Aug 6, 2023

Easy Employee Shift Planning Ideas That You Can Implement Now

As a manager, you have many duties, and employee shift planning can often be time-consuming and stressful. It can feel like a never-ending challenge, from ensuring that your team is available during peak business hours to keeping track of time off requests and overtime. However, by adopting simple techniques and tools, you can simplify the process, increase employee satisfaction, and improve your bottom line.

Set Clear Expectations for Managers and Employees

One of the keys to successful shift planning is having clear expectations for managers and employees. When everyone knows what is expected of them, it smoother the scheduling process and reduces chaos and frustration. Consider clarifying roles and responsibilities, outlining availability expectations, and estimating employee strengths and preferences when designing your shift plans. According to a survey by Society for Human Resource Management, 74% of employees felt that clear communication from their employer improved their job satisfaction.

Establish Standard Operating Hours

Establishing standard operating hours (SOHs) is critical in effective shift planning. Knowing your company's hours of operation allows you to structure employee shifts accordingly, ensuring that you have the right people in place when customers need them most. SOHs also provide a foundation for other vital attributes, such as break times and overtime policies. When employees know exactly when their shifts start and finish, it removes some guesswork associated with scheduling and improves overall job satisfaction. A study by the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management found that having consistent operating hours increased customer satisfaction by 12%.

Automated Time Tracking

Automated time tracking can simplify the process of keeping track of employee attendance. Allowing employees to clock in and out quickly eliminates manual paperwork and lessens the risk of errors and inaccuracies. In addition, this information is instantly revised in attendance records, making it easy for supervisors to review hours worked and quickly assess staffing levels. According to a report by the American Payroll Association, automated time tracking can reduce timekeeping errors by up to 90%.

Create your rota straight from your payroll app

Our intuitive and easy-to-use rota builder makes creating your rotas a breeze. Add, edit and publish shifts when you are ready to notify your staff. Single shifts or entire weeks can be copied and pasted saving hours of tedious planning. Synced with payroll.

Monitor Overtimes and Last-Minute Requests with Policies

Managing overtime, employee availability, and last-minute requests can be challenging without clear policies. To ensure everyone is on the same page, consider creating a system that includes consistent expectations, clear guidelines, and rewards or incentives for good attendance. If you notice that some employees are overworking themselves while others are taking advantage of the system, establish rules to prevent this from happening. A survey by Forbes found that 70% of employees felt that having clear policies improved their work-life balance.

Use a Scheduling Software

Scheduling software such as Moonworkers can simplify the process of employee shift planning, allowing managers to create custom plans that meet the needs of each department or employee. In addition, automated notifications and real-time updates make it easier to manage shifts, track time off requests, and monitor attendance. As a result, you can increase productivity and boost your bottom line by eliminating manual processes and reducing the time it takes to schedule employees. According to a study by Software Advice, businesses that use scheduling software experience a 30% increase in productivity compared to those that do not.

In conclusion, effective employee shift planning is essential for any business looking to improve efficiency and increase employee satisfaction. By setting clear expectations, establishing standard operating hours, automated time tracking, implementing overtime and last-minute requests policies, and utilising scheduling software, you can simplify the process and focus on what matters - growing your business.