In a 24-hour operations environment, shift work for meteorologists and hydrologists is essential. Shift work has been cited, however, as the predominant reason people leave the field of meteorology, as it significantly impacts our physical and mental health and those around us. To help balance what is needed to fulfill operations while lessening the burden of rotating shifts, a team looked at and documented flexibilities allowed within an office’s rotational schedule.

FAQ

The cumulative physical, social, and psychological health impacts of long-term rotating shift work and stress of high workloads are well documented; it can negatively impact productivity and mission attainment, employee experience and worker retention. NWS forecasters who work shifts throughout their careers already observe multiple negative health impacts. 

FAQ.

To provide offices with increased flexibility and equitability regarding lead schedules, NWS will convert one GS-12 Meteorologist billet to a GS-13 Lead Meteorologist billet in all of the forecast offices (apart from Honolulu). Instead of the current five Leads and eight 5-12 Mets, there will be six Leads and seven 5-12 Mets.  

Webinar: Sixth Lead Meteorologist Implementation (June 29, 2023)

The Ops Model Team tasked the Shiftwork Flexibility Team to develop a framework for moving WFOs from a traditional staffing model to a more flexible model. The traditional model utilized at least two people on shift at all times; this new model is built around a minimum of six operational shifts per day, allowing the Local Office Teams (LOTs) to provide input into how to staff operations throughout the day.