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NEARLY 100 Bahraini DHL employees claim that a plan to introduce a rigorous shift system will only disrupt their lives instead of improving their performance.



They say they were happy with the current shift system, which was introduced about 20 years ago.



The DHL Trade Union says it was worried that employees would start taking more sick leaves because they are either overworked or use it as an excuse to be with their families.



It suggested to the management different timings for the new shift system, but it claims they have not responded.



Union head Hussain Abbas warned that the employees were on the verge of taking action, adding that anything was possible when asked if they might go on strike or demonstrate.



However, DHL officials said that the new schedule was still in the consultation phase and had not been implemented yet.



They said that employees were welcome to suggest a new system that would further optimise services.



The new system suggests employees work nine straight hours and their shifts change so often that they are worried they won't be able to keep up, he said.



"Employees are used to the previous schedule and have been following it for 20 years now," said Mr Abbas.



"We welcome change to benefit the company, but the schedule is ridiculous and does not serve employees."



The schedule is separated into four shifts - from 6am to 3pm, 3pm to 12am, 1pm to 10pm and 4pm to 1am.



Each employee gets a morning shift three days a week and then a night shift two days a week, with two days off.



"This will lead employees not be able to see their wives or children. This is horrible and inhumane," said Mr Abbas.



"They label this move as improving performance, but you can't do this and torture your staff."



The previous schedule had two shifts, one from 9am to 5pm and the next from 8pm to 3am.



"The previous schedule was not perfect but we can improve it. We have suggested an alternative, but we didn't get a response from officials yet," said Mr Abbas.



The union's suggestion was based on employees' ideas, which was there would be four shifts - from 6am to 2pm, 12pm to 8pm, 6pm to 2am and 12am to 8am.



"You have to take your employees' views to make a plan work. Otherwise your company will collapse," said Mr Abbas.



He said there were worries that sick leave usage would increase because employees will get sick or need an excuse to be with their families.



"Also, their emotional well being is at risk because they feel stuck with work and miss their families," he added.



According to Mr Abbas more than 100 Bahraini employees, including supervisors and team leaders, were allegedly behind the demand.



They are also calling for more bonuses and increased salary for night shift employees, because they are risking their health.



"The company did not give a single bonus to the employees and did not increase late shift salaries. If we were in Europe, it would be a different story," said Mr Abbas.



"In Europe, employees get around BD800 net salary while here we get around BD325 or BD350," he said.



"We want to solve this peacefully with the company, but we do have another way and that is to let the main branch in Germany know what is going on."



DHL human resources manager Jennie Seppings said the new schedule was still in the consultation phase and had not been implemented yet.



"Just like the employees said, the schedule has not been changed for a long time, but the world has changed," she said.



"We are changing our schedules to optimise services in our main hub, which serves the whole of the Middle East.



"There are certain services we offer that need to be met in time. We have a business to run."



DHL Bahrain is the main hub that has been working 24-hours-a-day, seven days-a-week-since 1993.



"We need to meet our customers' demands. However, we certainly consider people's family life and that is why we are co-ordinating with the union on how to do this schedule and look for the best options," said Ms Seppings.



She disputed the claims made by the employees that they have never been given bonuses, saying employees get a monthly bonus depending on their job grade.



The company has a total of 614 employees working in Bahrain, including 70 Bahrainis who work in the hub on shift, said Ms Seppings.