is when an employee closes the business one night and then opens it again the next morning, leaving only a few hours between the end of one shift and the start of the next.
It's a common reality in industries that operate long hours, but it's one that's worth understanding — both for the wellbeing of your staff and the growing number of regulations being introduced around it.
Where Does the Term Come From?
"Clopening" is a portmanteau of closing and opening . It describes the specific situation where the same employee works the last shift of one day and the first shift of the next — often with as little as seven or eight hours between clocking out and clocking back in.
Once you account for commuting, winding down, and getting enough sleep, that window can feel even shorter.
Why Does It Happen?
Clopening shifts typically occur because of a combination of factors:
- Staff shortages. When a team is understaffed, managers often have no choice but to schedule
the same reliable employees for back-to-back shifts.
- Last-minute changes. Call-outs and no-shows can leave managers scrambling, resulting in
someone being asked to cover an opening shift after already working a close.
- Cost pressures. In some cases, scheduling the same employee for both shifts can feel like a
more efficient use of labor hours, particularly in smaller operations.
The Impact on Employees
The effects of clopening shifts on staff are well documented. Chronic sleep disruption affects mood, concentration, and physical health. For employees working on their feet — as most restaurant and retail workers are — fatigue can also increase the risk of accidents and mistakes.
Beyond the physical toll, clopening shifts can make it difficult for employees to maintain any kind of work-life balance, which is a significant driver of burnout and turnover. In industries already struggling with high attrition rates, this is something managers can't afford to ignore.
What Are the Rules Around Clopening?
Regulation in this area is growing. A number of US cities and states — including California, New York, Oregon, and Chicago — have introduced predictive scheduling laws (sometimes called fair workweek laws) that place restrictions on clopening practices.
Make compliance easier to manage
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These laws typically require employers to provide a minimum rest period between shifts — commonly 10 or 12 hours — and may require additional compensation if an employee is scheduled with less rest than that. Some jurisdictions also require advance notice of schedules, making last-minute clopening assignments harder to implement without financial consequences.
The specifics vary significantly by location, so it's important to understand what rules apply in your area.
Note:
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not
constitute legal advice. Scheduling laws vary by state and city and are subject
to change. Consult an employment attorney or HR professional for guidance
specific to your business.
What Can Managers Do?
Even where clopening isn't restricted by law, it's worth thinking carefully about how often it appears in your schedules. A few practical steps: Build minimum rest periods into your scheduling process.
Set a rule — whether it's required or not — that employees have a minimum number of hours between shifts wherever possible.
Distribute closing and opening shifts fairly.
Avoid relying on the same employees for difficult shift combinations repeatedly.
Communicate schedule changes early.
The more notice employees have, the better they can plan around challenging shifts.
- Use scheduling software. Tools that flag short turnarounds between shifts can help managers
catch clopening situations before they're published.
Clopening is one of those scheduling realities that can easily become normalised — but its impact on staff is real. Being intentional about how you manage shift turnarounds is a small change that can make a meaningful difference to your team's wellbeing and, ultimately, your retention.
SocialSchedules is an employee scheduling platform built for restaurants, retail, and hourly workforces. Our tools help managers build smarter schedules that work for the business and the team.
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