Shift Allowance Precise Definition

osc89er · 5 May 2009 at 19:03

Evening all,

I am applying for jobs and have a query that I really don't want to put to a recruiter or employer just yet and possibly betray a lack of experience or knowledge.

Shift allowance.

Exactly what does it mean? For example, if a job involves say 1/4 of the work to be night-shift, will a 25% (or whatever) shift allowance be applied to all pay, or only those hours worked at night? Do employers apply this consistently or do some do one thing, and others a different thing?

JBuk · 5 May 2009 at 19:10

Depends what is in your contract

osc89er · 5 May 2009 at 19:11

By that I guess you mean that it is not applied in the same fashion everywhere you go...

EffBee · 5 May 2009 at 19:12

Watch out for the night shift - it can be a real relationship killer.

osc89er · 5 May 2009 at 19:13

But perhaps less so than living in another city...

Stumble Bum · 5 May 2009 at 19:20

as far as my understanding goes shift allowance is an extra amount paid per hour due to 'unsociable' hours. For my first summer job I worked in a cool factory and everyone received a shift allowance, this was for every hour worked. Even though the hours were only from like from 12 noon - 7pm.

Think at the time it was an extra £1.50 an hour. I don't know whether shift allowance applies in the same way for every workplace... but should give you some idea.

JBuk · 5 May 2009 at 19:23

osc89er said:
By that I guess you mean that it is not applied in the same fashion everywhere you go...

Yeah, some places pay more for nightshifts etc

PhillyDee · 5 May 2009 at 19:40

Depends on what your contract says tbh.

I am a shift worker, and usually the whole nightshift hours would be paid at 25%.

Some companies might say 830-1630 would be dayshift rates, 1630 till 2230 would be backshift rate and the rest nightshift. And even if your shift is 1900-0700 it would be paid at 3.5 hours backshift. and the rest nightshift etc.

The most common is to pay nightshift when it is a nightahift, backshift when it is backshift, and nothing on a dayshift.

Personally, I get 40% on all hours, d/s or n/s (12 hour shifts).
It really does depend on the company!

I certainly would not work a nightshift if I didnt get a shift allowance.