What is Employee Scheduling Software?

Employee scheduling software (or staff scheduling software) is designed to help businesses efficiently manage and organize employee schedules and assign jobs or tasks. The software automates the process of creating, managing, and communicating work schedules to employees. It is commonly used in industries such as retail, hospitality, service-based businesses, and manufacturing, where shift work is more common. 

‍

Employee scheduling software features 

Common employee scheduling software features include 

• Schedule creation — As the name suggests, employee scheduling software allows managers to create work schedules by assigning shifts, time slots, and tasks to individual employees or groups. Some, like MarketBox, also have the option to pass job requests directly to employees who can decide which to take on, making it the perfect solution for businesses working with contractors or running service marketplaces. 

• Shift management — Staff scheduling software enables managers to define the different types of shifts, such as day shifts, night shifts, or rotating shifts. Then they can easily allocate and adjust shifts based on employee availability and skill sets. 

• Availability management — Employees can input their availability and time-off requests into the system, which helps managers consider individual preferences and availability when creating schedules. 

• Schedule conflict resolution — Staff scheduling software can help managers identify (and avoid) scheduilng conflicts such as double bookings or overlapping shifts, and receive alerts if they need to make adjustments. 

• Communication tools — Most employee scheduling software will automatically distribute schedules either through email, mobile apps, or employee portals. Employees can access their schedules, view shift details, and receive notifications about any changes or updates. 

• Time tracking and attendance monitoring — Some employee scheduling software includes time-tracking features, allowing employees to clock in and out, record breaks, and track their worked hours automatically. Automated time tracking helps to streamline payroll, reduce time theft, and ensure accurate record keeping. 

• Reporting and analytics — Scheduling software can generate reports and insights on various aspects of workforce management, including shift coverage, labor costs, and employee attendance. These insights can assist managers in making data-driven decisions and optimizing workforce management. 

‍

‍

Benefits of employee scheduling software 

Time and cost saving 

Employee scheduling software automates the scheduling process, eliminating the need for manual and time-consuming scheduling tasks. This save valuable time for managers, allowing them to focus on other important aspects of their work. Additionally, staff scheduling software helps optimize labor costs by ensuring that schedules align with demand and avoid overstaffing or understaffing situations. 

Improved efficiency and schedule accuracy 

The software streamlines the scheduling process, making it more efficient and accurate. It eliminates the risk of human errors, such as double booking or scheduling conflicts, and helps to minimize downtime between appointments. By considering employee availability, skills, and preferences, the software can create balanced and fair schedules that meet both business and employee requirements. 

Enhanced employee satisfaction 

Employee scheduling software enables employees to input their availability, submit time-off requests, and view their schedules in advance. This empowers employees by giving them more control and visibility over their work schedules, leading to improved work-life balance and increased job satisfaction. 

Improved shift coverage 

With the ability to track employee availability and preferences, the software ensures that shifts are appropriately staffed, avoiding over and under-staffing situations. Employee scheduling software can also identify scheduling gaps and send alerts to make the necessary adjustments. 

Easier labor law compliance 

Employee scheduling software can assist businesses in complying with labor laws, union agreements, and other regulatory requirements. The software can enforce rules regarding overtime, breaks, rest periods, and shift rotations, helping to avoid compliance issues or penalties. 

Simpler communication 

The software makes it easy to share and update schedules, notify employees about changes, and track vacation requests by providing a centralized platform for managers and employees to communicate regarding schedules. 

‍

What makes MarketBox the best employee scheduling software for mobile workforces 

MarketBox is the first scheduling software specifically designed for businesses offering in-home and mobile services. The software’s travel zone feature makes it possible to control when and where individual employees operate and group appointments by location to minimize travel time. For businesses employing contractors, the provider confirmation feature enables you to send customer requests directly to providers, who can accept or decline jobs for more control over their schedules. 

‍

To find out more about MarketBox and how it can handle your employee scheduling, book a personalized demo with the team today.

‍