Work-Force Scheduling with Cyclic Requirements and Constraints on Days Off, Weekends Off, and Work Stretch

Abstract

For a seven-day workweek with cyclic demand requiring D workers on weekdays and E workers on weekend days, we provide a formula to calculate the minimal workforce necessary to meet these requirements while ensuring each worker receives two off-days per week. This includes the flexibility for workers to have A out of B weekends off, for any A and B (A is equal to or lesser than B). Additionally, we present an algorithm to generate a feasible schedule that ensures all work stretches are between two and four days, except when a worker receives two consecutive weekends off, in which case they work Monday through Friday.