Managing employees' shifts strategically can be the key to increasing productivity, ensuring compliance with labor laws, and keeping teams engaged. However, many companies still face difficulties organizing work schedules without errors or overloads — and the result can be disastrous: labor liabilities, uncovered shifts, employee fatigue, and a drop in overall performance.

In this comprehensive guide, you will understand:

• What are the main types of work shifts allowed by Brazilian labor law (CLT);
• How to apply each model in practice, without legal risks;
• The benefits and precautions of each shift;
• How Monitoo can integrate with your time tracking system to facilitate all this management.

Prepare to elevate your workforce management with technology, intelligence, and compliance.
 

Main Types of Work Shifts in Brazil

1. 5x2 Shift

Description: Work 5 consecutive days and rest for 2, with a weekly workload of up to 44 hours. This is the most traditional and common model in CLT contracts.

Common Applications: Administrative offices, financial sectors, HR, legal, IT, and areas with fixed business hours.

Advantages: Predictable schedule and better balance between personal and professional life.

Attention: Strict control of overtime to avoid labor liabilities.
 

6x1 Shift

Description: A work schedule of 6 days with 1 day of rest. CLT requires at least one weekly rest, preferably on Sundays.

Common Applications: Retail, supermarkets, industries, and operational services.

Advantages: Allows greater coverage of service and continuity of operations.

Care: Requires planning to avoid overload and ensure legal breaks.
 

12x36 Shift

Description: Twelve hours of work followed by thirty-six hours of rest. It must be formalized by an individual written agreement or collective bargaining.

Common Applications: Hospitals, security, gatekeeping, essential services, and shifts.

Advantages: Fewer commutes and longer continuous rest periods.

Care: Attention to mandatory breaks during the shift and legal compensation.
 

Rotating Shifts (Continuous Shifts)

Description: Teams rotate in shifts (morning, afternoon, and night) continuously, keeping operations running 24/7.

Common Applications: Industries, public transportation, utilities, 24/7 customer service.

Advantages: Maximum use of the company’s infrastructure.

Care: The shift should be up to 6 hours a day, unless there is a collective agreement.
 

Part-Time Shift

Description: A reduced schedule of up to 30 weekly hours (no overtime) or up to 26 weekly hours with up to 6 hours of overtime.

Common Applications: Students, professionals with another occupation, inclusion programs.

Advantages: Flexibility, savings on charges, and compliance with the apprentice quota.

Care: Proportional labor rights, such as vacation and 13th salary.
 

Intermittent Work

Description: The employee is called to work sporadically, paid only for the actual hours worked.

Common Applications: Events, restaurants, seasonal services, and formal freelancers.

Advantages: Complete flexibility and reduced operational costs.

Care: A formal contract is required, and the employee must be called at least 3 days in advance.
 

Telecommuting (Home Office)

Description: Work done outside of the company premises using communication technologies.

Common Applications: IT, digital marketing, remote customer service, administrative areas.

Advantages: Reduced fixed costs and increased autonomy and employee satisfaction.

Care: A written contract is required, with clear rules on equipment use, reimbursements, and availability.
 

How Monitoo Transforms Work Shift Management

The complexity of shifts requires organization and control. Monitoo stands out as a solution that integrates productivity data with the main time tracking systems on the market:

✅ Automation of shifts: Record and track all types of shifts, including customized ones, integrating with approved electronic time tracking systems.

✅ Compliance with CLT: By integrating with existing time tracking software, Monitoo analyzes hours, breaks, and legal limits, transforming them into productivity insights.

✅ Ready reports for HR and Payroll: From integration, Monitoo organizes structured data for payroll processing, hour banks, legal supplements, and performance of each employee.

✅ Smart alerts: The system sends alerts when it detects operational risks or scheduling conflicts, optimizing HR decision-making.

✅ Strategic insights: The platform allows for cross-referencing time tracking system data with behavioral and productivity data, revealing bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement.

✅ Wide compatibility: Monitoo integrates natively with systems like Ahgora, PontoTel, Secullum, DIMEP, and other approved solutions, ensuring reliability and legal security.
 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the most common work shift in Brazil?
The 5x2 shift is still the most adopted, especially in administrative areas. However, 6x1 and 12x36 shifts are also widely used, particularly in operational sectors.

2. Can I change an employee's shift at any time?
No. Shift changes must be foreseen in the contract or collective agreement. It is always recommended to formalize any changes.

3. How to avoid errors in shift management?
Use a specialized system like Monitoo, which automates legal rules, calculates hours precisely, and generates reliable reports.

4. Can the company adopt different shifts within the same sector?
Yes, as long as legal limits and collective agreements are respected. It is important to maintain transparency and fairness among employees.

5. Is Monitoo compatible with electronic time tracking systems?
Yes. Monitoo is not a time tracking system, but it integrates natively with the main time tracking software in the market, enabling complete and automated workforce management. 👉 Create your free account now