Shift work questions that show where the schedule wears people out
Ask shift workers how the schedule works for them, from notice and swaps to late finishes and pay. Each question below comes with when to ask it and what the answer tells you.
What shift work survey questions tell you
Shift work survey questions ask the people who work your schedule how it treats them: how much notice they get, how often shifts change at short notice, how easy it is to swap, whether they finish late or skip breaks and whether they are paid for the hours they work. The schedule shapes their life outside work, and the answers show which part of it to fix first.
Ask once a quarter and a few weeks after a schedule change. Pick five to seven questions; print the survey's QR code in the break room or by the time clock, and add the link to the message that carries the schedule from your own scheduling tool.
Each written answer is read as it arrives and filed under a category and a theme from your own list, with a sentiment and an urgency, so an answer about unpaid hours can be read first. Add a tag such as the site to each link, which stays with each answer for workflows, Google Sheets and the API.
- Questions
- 14
- Best asked
- Once a quarter and after a schedule change
- Industry
- HR and employees
- Where to find them
- From library in the Usertick survey editor, on every plan
The 14 shift work questions, with when to ask each
Grouped by what they tell you. Use them as they are or change the wording.
The schedule and notice
Start with how well the schedule works, how early it arrives and how often it changes, since late notice shapes every week that follows.
- 01Stars
How well does the shift schedule work for you?
Five stars for how well the schedule works. Results shows the average and the share who rated 4 or higher; ask it every quarter to see whether your changes help.
- 02Yes / No
Do you get your schedule far enough in advance?
A yes or no on getting the schedule early enough. Select No in Results to see how many days of notice those workers get and how often their shifts change.
- 03Ruler
How many days of notice do you get for a shift?
Days of notice for a shift, on a ruler from 0 to 30. Results shows the median and the middle half; the bottom of the middle half shows how short notice gets for some people.
- 04Multiple choice
How often do your shifts change at short notice?
How often shifts change at short notice, from every week to never. Results shows the share of each; a large share at the weekly end is the schedule's biggest problem to fix.
- 12Dropdown
How do you get your schedule?
How workers get their schedule today. Results shows the share of each channel; use the most common one to share the survey link too.
Preferences and swaps
Ask which shifts people prefer, how many they work, when they start and how easy swaps are, to build a schedule that fits more people.
- 05Multiple choice
Which shifts do you prefer?
Lets workers tick every shift they prefer. Results shows a bar per shift; use it to fill nights and weekends with the people who want them first.
- 10Number
How many shifts do you work in a normal week?
Shifts in a normal week, as a number from 0 to 14. Results shows the median and the middle half; the top of the range shows who may be working double shifts.
- 11Date
What time does your usual shift start?
Asks for the usual start time, but a Date question picks a day on a calendar. Change it to a dropdown of start times, such as 6 a.m., 2 p.m. and 10 p.m., before you publish.
- 07Customer effort
How easy is it to swap a shift with someone?
An effort score (CES) for swapping a shift, on a seven-point scale. Results shows the average and the share who found it easy; a low share points to the swap rules or the tool.
Fairness and fit with life
These questions show whether the schedule feels fair and works around life outside work, in a score and in people's own words.
- 09Big scale
How well do your shifts fit around your life outside work?
How well shifts fit life outside work, from 1 to 10. Results shows the average and a column per step; select the low scores to see which shifts those people prefer.
- 06Text
What would make the schedule fairer?
An open question on a fairer schedule. The themes show whether people see unfairness in weekends, nights, short notice or who gets the good shifts.
- 08Text
What would make the hardest shifts easier?
Asks what would make the hardest shifts easier. Answers name practical things, from transportation home to hot food on nights, that a site manager can act on.
Hours, breaks and pay
End with late starts, late finishes, skipped breaks and correct pay, and read every problem here before anything else.
- 14Matrix
How often does each happen on your shifts?
How often people start late, finish late, cover for someone or skip a break. The heat map shows each row; a high skipped break row is a welfare and compliance issue to act on now.
- 13Yes / No
Are you paid correctly for the hours you actually work?
A yes or no on correct pay for the hours actually worked. Every No deserves a payroll check, so read these first and give each one an owner in the inbox.
Tips for asking about shift work
Small choices that get honest, useful answers.
- 01
Reach every shift
Leave the survey open for at least a full rotation, so night and weekend workers get the same chance to answer as the day shift.
- 02
Post the QR code where shifts start
Print the QR code by the time clock or in the break room, and add the link to the message that carries the schedule.
- 03
Check pay answers first
Treat every answer about unpaid hours as urgent, and fix confirmed errors before the next payday.
- 04
Tag the link by site
When you run several sites, give each one its own link tag, so every answer carries the site into workflows, Google Sheets and the API.
Add these questions to a survey
From the library to the first answers.
- 1
Open the library
In the Usertick survey editor, choose From library, filter by industry and topic, and add several questions at once.
- 2
Or paste your own list
Paste questions reads up to 10 questions from any text on Free, 100 on Starter and 200 on Pro and above, keeps your wording and picks an answer type for each.
- 3
Choose where it runs
Show the survey on your website, send it by email, share its link and QR code, or switch it to a conversation.
- 4
Read the answers
Results counts every score and choice, and Usertick reads each written answer and files it by topic, on every plan.
Templates and more questions about shift work
Full surveys that ask about the same things, and neighboring topics in the library.
Templates
Browse all templatesFrequently asked questions
Print the survey's QR code in the break room or by the time clock, and put the link in the message that carries the schedule. The survey opens on any phone, and the Chat layout asks one question at a time.
Once a quarter and a few weeks after a schedule change. Keep it open for a full rotation so every shift can answer.
Yes, by link or QR code. With anonymous responses on, Usertick stores no user ID, traits or visitor ID for website, link or QR code surveys. Surveys sent through Usertick email are not anonymous.
A web app can show the survey once the Usertick website code is added. A phone app can open the survey's link instead.
Yes. The question library comes with every plan, the free plan included, and the free plan covers 150 responses a month across your surveys.
Yes. Once a question is in your survey, reword it, change its options or its answer type, and add logic to skip it for some answers.
Yes. The library is translated into Usertick's built-in languages, and in any other language it shows in English for you to translate.
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