Work and business / B1

SHIFT/ʃɪft/

A shift is a set block of work time: the night shift; a twelve-hour shift; shift work; work in shifts. Overtime is extra on top. Shift as a verb means move (shift the blame; the wind shifted), and a gear shift is a car sense. Do not write “I have shift” — say I am on shift / I work the early shift. NHS and warehouse English use the word constantly.

Meaning

A period of time that a group of workers spend at work.

Examples

• “He works the night shift at the warehouse in Coventry.”
• “She swapped her Friday shift so she could sit the evening exam.”
• “Shift work can make sleep and family meals difficult.”

Good to know

night / early / late shift; on shift; shift work. Extra hours: overtime. Verb shift = move. Not “I have shift”.

Topics

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