[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":847},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$AT5N6C5dAI":3},{"story":4,"region":846},["Reactive",5],{"name":6,"created_at":7,"published_at":8,"updated_at":9,"id":10,"uuid":11,"content":12,"slug":839,"full_slug":840,"sort_by_date":46,"position":841,"tag_list":842,"is_startpage":49,"parent_id":843,"meta_data":46,"group_id":844,"first_published_at":8,"release_id":46,"lang":53,"path":46,"alternates":845,"default_full_slug":46,"translated_slugs":46},"Split Shifts: Hidden Costs to Workers and Your Business","2026-06-26T07:53:57.500Z","2026-06-26T08:04:28.574Z","2026-06-26T08:04:28.593Z",191573350453673,"82d23135-a4af-43fa-b03c-fcb4308b3bba",{"seo":13,"_uid":18,"AI_SEO":19,"author":20,"content":56,"headline":6,"component":748,"post_date":749,"thumbnail":750,"types_tag":760,"features_tag":786,"show_resource":55,"industries_tag":787,"related_articles":838},{"title":14,"plugin":15,"seoTitle":6,"seoKeywords":16,"seoTitleInput":6,"seoDescription":17},"SEO Metadata","deputy-seo-metadata","split shifts\nsplit shift\nwhat is a split shift\nsplit shift pay\nsplit shift definition\nsplit shift premium\nsplit shift california\nsplit shift schedule\nsplit shift cost\nsplit shift retail\nsplit shift examples\nsplit shift laws\nemployee retention scheduling\nretail employee turnover\ndemand-based scheduling\nFair Workweek compliance\nmicro-scheduling","Split shifts create hidden costs for retail workers, from double commutes to lost income. Learn what they cost you in turnover and how to schedule smarter.","5077abc2-f222-4fda-92d0-f3d6d914f014","",{"name":21,"created_at":22,"published_at":23,"updated_at":24,"id":25,"uuid":26,"content":27,"slug":44,"full_slug":45,"sort_by_date":46,"position":47,"tag_list":48,"is_startpage":49,"parent_id":50,"meta_data":46,"group_id":51,"first_published_at":52,"release_id":46,"lang":53,"path":46,"alternates":54,"default_full_slug":46,"translated_slugs":46,"_stopResolving":55},"Deputy Team","2020-05-15T04:58:13.875Z","2021-02-02T22:57:04.000Z","2021-02-02T04:30:43.760Z",11527696,"25fffc56-55d1-4f59-8b1e-617162a8927e",{"_uid":28,"name":21,"image":29,"component":42,"description":43},"a8a7137e-efc4-44fd-89e9-bcd4641aac65",{"_uid":30,"title":31,"plugin":32,"imageAlt":33,"minWidth":34,"imageName":35,"imageS3Key":36,"description":37,"mobileWidth":38,"desktopWidth":38,"assetSelector":19,"imagePublicUrl":39,"imageOriginalUrl":40,"sourceImageWidth":41,"sourceImageHeight":41},"213ad250-d5a8-4304-bb3c-193a76458e83","Deputy Images","deputy-images","Deputy team",188,"avatar-deputy-team.png","f/64010/2000x2000/636a91b857/avatar-deputy-team.png","A images plugin to ensure consistent, reliable image uploads with strict SEO metadata requirements","94","https://s3.amazonaws.com/a.storyblok.com/f/64010/2000x2000/636a91b857/avatar-deputy-team.png","//a.storyblok.com/f/64010/2000x2000/636a91b857/avatar-deputy-team.png",2000,"blog-author","Deputy’s content team works closely with business owners, managers, and their employees to create helpful articles about how to make their worklife easier.","deputy-team","_content_types/authors/deputy-team",null,-50,[],false,11461645,"416bfdf9-510c-4a02-a693-84f4847ef5b2","2020-06-22T07:51:34.947Z","default",[],true,[57,504,529],{"_uid":58,"content":59,"component":503},"76a175c2-f8f7-4ae3-b9a7-59f217acf8dd",{"type":60,"content":61},"doc",[62,71,78,107,114,179,185,189,194,198,208,221,225,229,234,238,250,262,280,285,289,293,311,315,320,332,336,346,350,368,372,384,389,393,400,412,418,430,434,440,452,458,462,466,472,476,496],{"type":63,"attrs":64,"content":67},"heading",{"id":65,"level":66},"split-shifts-the-hidden-cost-to-your-workers-and-your-bottom-line",1,[68],{"text":69,"type":70},"Split Shifts: The Hidden Cost to Your Workers and Your Bottom Line","text",{"type":63,"attrs":72,"content":75},{"id":73,"level":74},"key-takeaways",2,[76],{"text":77,"type":70},"Key takeaways",{"type":79,"content":80},"bullet_list",[81,89,95,101],{"type":82,"content":83},"list_item",[84],{"type":85,"content":86},"paragraph",[87],{"text":88,"type":70},"Split shifts may look efficient on paper, but they create hidden costs for workers: double commutes and childcare gaps erode take-home pay, and locked-up midday hours cut off income from a second job.",{"type":82,"content":90},[91],{"type":85,"content":92},[93],{"text":94,"type":70},"Workers squeezed by fragmented schedules are more likely to quit, and replacing a single retail worker can cost you thousands of dollars in recruiting, training, and lost productivity.",{"type":82,"content":96},[97],{"type":85,"content":98},[99],{"text":100,"type":70},"California and New York already require split shift premiums, and expanding Fair Workweek laws in LA County, Chicago, and potentially New Jersey add more obligations that reduce the savings you expected.",{"type":82,"content":102},[103],{"type":85,"content":104},[105],{"text":106,"type":70},"Demand-based scheduling tools can match your staffing to peak hours without splitting shifts, cutting scheduling time by up to 50%.",{"type":85,"content":108},[109],{"text":110,"type":70,"marks":111},"In this article:",[112],{"type":113},"bold",{"type":79,"content":115},[116,129,139,149,159,169],{"type":82,"content":117},[118],{"type":85,"content":119},[120],{"text":121,"type":70,"marks":122},"What a split shift actually looks like in retail",[123],{"type":124,"attrs":125},"link",{"href":126,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":127,"linktype":128},"#what-a-split-shift-actually-looks-like-in-retail","_self","url",{"type":82,"content":130},[131],{"type":85,"content":132},[133],{"text":134,"type":70,"marks":135},"What a split shift really costs your workers",[136],{"type":124,"attrs":137},{"href":138,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":127,"linktype":128},"#what-a-split-shift-really-costs-your-workers",{"type":82,"content":140},[141],{"type":85,"content":142},[143],{"text":144,"type":70,"marks":145},"What it costs you when they quit",[146],{"type":124,"attrs":147},{"href":148,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":127,"linktype":128},"#what-it-costs-you-when-they-quit",{"type":82,"content":150},[151],{"type":85,"content":152},[153],{"text":154,"type":70,"marks":155},"Split shift pay rules you need to know",[156],{"type":124,"attrs":157},{"href":158,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":127,"linktype":128},"#split-shift-pay-rules-you-need-to-know",{"type":82,"content":160},[161],{"type":85,"content":162},[163],{"text":164,"type":70,"marks":165},"How to schedule smarter without splitting shifts",[166],{"type":124,"attrs":167},{"href":168,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":127,"linktype":128},"#how-to-schedule-smarter-without-splitting-shifts",{"type":82,"content":170},[171],{"type":85,"content":172},[173],{"text":174,"type":70,"marks":175},"FAQs",[176],{"type":124,"attrs":177},{"href":178,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":127,"linktype":128},"#faqs",{"type":63,"attrs":180,"content":182},{"id":181,"level":74},"introduction",[183],{"text":184,"type":70},"Introduction",{"type":85,"content":186},[187],{"text":188,"type":70},"You've got a morning rush at 8 a.m. and an evening rush at 5 p.m., with a dead zone in between. So you split the shift: one worker opens, goes home, and comes back to close. It seems like the obvious fix, but that split schedule creates real hidden costs for your workers, and for your business when they quit. In this article, you'll learn what split shifts actually cost your workers and your bottom line, and what you can do to staff your peak hours without fragmenting anyone's day.",{"type":63,"attrs":190,"content":192},{"id":191,"level":74},"what-a-split-shift-actually-looks-like-in-retail",[193],{"text":121,"type":70},{"type":85,"content":195},[196],{"text":197,"type":70},"A split shift is a workday divided into two or more segments separated by an unpaid gap that's longer than a standard meal break. Think of it this way: your employee clocks in at 7 a.m., works until 11 a.m., then leaves the store for five hours before returning for a 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. closing shift. They've worked eight hours, but their day stretched across 13.",{"type":85,"content":199},[200,202,206],{"text":201,"type":70},"This is different from a double shift, where a worker stays on the clock through two consecutive shifts. It's also not the same as a rotating schedule, where shift times change week to week. And it's not just a long lunch break. The defining feature of a split shift is that the gap is ",{"text":203,"type":70,"marks":204},"too long for a break",[205],{"type":113},{"text":207,"type":70}," but too short to make the time truly usable.",{"type":85,"content":209},[210,212,219],{"text":211,"type":70},"So why do retail managers schedule them? The logic is straightforward. Foot traffic in most retail stores follows a predictable two-peak pattern: a morning spike and an evening spike. The midday lull doesn't justify a full crew. Splitting shifts lets you staff up for both peaks without paying workers to stand around during the slow hours. It's one of several approaches managers use to ",{"text":213,"type":70,"marks":214},"reduce labor costs",[215],{"type":124,"attrs":216},{"href":217,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":218,"linktype":128},"https://www.deputy.com/blog/5-tips-to-reduce-labor-costs","_blank",{"text":220,"type":70},".",{"type":85,"content":222},[223],{"text":224,"type":70},"What the spreadsheet misses is what happens on the other side. The worker now makes four trips instead of two, finds something to do for five hours in the middle of their day, and still has to show up with energy for the evening rush.",{"type":85,"content":226},[227],{"text":228,"type":70},"That's where the hidden costs start to stack up.",{"type":63,"attrs":230,"content":232},{"id":231,"level":74},"what-a-split-shift-really-costs-your-workers",[233],{"text":134,"type":70},{"type":85,"content":235},[236],{"text":237,"type":70},"The financial hit starts with the commute. A worker earning $16 an hour who drives 20 minutes each way is making four trips instead of two. Gas, wear on the car, or transit fares can easily eat 5% to 10% of their daily pay. For someone on a tight budget, that's the difference between covering groceries and coming up short.",{"type":85,"content":239},[240,242,248],{"text":241,"type":70},"Then there's childcare. The midday gap creates a coverage problem that most parents can't ignore. Five hours is too long to leave a child unsupervised, but too short and unpredictable for most daycare arrangements. The ",{"text":243,"type":70,"marks":244},"US Department of Labor reports that childcare costs remain a prohibitive expense",[245],{"type":124,"attrs":246},{"href":247,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":218,"linktype":128},"https://blog.dol.gov/2024/11/19/new-data-childcare-costs-remain-an-almost-prohibitive-expense",{"text":249,"type":70}," for working families, and many workers end up paying for a full day of childcare to cover a half day of actual work.",{"type":85,"content":251},[252,254,260],{"text":253,"type":70},"The gap also blocks workers from holding a second consistent job. According to Deputy's research, ",{"text":255,"type":70,"marks":256},"18% of US shift workers hold multiple jobs",[257],{"type":124,"attrs":258},{"href":259,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":218,"linktype":128},"https://www.deputy.com/insights/9-strategies-to-boost-employee-retention",{"text":261,"type":70},", and 48% say they value schedule flexibility. When a split shift locks up the middle of the day, it wipes out the window most poly-employed workers need for their other gig.",{"type":85,"content":263},[264,266,270,272,278],{"text":265,"type":70},"This matters more than ever because the workforce is changing fast. Gen Z now represents ",{"text":267,"type":70,"marks":268},"45.6% of retail shift",[269],{"type":113},{"text":271,"type":70}," workers and accounts for 55% of the poly-employed workforce, according to ",{"text":273,"type":70,"marks":274},"Deputy's Big Shift Report 2026",[275],{"type":124,"attrs":276},{"href":277,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":218,"linktype":128},"https://www.deputy.com/insights/the-big-shift-2025",{"text":279,"type":70},". Poly-employment in the US has reached a decade-high. When you schedule a split shift, you're directly cutting into the income stream that nearly half your youngest workers depend on.",{"type":281,"attrs":282},"image",{"alt":283,"src":284,"title":19},"Retail worker checking their phone during a split shift break at a cafe near a shopping center","//a.storyblok.com/f/64010/0x0/ff790f4361/image.png",{"type":85,"content":286},[287],{"type":288},"hardBreak",{"type":85,"content":290},[291],{"text":292,"type":70},"And the costs aren't just financial. Workers on split shifts describe a mental load that's hard to shake. Even during the unpaid gap, they can't fully disengage. They're watching the clock, planning the second commute, and bracing for the evening rush. That constant low-level stress adds up.",{"type":85,"content":294},[295,297,301,303,309],{"text":296,"type":70},"Deputy's Shift Pulse data backs this up. Gen Z carries the ",{"text":298,"type":70,"marks":299},"highest negativity",[300],{"type":113},{"text":302,"type":70}," of any generation at 8.04%, despite ranking second on overall happiness, according to Deputy's ",{"text":304,"type":70,"marks":305},"Shift Pulse Report 2026",[306],{"type":124,"attrs":307},{"href":308,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":218,"linktype":128},"https://www.deputy.com/insights/shift-pulse-report-2025",{"text":310,"type":70},". That combination of high highs and high lows points to a cohort that's emotionally invested in work but increasingly frustrated by the conditions around it: fragmented schedules, pressure on hours, and pay that doesn't keep pace with the cost of showing up.",{"type":85,"content":312},[313],{"text":314,"type":70},"When you add it all together, a split shift can quietly reduce a worker's effective hourly rate well below what the pay stub shows.",{"type":63,"attrs":316,"content":318},{"id":317,"level":74},"what-it-costs-you-when-they-quit",[319],{"text":144,"type":70},{"type":85,"content":321},[322,324,330],{"text":323,"type":70},"The financial math flips when your workers decide they've had enough. Every employee who leaves triggers a chain of costs: recruiting, onboarding, training, and the productivity gap while the replacement gets up to speed. For an hourly retail worker, the ",{"text":325,"type":70,"marks":326},"Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)",[327],{"type":124,"attrs":328},{"href":329,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":218,"linktype":128},"https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/tools/toolkits/managing-employee-turnover",{"text":331,"type":70}," estimates replacement costs can run from several hundred to several thousand dollars per person, depending on the role.",{"type":85,"content":333},[334],{"text":335,"type":70},"But the direct cost is only the start. When one person quits, the remaining team absorbs extra shifts and overtime. That added strain pushes more people toward the door, creating a turnover cycle: split shifts lead to dissatisfaction, dissatisfaction leads to quits, quits lead to overtime for the remaining staff, and overtime leads to even more quits.",{"type":85,"content":337},[338,340,344],{"text":339,"type":70},"Retail is especially vulnerable right now. According to Deputy's Big Shift Report 2026, ",{"text":341,"type":70,"marks":342},"retail is the only",[343],{"type":113},{"text":345,"type":70}," major shift-based industry showing a deterioration in worker sentiment in 2025. Cost pressures and automation anxiety are hitting retail workers harder than those in hospitality or healthcare, with uncertainty about job security compounding the effect.",{"type":85,"content":347},[348],{"text":349,"type":70},"And it's not just the openly unhappy workers you should worry about. Deputy's Shift Pulse Report 2026 shows that the \"okay\" middle (neutral sentiment) is growing, now representing about one in seven workers. That disengaged middle is a silent precursor to turnover. These workers aren't complaining, but they're not committed either. One bad schedule or a slightly better offer from a competitor, and they're gone.",{"type":85,"content":351},[352,354,358,360,366],{"text":353,"type":70},"The research is clear on what keeps people around. Workplace morale stays high when businesses focus on ",{"text":355,"type":70,"marks":356},"reliable scheduling",[357],{"type":113},{"text":359,"type":70}," and equitable pay. Meaningful, visible appreciation matters too. Neglecting those basics frequently leads to employees becoming disengaged or choosing to leave. Building ",{"text":361,"type":70,"marks":362},"shift worker satisfaction",[363],{"type":124,"attrs":364},{"href":365,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":218,"linktype":128},"https://www.deputy.com/blog/5-strategies-to-improve-shift-worker-satisfaction-in-2026",{"text":367,"type":70}," takes intention, but it pays off.",{"type":85,"content":369},[370],{"text":371,"type":70},"Dennis Novak, head of showrooms at Proper Cloth, has seen the impact firsthand. \"Some feedback we received by using Deputy and complying with Fair Workweek is people do a lot more with their free time because they're not stressed out about their schedule,\" Novak says.",{"type":85,"content":373},[374,376,382],{"text":375,"type":70},"That kind of stability is what separates retailers who retain their teams from those stuck in a constant hiring loop. Hospitality already sees turnover rates of 6% to 7%, and unpredictable schedules are a major driver of that churn. Retail, as a sector that depends heavily on ",{"text":377,"type":70,"marks":378},"retail scheduling",[379],{"type":124,"attrs":380},{"href":381,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":218,"linktype":128},"https://www.deputy.com/industry/retail",{"text":383,"type":70}," done right, can learn from that pattern before it gets worse.",{"type":63,"attrs":385,"content":387},{"id":386,"level":74},"split-shift-pay-rules-you-need-to-know",[388],{"text":154,"type":70},{"type":85,"content":390},[391],{"text":392,"type":70},"Before you schedule another split shift, you need to understand what you might owe.",{"type":63,"attrs":394,"content":397},{"id":395,"level":396},"federal-rules",3,[398],{"text":399,"type":70},"Federal rules",{"type":85,"content":401},[402,404,410],{"text":403,"type":70},"The ",{"text":405,"type":70,"marks":406},"Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)",[407],{"type":124,"attrs":408},{"href":409,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":218,"linktype":128},"https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa",{"text":411,"type":70}," doesn't require a specific split shift premium. As long as you pay at least the federal minimum wage for all hours worked and overtime for hours exceeding 40 in a workweek, you're meeting the federal baseline. But federal rules are just the floor.",{"type":63,"attrs":413,"content":415},{"id":414,"level":396},"california",[416],{"text":417,"type":70},"California",{"type":85,"content":419},[420,422,428],{"text":421,"type":70},"California has the most established ",{"text":423,"type":70,"marks":424},"split shift premium",[425],{"type":124,"attrs":426},{"href":427,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":218,"linktype":128},"https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/split_shift.htm",{"text":429,"type":70},". If a worker's shift is split into two or more segments, you owe them one additional hour of pay at the applicable minimum wage rate. There's a credit against that premium if the worker's regular hourly rate already exceeds the minimum wage by enough to cover the extra hour. You're also required to itemize the split shift premium on the pay stub.",{"type":85,"content":431},[432],{"text":433,"type":70},"Keep in mind that the premium interacts with meal break and rest break requirements. If a split shift also triggers a missed break penalty, both obligations apply. Tracking these overlapping rules manually is where most retail operators run into trouble.",{"type":63,"attrs":435,"content":437},{"id":436,"level":396},"new-york",[438],{"text":439,"type":70},"New York",{"type":85,"content":441},[442,444,450],{"text":443,"type":70},"New York takes a different approach with its ",{"text":445,"type":70,"marks":446},"\"spread of hours\" rule",[447],{"type":124,"attrs":448},{"href":449,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":218,"linktype":128},"https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-york/12-NYCRR-142-2.4",{"text":451,"type":70},". If a worker's day spans more than 10 hours from first clock-in to last clock-out (including the unpaid gap), you owe an additional hour at minimum wage. This effectively functions as a split shift premium for any schedule that stretches across the day.",{"type":63,"attrs":453,"content":455},{"id":454,"level":396},"expanding-fair-workweek-laws",[456],{"text":457,"type":70},"Expanding Fair Workweek laws",{"type":85,"content":459},[460],{"text":461,"type":70},"The compliance picture is getting more complex. In 2025, Fair Workweek laws expanded in LA County (effective July 1, 2025, applying to large retail employers) and Chicago (with expanded coverage thresholds, also effective July 1, 2025). These laws add predictive scheduling requirements, meaning you may owe premium pay for last-minute schedule changes on top of any split shift obligations.",{"type":85,"content":463},[464],{"text":465,"type":70},"Looking ahead, New Jersey's \"Fair Workweek Act\" has been reintroduced for the 2026-2027 legislative session. Under current proposals, if passed, NJ would join Oregon as one of only two states with statewide Fair Workweek legislation.",{"type":63,"attrs":467,"content":469},{"id":468,"level":396},"what-this-means-for-you",[470],{"text":471,"type":70},"What this means for you",{"type":85,"content":473},[474],{"text":475,"type":70},"Split shift premiums don't exist in isolation. They interact with overtime rules, meal and rest break requirements, and predictive scheduling mandates. If you're operating in multiple states or cities, the patchwork of obligations grows quickly.",{"type":85,"content":477},[478,480,486,488,494],{"text":479,"type":70},"Deputy's ",{"text":481,"type":70,"marks":482},"compliance tools",[483],{"type":124,"attrs":484},{"href":485,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":218,"linktype":128},"https://www.deputy.com/features/labor-compliance",{"text":487,"type":70}," can help you navigate these requirements by configuring pay rules, flagging scheduling changes that trigger premium obligations, and supporting your ",{"text":489,"type":70,"marks":490},"Fair Workweek workflows",[491],{"type":124,"attrs":492},{"href":493,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":218,"linktype":128},"https://www.deputy.com/fair-workweek",{"text":495,"type":70},". But the responsibility for understanding and applying the law in your jurisdiction stays with you. When in doubt, consult employment counsel in your state.",{"type":85,"content":497},[498],{"text":499,"type":70,"marks":500},"Deputy is designed to support compliance workflows but does not provide legal advice or guarantee compliance. Customers remain responsible for configuring the platform appropriately and complying with applicable laws and regulations.",[501],{"type":502},"italic","cms-blog-richtext",{"_uid":505,"ctas":506,"theme":520,"component":521,"hide_capterra":55,"spacer_bottom":522,"call_to_action":523,"call_to_action_style":53},"438d2be7-3378-465a-8775-a623af461865",[507,515],{"_uid":508,"link":509,"text":512,"type":513,"component":514,"analyticsId":19},"723adde0-b96c-4bc3-9bbb-9c32a23cca7a",{"id":19,"url":19,"linktype":510,"fieldtype":511,"cached_url":19},"story","multilink","Start for free","signup","buttonContentType",{"_uid":516,"link":517,"text":518,"type":519,"component":514,"analyticsId":19},"6ccc5e38-45dc-4c01-93a2-f7c02754ee4e",{"id":19,"url":19,"linktype":510,"fieldtype":511,"cached_url":19},"See how it works","consultation","azure","cms-cta-dark","40",{"type":60,"content":524},[525],{"type":85,"content":526},[527],{"text":528,"type":70},"Discover how Deputy can make managing your team effortless",{"_uid":530,"content":531,"component":503},"231c0ae1-8cd4-4439-a92b-dfdf3c451ff6",{"type":60,"content":532},[533,538,542,548,560,564,567,577,583,587,593,597,608,614,618,624,628,638,644,648,652,678,682,702,708,712,716,720,724,728,732,736,740,744],{"type":63,"attrs":534,"content":536},{"id":535,"level":74},"how-to-schedule-smarter-without-splitting-shifts",[537],{"text":164,"type":70},{"type":85,"content":539},[540],{"text":541,"type":70},"The good news: you don't have to choose between efficient scheduling and treating your workers well. Here are five alternatives that cover your peak hours without fragmenting anyone's day.",{"type":63,"attrs":543,"content":545},{"id":544,"level":396},"use-demand-based-scheduling",[546],{"text":547,"type":70},"Use demand-based scheduling",{"type":85,"content":549},[550,552,558],{"text":551,"type":70},"Start with your data. Sales figures, foot traffic counts, and historical patterns tell you exactly when you need more people and when you don't. Instead of guessing and splitting shifts to cover \"just in case\" scenarios, you can use ",{"text":553,"type":70,"marks":554},"AI demand forecasting",[555],{"type":124,"attrs":556},{"href":557,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":218,"linktype":128},"https://www.deputy.com/blog/7-game-changing-benefits-of-using-ai-for-demand-forecasting",{"text":559,"type":70}," to predict staffing needs by the hour and build schedules around real demand.",{"type":281,"attrs":561},{"alt":562,"src":563,"title":19},"Retail manager reviewing an employee schedule on a laptop in a store back office","//a.storyblok.com/f/64010/0x0/9741935193/image.png",{"type":85,"content":565},[566],{"type":288},{"type":85,"content":568},[569,571,575],{"text":570,"type":70},"Businesses using Deputy report up to a ",{"text":572,"type":70,"marks":573},"50% reduction in time",[574],{"type":113},{"text":576,"type":70}," spent on scheduling. Dennis puts it plainly: \"Deputy saves us thousands of dollars in a week because you don't have somebody in a back room on a spreadsheet trying to figure out a schedule. You have them on the floor motivating their team, helping customers, engaging them, and making sales.\"",{"type":63,"attrs":578,"content":580},{"id":579,"level":396},"stagger-your-start-times",[581],{"text":582,"type":70},"Stagger your start times",{"type":85,"content":584},[585],{"text":586,"type":70},"Instead of one team covering both peaks with a gap in the middle, overlap shifts to cover transitions. Schedule one group from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and another from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. You get full coverage during peaks, a smooth handoff during the overlap, and nobody sitting in a parking lot for five hours.",{"type":63,"attrs":588,"content":590},{"id":589,"level":396},"try-micro-scheduling",[591],{"text":592,"type":70},"Try micro-scheduling",{"type":85,"content":594},[595],{"text":596,"type":70},"Shorter, targeted shifts (three to five hours) that align with specific demand windows can replace split shifts entirely. A worker who comes in for a focused four-hour morning block gets a clean shift, earns predictable pay, and still has time for a second job or personal commitments.",{"type":85,"content":598},[599,600,606],{"text":479,"type":70},{"text":601,"type":70,"marks":602},"scheduling software",[603],{"type":124,"attrs":604},{"href":605,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":218,"linktype":128},"https://www.deputy.com/features/scheduling",{"text":607,"type":70}," and micro-scheduling capabilities let you build these shorter shifts cleanly, with built-in break tracking and real-time labor costing so you can see the financial impact as you schedule.",{"type":63,"attrs":609,"content":611},{"id":610,"level":396},"cross-train-your-team",[612],{"text":613,"type":70},"Cross-train your team",{"type":85,"content":615},[616],{"text":617,"type":70},"When your staff can cover multiple roles, you don't need a separate opener and closer for every department. A cross-trained team gives you flexibility to shift people between tasks during slower periods instead of sending them home and calling them back.",{"type":63,"attrs":619,"content":621},{"id":620,"level":396},"build-a-part-time-pool",[622],{"text":623,"type":70},"Build a part-time pool",{"type":85,"content":625},[626],{"text":627,"type":70},"Maintain a group of part-time workers who prefer short, single-block shifts. Many workers (students, parents, semi-retired employees) actively want three- to five-hour shifts. Matching their preferences to your peak windows means you fill gaps without forcing anyone into a split.",{"type":85,"content":629},[630,632,636],{"text":631,"type":70},"Nearly ",{"text":633,"type":70,"marks":634},"75% of US shift workers",[635],{"type":113},{"text":637,"type":70}," report that AI tools help them leave work on time more often, according to Deputy's Big Shift Report 2026. When you combine smart scheduling tools with these workforce strategies, you build a schedule that works for the business and the people running it.",{"type":63,"attrs":639,"content":641},{"id":640,"level":74},"conclusion",[642],{"text":643,"type":70},"Conclusion",{"type":85,"content":645},[646],{"text":647,"type":70},"Once you factor in what your workers lose and what it costs you when they leave, split shifts create more problems than they solve. Double commutes and blocked second-job income erode the value of every hour your workers put in. And when they quit, the recruiting and productivity costs hit your bottom line far harder than a few slow midday hours ever would.",{"type":85,"content":649},[650],{"text":651,"type":70},"Here's what to take away:",{"type":79,"content":653},[654,660,666,672],{"type":82,"content":655},[656],{"type":85,"content":657},[658],{"text":659,"type":70},"Map your foot traffic data before defaulting to split shifts. Demand-based scheduling often eliminates the need for them.",{"type":82,"content":661},[662],{"type":85,"content":663},[664],{"text":665,"type":70},"Staggered start times and micro-shifts cover peak windows without fragmenting anyone's day.",{"type":82,"content":667},[668],{"type":85,"content":669},[670],{"text":671,"type":70},"If you operate in California, New York, LA County, or Chicago, check your split shift premium pay obligations now.",{"type":82,"content":673},[674],{"type":85,"content":675},[676],{"text":677,"type":70},"Workers who lose second-job income to a split schedule are more likely to quit, and the turnover cost outweighs the midday labor savings.",{"type":85,"content":679},[680],{"text":681,"type":70},"The retailers who invest in predictable, worker-friendly schedules aren't just doing right by their teams. They're building the kind of stability that keeps experienced workers on the floor and out of the job market.",{"type":85,"content":683},[684,686,692,694,700],{"text":685,"type":70},"Ready to build better schedules? ",{"text":687,"type":70,"marks":688},"Try Deputy for free",[689],{"type":124,"attrs":690},{"href":691,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":218,"linktype":128},"https://www.deputy.com/free-trial",{"text":693,"type":70}," or ",{"text":695,"type":70,"marks":696},"request a demo",[697],{"type":124,"attrs":698},{"href":699,"uuid":46,"anchor":46,"target":218,"linktype":128},"https://www.deputy.com/contact-sales",{"text":701,"type":70}," to see how demand-based scheduling works for your stores.",{"type":63,"attrs":703,"content":706},{"id":704,"level":705},"faqs",4,[707],{"text":174,"type":70},{"type":85,"content":709},[710],{"text":711,"type":70},"How does Deputy help me avoid scheduling split shifts?",{"type":85,"content":713},[714],{"text":715,"type":70},"Deputy's AI-powered demand forecasting analyzes your sales data and foot traffic patterns to predict exactly when you need more staff. You can build schedules around real demand windows using micro-shifts and staggered starts, so you cover peaks without splitting anyone's day.",{"type":85,"content":717},[718],{"text":719,"type":70},"Can Deputy flag when a split shift triggers premium pay?",{"type":85,"content":721},[722],{"text":723,"type":70},"Yes. Deputy's compliance tools let you configure pay rules for your state and city. If a schedule change triggers a split shift premium in California or a spread-of-hours payment in New York, Deputy flags it before you publish the schedule.",{"type":85,"content":725},[726],{"text":727,"type":70},"How does Deputy support Fair Workweek compliance when I use split shifts?",{"type":85,"content":729},[730],{"text":731,"type":70},"Deputy helps you manage advance scheduling notice, predictability pay, and consent-based schedule changes required by Fair Workweek laws in cities like LA County, Chicago, and New York. You can track compliance records and generate reports for audits.",{"type":85,"content":733},[734],{"text":735,"type":70},"How does Deputy's demand forecasting help me cover peak hours without split shifts?",{"type":85,"content":737},[738],{"text":739,"type":70},"Deputy pulls in your sales history, seasonal trends, and real-time data to forecast staffing needs by the hour. Instead of splitting one worker's day across two peaks, you can schedule the right number of people for each window and stay within your labor budget.",{"type":85,"content":741},[742],{"text":743,"type":70},"How can Deputy help reduce turnover caused by poor scheduling?",{"type":85,"content":745},[746],{"text":747,"type":70},"Deputy gives your team predictable schedules published in advance, the ability to swap shifts from their phone, and real-time communication through the News Feed. Workers who feel in control of their schedules are less likely to leave, and Deputy's Shift Pulse feature helps you track sentiment before disengagement turns into turnover.","blog-post","2026-06-16 00:00",{"_uid":751,"title":31,"imgSrc":19,"plugin":32,"imageAlt":752,"minWidth":753,"imageName":754,"imageS3Key":755,"description":37,"mobileWidth":756,"desktopWidth":756,"assetSelector":19,"imagePublicUrl":757,"imageOriginalUrl":758,"sourceImageWidth":753,"sourceImageHeight":759},"cdfce329-d788-4888-b743-400cd0202694","Retail store employees during a shift changeover at a modern clothing store entrance",1200,"image.png","f/64010/1200x630/90e9f04539/image.png",600,"https://s3.amazonaws.com/a.storyblok.com/f/64010/1200x630/90e9f04539/image.png","//a.storyblok.com/f/64010/1200x630/90e9f04539/image.png",630,[761],{"name":762,"created_at":763,"published_at":764,"updated_at":765,"id":766,"uuid":767,"content":768,"slug":778,"full_slug":779,"sort_by_date":46,"position":780,"tag_list":781,"is_startpage":49,"parent_id":782,"meta_data":46,"group_id":783,"first_published_at":784,"release_id":46,"lang":53,"path":46,"alternates":785,"default_full_slug":46,"translated_slugs":46,"_stopResolving":55},"Article","2020-05-27T00:12:38.525Z","2022-04-21T00:47:46.561Z","2022-04-21T00:47:46.584Z",12174506,"eebc545a-310f-42c0-a488-2fa93c9e0756",{"_uid":769,"icon":770,"link":774,"name":775,"subline":776,"headline":775,"component":777},"2748a594-cc6f-4c66-8d86-f4696737e8d7",{"_uid":771,"title":31,"imgSrc":19,"plugin":32,"imageAlt":19,"minWidth":772,"imageName":19,"imageS3Key":19,"description":37,"mobileWidth":773,"desktopWidth":773,"assetSelector":19,"imagePublicUrl":19,"sourceImageWidth":19,"sourceImageHeight":19},"4b487a44-082b-4acd-97b6-900e66b62b19",36,"18",{"id":19,"url":19,"anchor":19,"linktype":510,"fieldtype":511,"cached_url":19},"Articles","Learn everything you need to know about streamlining business growth, staff support, and more","tags","article","_content_types/tags/types/article",-30,[],12008165,"7f931f16-1cd1-42a9-a9fd-6f5a170cd1e7","2020-07-11T12:44:21.449Z",[],[],[788,816],{"name":789,"created_at":790,"published_at":791,"updated_at":792,"id":793,"uuid":794,"content":795,"slug":808,"full_slug":809,"sort_by_date":46,"position":810,"tag_list":811,"is_startpage":49,"parent_id":812,"meta_data":46,"group_id":813,"first_published_at":814,"release_id":46,"lang":53,"path":46,"alternates":815,"default_full_slug":46,"translated_slugs":46,"_stopResolving":55},"Retail","2020-05-26T00:43:34.895Z","2022-04-21T00:49:15.163Z","2022-04-21T00:49:15.187Z",12079641,"3151d1b8-4110-4a93-a46f-e4e3101be662",{"_uid":796,"icon":797,"link":804,"name":789,"subline":807,"headline":789,"component":777},"162762f3-21e3-4f10-9706-a9f85f690547",{"_uid":798,"title":31,"imgSrc":19,"plugin":32,"imageAlt":799,"minWidth":772,"imageName":800,"imageS3Key":801,"description":37,"mobileWidth":773,"desktopWidth":773,"assetSelector":19,"imagePublicUrl":802,"imageOriginalUrl":803,"sourceImageWidth":19,"sourceImageHeight":19},"bec3de1c-7734-4edd-82f7-af7a92153807","retail industry","icon-retail-transparent.svg","f/64010/x/301e8d003e/icon-retail-transparent.svg","https://s3.amazonaws.com/a.storyblok.com/f/64010/x/301e8d003e/icon-retail-transparent.svg","https://a.storyblok.com/f/x/301e8d003e/icon-retail-transparent.svg",{"id":805,"url":19,"linktype":510,"fieldtype":511,"cached_url":806},"2ea74ced-79f3-4086-a6e8-4fee4a08e7f2","us/industry/retail","Get helpful tips, learn top trends, and insightful tips that can help your retail business thrive","retail","_content_types/industries/retail",-20,[],12008164,"f1b7548f-ae0d-48a5-9854-17272fd2f794","2020-06-17T04:57:09.192Z",[],{"name":817,"created_at":818,"published_at":819,"updated_at":820,"id":821,"uuid":822,"content":823,"slug":831,"full_slug":832,"sort_by_date":46,"position":833,"tag_list":834,"is_startpage":49,"parent_id":812,"meta_data":46,"group_id":835,"first_published_at":836,"release_id":46,"lang":53,"path":46,"alternates":837,"default_full_slug":46,"translated_slugs":46,"_stopResolving":55},"Small business","2022-04-08T07:24:16.641Z","2022-04-21T00:49:49.934Z","2022-04-21T00:49:49.960Z",122691097,"f42f6365-50cd-4ce3-a360-497d791bb0cf",{"_uid":824,"icon":825,"link":827,"name":817,"subline":830,"headline":817,"component":777},"7a27d29a-f63e-409d-86b1-f1a6c97f1aba",{"_uid":826,"title":31,"imgSrc":19,"plugin":32,"imageAlt":19,"minWidth":772,"imageName":19,"imageS3Key":19,"description":37,"mobileWidth":773,"desktopWidth":773,"assetSelector":19,"imagePublicUrl":19,"sourceImageWidth":19,"sourceImageHeight":19},"36cefdbf-e936-4e25-ac56-6e61f9b6765f",{"id":828,"url":19,"linktype":510,"fieldtype":511,"cached_url":829},"09a55c59-a404-432c-a97d-b181114d51fc","us/small-and-medium-business","Stay up to date with everything you need to know to upkeep and fast track the growth of your small business","small-business","_content_types/industries/small-business",-180,[],"2aee62f7-b27a-4910-bdd3-356b763b3784","2022-04-08T07:24:20.654Z",[],[],"split-shifts-hidden-costs-to-workers-and-your-business","us/blog/split-shifts-hidden-costs-to-workers-and-your-business",-70290,[],11229372,"a24e7871-4a80-495c-9042-eaf1c9417394",[],"us",1782515052126]