Shift work in Serbia as a form of organization of work at the employer is present in many companies. In relation to other types of engagement, it has certain specificities.
One of the basic characteristics is that shift workers on the same jobs work according to a pre-planned schedule. For this reason, in order to ensure the productivity and efficiency of business, it is necessary to comply with the legal provisions and coordinate the schedule of all employees.
The company can organize shift work when the conditions for this type of work are met beforehand, as well as if there is a need. Also, such form of organization of business and work engagement of employees must be defined by the general act of the employer, as well as the employment contract.
The following is detailed information about shift work in Serbia – what obligations the employer has, as well as a few additional tips for better organization of shift work.
Shift work in Serbia is a way of organizing working hours so that employees work according to a predetermined schedule, i.e. in shifts. During the working day, the work of employees can take place in different shifts – day and night shifts.
Shifts can be introduced on weekdays and weekends, and there is also work during holidays. Daily shifts consist of:
The night shift is the third shift. Night work is work at night, and working hours are performed in the period from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. the next day.
Shift work may or may not include night work. The work process can be organized in two daily shifts, or one day and one night shift.
In practice, shift work implies such an organization that employees working in the same jobs or positions take turns according to an established and planned schedule. In addition, shifts can be continuous or intermittent during a certain period of the day or week.
Workers work in shifts most often in such companies where constant and operational work is required, without interruption. For example production, transport, healthcare when working in all three shifts, retail when it comes to the first and second daily shifts and the like.
During shift work, breaks are mandatory, as well as rest for workers between shifts. All employees have the right to a continuous rest between two shifts in which they work. Rest must last at least 12 hours between two shifts.
When it comes to breaks between shifts, employees have the right to take a daily break during shift work. It must last at least 30 minutes if the shift lasts longer than 6 hours.
Companies in Serbia where shift work is organized have the following obligations:
The employer is obliged to efficiently manage shifts – to accurately and precisely plan and organize employee shifts. Also, it is necessary to notify all workers in a timely manner if there are any changes. In this way, inconveniences or misunderstandings can be avoided, and at the same time, there will be no drop in productivity during work.
In order to plan shift work more effectively, it is recommended to:
We mentioned that there must be a break during the shift. Also, rest between shifts is mandatory, because employees have the right to get a day off. Rest is needed in order to rest and be productive.
One of the employer’s work obligations is to increase employees’ wages for work during national holidays, as well as for work on weekends. This right belongs to every employee. For work on national holidays and weekends, if he works then, he is entitled to compensation:
The company is obliged to ensure regular medical examinations by the competent health authority for employees who work in night shifts or in jobs with increased risk, in order to monitor the state of health of the workers. Then, it also refers to measures of safety and protection of life and health at work for employees who work at night. These are safe working conditions, as well as a safe working environment.
The company is obliged to comply with all legal provisions of the Labor Law regarding the length of shifts, breaks, rest between shifts, as well as restrictions regarding night work. It is also obliged to inform employees about shifts, schedules, and their rights.
The employer has the obligation to enable the employee who works in shifts to change shifts, so that he does not work the night shift for more than one working week. Working at night for longer than one working week is only possible with the written consent of the employee. It applies to workers who work the night shift all week.
The company is obliged to increase the employee’s compensation for shift and night work in the amount of at least 26%, in case such work is not calculated and valued when determining the basic salary. This obligation must be defined by the employer’s general act or employment contract.
What often happens in practice is that the conditions for increasing earnings can be obtained simultaneously on two or more grounds. In that case, the percentage of the increased salary cannot be lower than the sum of the percentages for each of the basis of the increase (for hours of night work that is part of shift work, at least 52% of the base is calculated, if such work is not valued when determining the basic salary).
On the other hand, if the general act or labor contract stipulates work in shifts and at night, at the same time the same is evaluated when determining the basic salary coefficient, there is no basis for increasing the salary by the cumulative amount in percentages (the provisions of the Labor Law do not apply).
The application of these practical guidelines can significantly contribute to more efficient operations and better organization of the work of employers who organize shift work in Serbia. At the same time, such an approach ensures satisfaction and higher productivity of employees, which all together contributes to the long-term stability of the company. Hiring an external business associate and accounting agency for payroll services in Belgrade HLB TM DOO Belgrade can additionally facilitate the administrative procedure and ensure accuracy and compliance with legal regulations. Contact us.
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