vuoroilla

Vuoroilla is the adessive plural form of the Finnish noun vuoro, which refers to a work shift, turn, or rotation in a schedule. In Finnish, the adessive case expresses location or time, so vuoroilla is used to say something happens “on the shifts” or “during shifts.” The term is commonly used in workplaces where work is organized in rotating periods, such as hospitals, factories, and service industries.

Usage and meaning: Vuoroilla appears in sentences describing activities linked to shifts, the presence of staff on different shifts, or scheduling across multiple shifts. It emphasizes the contextual time frame of the shifts rather than a single shift. The phrase is often paired with verbs related to work or scheduling, for example, “Henkilöstö työskentelee vuoroilla” (The staff works in shifts) or “Aamuvuorot, iltavuorot ja yövuorot ovat vuoroilla” (Morning, evening, and night shifts are on the schedule).

Context and related terms: Vuoroilla is part of a broader vocabulary for shift work in Finnish, which also includes terms like vuoro (shift), vuorotyö (shift work), and vuorolista (shift roster). These terms are used across industries that rely on rotating coverage, such as healthcare, manufacturing, transport, and hospitality.

Examples:

- Henkilöstö työskentelee vuoroilla.

- Aikataulussa on kolme vuoroa: aamuvuoro, iltavuoro ja yövuoro; kaikki ovat vuoroilla kiertäneessä järjestelmässä.

- Sairaalassa hoitajat ovat vuoroilla ympäri vuorokauden.

See also: vuoro, vuorotyö, vuorolista, vuorosuunnittelu.