types of work shifts.
• Employee preferences: Ask your team for input to boost morale.
• Compliance: Stay aligned with labor laws and overtime regulations.
• Flexibility vs. stability: Balance different types of hours with predictability and adaptability.

{{banner-cta}}

What is a work schedule?

A work schedule is the plan that sets out when employees are expected to work. It includes their start and end times, days on or off, and sometimes specific tasks or responsibilities. 

Depending on your industry, a regular work schedule could be a 40-hour week, a mix of part-time shifts, or seasonal coverage.

Working schedules help ensure coverage during operating hours, prevent understaffing, and give employees the structure they need to manage their personal lives. That’s why your schedule should go hand-in-hand with your absence management policies.

What is the most common work schedule?

The most common work schedule is the 9-to-5 in many industries. It typically means five eight-hour days, Monday through Friday, totaling a 40-hour work week.

But in industries like retail, hospitality, healthcare, or restaurants, a typical work schedule won’t always work. Instead, alternative work schedule types, like evening shifts, rotating shifts, or seasonal schedules, are often more practical.

32 different types of work schedules

Here’s a breakdown of the different schedules small business owners can consider. Each one comes with its own pros, cons, best-fit scenarios, and best work hours.

Standard schedules

Standard working schedules are the most predictable type of work schedule, with employees working consistent days and hours each week.

Best for: Offices and businesses that operate during traditional business hours.

9-to-5 schedule

• A 9-to-5 schedule is the classic full-time work schedule where employees work eight hours a day, Monday through Friday. It’s predictable and easy to manage for both employers and employees.
• Pro: Provides consistency and work-life balance.
• Con: Limited flexibility for modern work needs.

Fixed schedule

• Fixed schedules are consistent but don’t always align with 9-to-5 hours, making them a common employee scheduling approach. Employees may work evenings, weekends, or set shifts outside traditional hours.
• Pro: Reliable staffing for businesses open beyond 9-to-5.
• Con: Less adaptable if employees need change.

Hour-based schedule

Hour-based schedules are defined by the number of types of hours worked, not the specific times, so your employees can have either full-time or part-time schedules. 

For industries like construction, tracking your team’s working hours schedule accurately is critical—tools like a construction time clock can make it easier to manage complex shifts. You can also change your payroll schedule to better schedule work hours for your team.

Best for: Businesses with both core staff and flexible support workers.

Full-time

• What does a full-time schedule look like? They usually cover 35–40 hours a week. They’re common in many industries and often include benefits.
• Pro: Creates stability and retention for employees.
• Con: Less flexible for businesses with fluctuating demand.

Part-time

• Part-time schedules require under 35 hours per week. They’re often flexible but can vary week to week.
• Pro: Helps cover peak times without overspending on labor.
• Con: Harder for employees to rely on a steady income.

Flexibility-based schedule

Flexibility-based schedules give employees more control over when they work. This helps with work-life balance but can be difficult to manage.

Best for: Businesses where employee availability varies or fluctuates.

Flextime

• Flextime schedules set core hours but allow employees to choose the rest of their work hours. Studies show that flex work schedules have a positive impact, often boosting employee productivity and engagement. 
• Pro: Increases employee satisfaction and autonomy.
• Con: Can complicate scheduling meetings or coverage.

Unpredictable

• Unpredictable schedules change frequently and can shift week to week. They’re common in industries with uncertain demand—that’s where a scheduling app can offer some stability for your team.
• Pro: Provides maximum flexibility for businesses.
• Con: Creates instability for employees.

No set schedule

• What is a set schedule for work? This type means employees don’t have consistent hours at all. They work when assigned or as needed.
• Pro: Extremely adaptable for employers.
• Con: Inconsistency makes it hard for employees to plan their lives and can cause confusion, leading to no-shows.

Freelance

• Freelancers often juggle multiple clients, similar to employees with multiple jobs, so they create their own schedules based on project deadlines rather than shifts.
• Pro: High flexibility and specialized skills for employers.
• Con: You have limited control over their availability.

Compressed schedule

Compressed schedules pack full-time hours into fewer days. Employees work longer shifts but enjoy extra days off.

Best for: Businesses experimenting with new work schedules and alternative workweeks.

Compressed

• Compressed schedules allow 40 hours in less than five days. While thy
• Pro: Employees get more days off.
• Con: Longer daily shifts can cause fatigue and work scheduling challenges.

4-10 schedule

• Employees work four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days. There are many pros and cons of 4-10 workweeks, so it’s best to test it before rolling it out to your whole team.
• Pro: Adds a three-day weekend.
• Con: Can be exhausting for physically demanding jobs.

9-80 schedule

•  9-80 work schedules mean employees work nine days over two weeks, totaling 80 hours, with every other Friday off.
• Pro: Offers a regular long weekend.
• Con: Scheduling can get complicated.

Split and rotating schedule

These schedules break up shifts or rotate work hours to balance coverage.

Best for: Restaurants, healthcare, and industries with variable demand.

Split shift

• Split shifts are a type of rotation schedule that divides the day into two separate shifts with a long break in between.
• Pro: Matches peak business hours.
• Con: Disrupts personal time and routines.

Rotating shift

• Rotating shifts mean shifts rotate on a weekly or monthly basis, moving between days, evenings, and nights.
• Pro: Ensures fair distribution of desirable shifts.
• Con: Can disrupt employee sleep patterns.

Complex rotating

Complex rotations follow structured patterns to cover 24/7 operations.

Best for: Manufacturing, healthcare, or emergency services.

Dupont shift

• A four-week cycle with 12-hour shifts and several consecutive days off.
• Pro: Provides long breaks.
• Con: Demanding during workweeks.

2-2-3 schedule

• 2-2-3 schedules are when employees work two days, then two nights, then three off, repeating every two weeks.
• Pro: Balanced time off.
• Con: Hard to adjust to alternating shifts.

Pitman schedule

• The pitman schedule allows employees to work a 2-2-3 cycle with 12-hour shifts, but on a different rotation than 2-2-3.
• Pro: Predictable long weekends.
• Con: Requires 12-hour shifts.

Availability-based schedule

Availability-based schedules depend on employee or seasonal availability.

Best for: Businesses with unpredictable or seasonal demand.

On-call

• On-call employees must be available to work if needed, often with short notice.
• Pro: Ensures coverage during emergencies.
• Con: Difficult for employee work-life balance.

Seasonal

• When you hire seasonal employees, they work only during peak seasons like holidays or summer.
• Pro: Cost-effective for employers.
• Con: High turnover and retraining needs.

Alternate

• Schedules tailored to specific employee needs, such as pregnancy or school, and you can use online shift schedule makers to create these alternate schedules more easily.
• Pro: Boosts retention through flexibility.
• Con: Can complicate staffing needs.

Shift-based schedules

Shift schedules cover specific time blocks to ensure 24/7 or extended-hour operations. Many businesses use types of shift work schedules to guarantee coverage outside 9-to-5.

Shift workers, especially those who work at night or early in the morning, are at higher risk of developing shift work disorder, so it’s important to keep your team’s health in mind when creating schedules.

Best for: Hospitality, healthcare, and retail businesses—different shift schedules are common in these industries.

Shift work

• Employees work outside 9-to-5, often in evenings, nights, or weekends. Shift work requires strategies to manage shift workers effectively and requires you to follow shift work compliance laws. 
• Pro: Expands customer service hours.
• Con: Can increase employee burnout.

Day shift

• Day shifts, which cover the morning and afternoon hours, are among the most common shift work schedules.
• Pro: Easier on employees’ health.
• Con: Not always enough coverage for late-night businesses.

Evening shift

• Covers late afternoon into the night, often for food service and retail scheduling.
• Pro: Covers busy customer hours.
• Con: Conflicts with personal evening plans.

Night shift

• Night shifts cover overnight hours, common in healthcare or emergency services.
• Pro: Essential for 24/7 operations.
• Con: Can negatively affect employee health.

Double shift

• Employees work two consecutive shifts in one day.
• Pro: Maximizes staffing during emergencies.
• Con: Can cause extreme fatigue.

Swing shift

• With swing shifts, employees start late in the afternoon and end around midnight.
• Pro: More free time during the day for errands and appointments.

Con: Can cause sleep issues.Irregular shifts

Irregular shifts vary from week to week, often including overtime or weekend work.

Best for: Businesses with fluctuating staffing needs.

Irregular

• No consistent pattern, shifts change weekly, so you have to ensure you’re tracking employee time effectively.
• Pro: Maximum flexibility for businesses.
• Con: Employees may struggle with unpredictability.

Weekend

• Employees work primarily on weekends, which may qualify them for differential pay.
• Pro: Matches peak customer demand in hospitality/retail.
• Con: Conflicts with personal/social time.

Overtime

• Employees work extra hours beyond their set schedule.
• Pro: Covers unexpected demand.
• Con: Risk of employee burnout and higher costs.

Modern work

Modern schedules for work reflect evolving employment trends, with more remote and flexible arrangements.

Best for: Businesses embracing digital tools and nontraditional setups.

Remote work

• Employees work from home or off-site rather than a physical location.
• Pro: Cuts overhead costs and attracts talent.
• Con: Harder to monitor productivity.

Job sharing

• Two employees split one full-time job.
• Pro: Provides flexibility for workers—something employees want at work.
• Con: Requires strong coordination.

Zero-hours contract

• Employees work only when shifts are assigned, with no guaranteed hours.
• Pro: Cost-efficient for businesses and helps reduce labor costs.
• Con: Unstable income for employees.

Temporary contract

• Employees work for a set time, like during a project or busy season.
• Pro: Ideal for short-term staffing needs.
• Con: High employee turnover and retraining required.

Managing different types of work shifts and schedules

Managing different types of schedules can get complicated fast. Between full-time, part-time, rotating, and seasonal shifts, many small business owners juggle multiple schedule types at once. 

The solution to handling different types of shift schedules is finding the right system to keep everything organized, reduce errors, and make updates quickly when plans change.

Excel spreadsheet

Some business owners still rely on Excel spreadsheets to build and manage schedules for work. While it’s flexible and familiar, it also means a lot of manual data entry, no built-in alerts for errors, and difficulty sharing updates with your team. 

If you’re currently using spreadsheets, check out our guide to creating an employee schedule in Excel to avoid common mistakes.

Google sheets

Google Sheets offers a slight upgrade compared to Excel since it’s cloud-based and allows for real-time collaboration. Managers can share schedules with their team instantly and make edits that everyone can see at once. 

That said, Google Sheets is still prone to the same manual entry errors and doesn’t provide scheduling insights. To explore more, we’ve put together a Google Sheets schedule template that can help you get started.

Scheduling software

If you’re a small business owner managing different types of work shifts and schedules, then scheduling software can help you create employee schedules that work for everyone, balancing business needs with employee preferences.

Tools like Homebase automate repetitive tasks, prevent scheduling conflicts, and send real-time shift updates to your team. 

Things to consider when choosing a work schedule for your small business

When evaluating schedule types, use this quick checklist to decide which type makes the most sense for your business:

• Business hours: What are typical business hours for you, and when do customers need you?
• Staffing needs: How many employees are available?
• Industry standards: Some industries rely on specific shifts.
• Employee preferences: Ask your team for input to boost morale.
• Compliance: Stay aligned with labor laws and overtime regulations.
• Flexibility vs. stability: Balance different types of hours with predictability and adaptability.

{{banner-cta}}

Scheduling + scheduling software =The perfect pair

Choosing the right work schedule types helps balance business needs and employee satisfaction. Whether you stick to a consistent work schedule or mix flexible and rotating shifts, the goal is coverage without chaos.

That’s where Homebase comes in. Homebase makes it easy to create, share, and manage employee work schedules while tracking hours, managing time off, and avoiding compliance issues.

“Finding Homebase was a game changer. It made setting up the schedule super easy. My staff and I all really like being able to see the schedule from our phones, know who is working, getting reminders and having a simple way to manage schedule changes” — Eve Hogan, owner, The Sacred Garden

Ready to end the scheduling chaos? Try Homebase free today and put your work shift schedule on cruise control.

Frequently asked questions about types of work schedules

What is a work schedule and what does a work schedule look like?

A work schedule is the plan that outlines when employees are expected to work, including assigned shifts, start and end times, and time off. A work schedule looks like a detailed calendar or chart that visually organizes those details for a specific period, like a month.

A clear schedule keeps your business covered during operating hours, balances employee needs, helps track labor costs, and ensures compliance with labor laws.

What are the different work shifts and different types of work schedules?

The different work shifts and different types of work schedules are standard work schedules, hour-based schedules, flexibility-based schedules, compressed schedules, split and rotating shifts, complex rotating shifts, availability-based schedules, shift-based schedules, irregular shifts, and modern work schedules.

Each option has pros and cons—for example, fixed schedules offer consistency, while rotating or on-call schedules provide flexibility but can be harder to manage.

What is the most common work schedule?

The most common work schedule is the traditional 9-to-5, typically eight five-hour days, totaling a 40-hour work week schedule. This schedule offers predictability and is common in many office roles. 

But in industries like retail, hospitality, healthcare, or restaurants, a typical work schedule won’t always work. Instead, alternative work schedule types, like evening shifts, rotating shifts, or seasonal schedules, are often more practical.

What are the best types of flexible work schedules?

The best types of flexible work schedules include flextime, where employees work core hours but adjust the rest around personal needs, and compressed schedules, like four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days. 

Alternate employee schedules can also support employees with unique needs, such as childcare or medical commitments.

What are the best types of alternative work schedules?

The best types of alternative work schedules include split shifts, rotating shifts, and seasonal work schedules:

• Split shifts suit industries with busy mornings and evenings. 
• Rotating shifts are best for round-the-clock coverage in healthcare or manufacturing.
• Seasonal schedules help businesses meet demand during peak times like holidays or tourist seasons.

Which work schedule is right for my business?

The right work schedule for your business depends on your industry, hours of operation, and employee availability. For example, retail may need rotating or weekend shifts, while offices often use fixed or standard schedules. 

Staff schedules that balance business efficiency with employee preferences and compliance requirements often lead to better retention and smoother operations.

Can I use multiple types of work schedules for my business?

Yes, you can use multiple types of work schedules in your business. Mixing different work shifts and schedules allows for flexibility in meeting customer demand while keeping employees balanced and engaged.

For example, you can have full-time staff on fixed schedules alongside part-time or seasonal workers who cover peak hours. 

What is scheduling software and how can it help?

Scheduling software is a tool that helps you automate the process of building, sharing, and updating staff schedules. It helps you reduce errors and save time compared to more manual scheduling, like spreadsheets or paper charts.

 Many platforms also integrate with payroll, time tracking, and compliance tools, making them a powerful way to stay organized and efficient.

What is the best work schedule software to handle multiple work schedules?

The best scheduling software to handle multiple work schedules is a tool like Homebase because we’re designed for small businesses with hourly teams, making it easy to build and share schedules across different roles, types of work shifts, and locations.

With features like auto-scheduling, shift swapping, time-off requests, and labor cost tracking, Homebase gives you everything you need to handle complex employee schedules. Plus, it integrates with payroll and time tracking to connect your entire workflow.

{{banner-cta}}