Remember that DS9 (and the Defiant) operate on a 26-hour day because Bajor has a 26- hour day. That means a three-shift rotation would have people working an extra 40 minutes each day compared to an Earth-normalized ship (almost nine hours a day).
A four-shift rotation requires everyone to work six and a half hours a day.
Hell, the idea for a three-shift rotation was probably Starfleet’s idea. And the Bajorans probably went along with it just because they recently got away from pulling 18-hour days!
Remember that DS9 (and the Defiant) operate on a 26-hour day because Bajor has a 26- hour day. That means a three-shift rotation would have people working an extra 40 minutes each day compared to an Earth-normalized ship (almost nine hours a day).
A four-shift rotation requires everyone to work six and a half hours a day.
Hell, the idea for a three-shift rotation was probably Starfleet’s idea. And the Bajorans probably went along with it just because they recently got away from pulling 18-hour days!