Job rotation is a strategy where employees rotate between jobs in the same company. Employees take on new tasks at a different job for a period of time before rotating back to their original position. Swapping work is a type of job rotation. A role change takes place in which the employees take over each other’s tasks. Swapping can take place within one company, but also between different (noncompetitive) companies. It is limited in time. The exchange can also take place between companies in different countries.
Pros: • Allows to interrupt the routine and try something new without changing the company
• Allows for identifying where employees work best
• Develop skills
• Get insight into what colleagues do
• Promote flexibility
• Employee stays “in the house” and can easily be contacted if needed (in the case of job rotation)
Cons:
• Needs training and time to do the new job effectively
• May create stress and confusion among employees
• Not feasible in some industries (e.g. highly narrow skilled professions)
• Processes do not work as smoothly as one is used to
This information was part of the SASSI LLC training materials. If you want to learn more, visit the Ambassadors for Mobility on the SASSI Hub.
