How many employees does it take to staff a position 24/7?
A position staffed around the clock means 8,760 hours a year. One full-time person works far fewer: here is the calculation, assumption by assumption.
It takes about 4.56 full-time people to staff one position 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A year has 8,760 hours; a person working 40 hours a week is available about 1,921 hours once 2 weeks of vacation, 8 statutory holidays and 15 hours of other absences are removed.
In short
- 8,760 hours to cover per year versus about 1,921 hours actually available per person: 4.56 people.
- With 3 weeks of vacation (after 3 years of service), the need rises to about 4.66 people.
- This does not count breaks or shift overlaps: the real need is often slightly higher.
- Software does not replace these people: it can provide continuity for specific tasks (see below).
How do you calculate the number of people for a 24/7 position?
Divide the hours to cover by the hours one person can actually work in a year. It is not 168 ÷ 40 = 4.2: vacation, statutory holidays and absences reduce each person's availability.
How does the need change with the assumptions?
| Coverage | Hours per year | 2 weeks of vacation | 3 weeks of vacation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 h × 7 d | 8,760 | 4.56 | 4.66 |
| 16 h × 7 d (e.g. 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) | 5,840 | 3.04 | 3.10 |
| 12 h × 7 d | 4,380 | 2.28 | 2.33 |
| 8 h × 7 d | 2,920 | 1.52 | 1.55 |
40 h per week, 8 statutory holidays, 15 h of other absences. With 3 weeks: 1,881 h available per person.
What this means for a service SMB
A reception desk open evenings and weekends quickly costs three to five salaries. That is why most SMBs switch the phone off at 5 p.m. and let messages pile up until the next day. Measure what those closed hours represent with the missed-call cost calculator.
Calculate the cost of each person with the true employee cost calculator, then multiply by the number of people found here to get the cost of continuous coverage.
Frequently asked questions
Why not simply 168 hours divided by 40?
Because 168 ÷ 40 = 4.2 assumes each person works 52 weeks with no vacation, holiday or absence. Once those hours are removed, a person is available about 1,921 hours a year instead of 2,080, hence 4.56 people.
Are breaks counted?
No. If the position must be staffed even during breaks and shift changes, you need overlap, which increases the need. The calculator gives a minimum.
How many statutory holidays are there in Quebec?
Quebec's Act respecting labour standards provides 8 paid statutory holidays, including the June 24 national holiday. A person who works one of those days is entitled to an indemnity or a compensatory day off, which does not change the hours to cover.
What about part-time employees?
The calculation gives full-time equivalents (FTEs). You can spread 4.56 FTEs across more part-time people, but each is also entitled to prorated vacation and holidays.
Can software replace these people?
Not for everything. Software can handle some tasks continuously, such as online booking or drafting replies, but a person is still needed for judgment calls, physical presence or approvals.
Sources
- CNESST, Vacances annuelles (accessed on October 15, 2026).
- Union des producteurs agricoles, Fiche 3 — Paie et déductions salariales (jours fériés) (accessed on October 15, 2026).
- Gouvernement du Québec, Déductions de base au 1er janvier 2026 (RRQ, RRQ2, assurance-emploi, RQAP, CNESST, FSS) (accessed on October 15, 2026).
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