About
A purpose-led business with pedigree
Our purpose
We passionately believe optimising shift work will help tackle a range of social and economic challenges.
How we create shift patterns, manage shift work and treat our millions of shift workers impacts everything from the productivity gap and labour shortages to employee wellbeing and creating the quality jobs of the future.
Change is constant…meaning employers need to maintain an agile and responsive approach to shift work.
It’s why we’re driven to help organisations and their shift workers benefit from the transformative impact of optimising shift patterns and shift work.
Our experience
Shift work problems
Many employers and shift workers will recognise these common challenges with shift patterns and shift work.
Shift patterns don’t meet organisation or employee needs…
Shift work management lacks flexibility and governance…
Shift workers don’t get adequate support or guidance…
Performance
- Low productivity
- High labour costs
- Inefficiency & waste
- Labour shortages
- Compliance breaches
- Service quality issues
- Employee churn
- Limited labour pool
- Industrial unrest
People
- Poor quality jobs
- Uncertain hours & pay
- Work-life balance issues
- Fatigue risk
- Health & wellbeing impacts
- Low morale
- Skills fade
- Restricted opportunities
- Disengagement
Shift work...done right
Attaining optimal performance in shift work requires balance.
optashift’s ACE Framework provides a unified approach that uses data and collaboration to optimise shift work for both your performance goals and people’s needs.
It spans every aspect of creating shift patterns, managing shift work and supporting shift workers.
The ACE Framework is agile, so it can adapt to the precise and ever-changing needs of your organisation and shift workers.
Together we’ll create the best shift patterns and shift work environments.
A
Analyse
Use data and expert insight to inform the continuous optimisation and improvement of shift work
C
Create
Design and implement optimised shift patterns and shift work solutions that respond to change
E
Engage
Ensure all stakeholders are empowered to shape shift patterns and shift work though collaboration
Our pedigree
optashift experts have been helping with shift pattern design, shift work management and shift worker support for decades.
This depth of experience powers optashift’s ACE Framework and our suite of services.
Combining data, insight and collaboration, our agile approach ensures everything is tailored to your organisation and shift workers.
We’ll help you create optimised shift patterns and use shift work management best practice to support your performance and people, now and into the future.
1997
optashift founder Robert Crossman joins the leading shift pattern design software and consultancy provider...igniting his passion for optimising shift work
2005
Robert moves to Working Time Solutions, the UK's leading Annualised Hours consultancy...predominantly supporting manufacturers and public sector organisations
2007
Working Time Solutions takes its expert consultancy, shift scheduling software and shift workforce management system into new sectors
2010-2015
Under Robert Crossman's leadership Working Time Solutions begins to deliver major shift work optimisation projects in industries like emergency services, utilities, warehouse & distribution and transport & logistics
2015-2019
Working Time Solutions develops a SaaS version of its workforce management (WFM) software designed to meet day-to-day rostering requirements
2022
Working Time Solutions is acquired by a leading provider of field service management software
2023
Robert Crossman launches optashift, a purpose-led business with a data-led and collaborative approach to shift pattern design, shift work management and shift worker health and wellbeing
Shift Pattern, Shift Work and Shift Worker services
optashift services help you attain optimum shift work performance.
They can be delivered individually or combined to create a unified programme of continuous improvement.
Our agile approach means everything we do is tailored to your organisation and shift workers.
Shift work is complex, sensitive and always changing.
Let optashift be your trusted partner.
optashift industries
Find out more about our experience and the benefits of optimising shift patterns and shift work in different industries.
Benefits of working with optashift
It’s never easy changing shift patterns or improving shift work.
optashift are established experts in this field who will partner with you across all aspects of shift pattern design, shift work management and shift worker support.
Over 30 years’ specialist experience and track record of success in shift work
Insight from working in diverse industries, organisations and scenarios
Proven approach that delivers maximum benefits for your performance and people
A flexible suite of shift work services that can be tailored to your needs and timeframes
Focus on data, collaboration, best practice and continuous optimisation and improvement
Form lasting partnerships that align the interests of all stakeholders
A purpose-led company
We want to help tackle some of the biggest challenges facing our economy and society.
We passionately believe optimising shift work has a key role to play in…
- Improving economic productivity
- Supporting workforce wellbeing
- Reducing unnecessary waste
- Creating high quality jobs of the future
- Securing labour supply in key industries
- Managing volatility and strategic change
Contact our shift work experts
Get in touch if you’d like to discuss improving shift patterns, shift work and shift worker support