
Schedule acceleration is defined as an increase in the speed of development or progress from the normal experienced time or optimal time for the type and size project being planned within a given set of circumstances.
In conjunction with major specialty contractor organizations, the consultants at Hanna Consulting Group have recently developed new methods for analyzing the typical responses to schedule acceleration of overtime, overmanning, and shift work that is becoming the industry standard. HCG’s expertise in analyzing and preparing schedule acceleration and compression claims is unmatched: Take advantage of HCG’s unique abilities and experience in your next schedule acceleration claim.
There are three situations that typically cause schedule acceleration claims:
- The owner requires the contractor to complete the work earlier than originally needed.
- The owner requires additional work to be performed within the original time scale.
- Unforeseeable circumstances outside the control of the contractor cause a reduction of time available for completing the work.
In response to these situations, contractors have three primary options:
Overtime
Impact of Overtime

In response to an accelerated schedule, or to exploit the benefits of good weather, maximize equipment use, avoid penalty clauses or to achieve bonus clauses, beat strike or rate increase deadlines, in emergency rebuilding, or in outage work situations, contractors often implement overtime. Overtime is often preferred because it can produce a higher rate of progress without the coordination problems realized with shift work and the additional craftsmen needed for overmanning. However, overtime introduces additional problems including: fatigue, low morale, a higher cost per unit (typically a time and a half wage rate), a higher accident rate, increased absenteeism due to workers reaching 40 hours earlier in the week, and a phenomenon first described by the U.S. Army where workers tend to pace themselves to adjust for a longer work day or week. This phenomenon emerges because workers expend effort and energy at a rate established by a long period(s) of adaptation. When work hours are extended, it has been noticed that workers tend to adjust their pace (subconsciously) as to accomplish the same amount of work as would be completed in a typical eight hour day.
The listed problems reduce labor productivity, presenting contractors with the problem of increased costs. When overtime is owner mandated or necessitated by job conditions beyond the control of the contractor, compensation is justified not only for the direct costs of a time and a half or double time wage rate, but also for the costs incurred from the lost productivity caused by the overtime schedule. Hanna Consulting Group can help you recover these lost costs from overtime using a variety of techniques, many of which our consultants have developed and published with major contracting organizations, leading journals, and in technical reports. We have the experience to select the correct method of overtime evaluation for the specific attributes of your claim and the expertise to prepare the results of our analysis to recover the costs you deserve.
Overmanning
Impact of Overmanning

The most common response by contractors to an accelerated or compressed schedule is the implementation of overmanning. Overmanning is preferred because it can produce a higher rate of progress without the fatigue problems of overtime and the coordination problems realized with shift work. However, overmanning introduces additional problems including: site congestion, stacking of trades, the dilution of supervision, a higher cost per unit hour (a result of additional crew members being inadequately trained), a higher accident rate, and supply chain inefficiencies (due to materials and tools being consumed at a much faster rate). The aforementioned problems confront contractors with a significant increase in total costs since they act to reduce productivity per manhour.
When schedule acceleration or compression occurs, and overmanning is used, the contractor is entitled not only for the direct costs of the extra workers but also for the impact costs caused by the productivity losses present with overmanning. Hanna Consulting Group can help you recover the cost of these productivity losses using quantitative analysis techniques, developed by our consultants for the specialty trades industry in conjunction with NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association), MCAA (Mechanical Contractors Association of America), and SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors). Take advantage of HCG’s expertise in overmanning in the preparation of your next claim for impacts from schedule acceleration.
Shift Work
Impact of Shift Work

Another possible response by contractors to an accelerated schedule is the implementation of a second shift. Shift work is sometimes preferred because it can produce a higher rate of progress without the immediate fatigue problems of overtime (via a fresh crew) and the congestion problems realized with overmanning. In addition, premium payment to a second shift is typically lower than that of overtime. However, shift work introduces additional problems including: extensive worker coordination, increased absenteeism and turnover, the unavailability of higher management, a higher cost per unit hour (as a result of paying for the shift differential), a higher accident rate, and interruptions of the workers’ natural biorhythms resulting in fatigue. (Simply stated, humans are designed to work during the day and sleep at night. Working incongruously with natural preferences affects both an individual’s health and job performance.)
The problems associated with the use of shifts confront contractors with a significant increase in total costs since they act to reduce productivity per additional manhour. When shift work is implemented in response to owner mandate or schedule acceleration not due to your actions, you are entitled to compensation beyond the direct wage costs. The productivity inefficiencies that occur due to using shift work should also be compensated for by the owner. In preparing an additional request for payment or a claim, Hanna Consulting Group can help you recover your full costs using accepted methodologies that the consultants at HCG developed in coordination with major specialty contractor organizations. Let us use our expertise for you.