However, it’s one thing to be aware of them, and completely another to tackle them. By understanding common problems with multi-location employee scheduling and why they occur, we’ll make a first step toward resolving them. Efficient employee scheduling is a critical aspect of managing a business with multiple locations. When you have only one location, it can get messy, but when you have multiple locations, you have to think ahead and overcome the problems before they arise.
Having a clear and fair leave policy helps to keep your staff happy, regardless of whether you operate in the retail, restaurant, healthcare industries, or the non-profit sector. Apart from being a legal requirement for some employers, planning and providing schedules ahead of time saves you a headache and avoids confusion among your hourly staff. Your staff will also appreciate the courtesy of advance notice because they will be able to organize other aspects of their lives.
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As a result they usually all become more respectful and mindful of everybody’s agenda. Poor employee scheduling can have its toll on the business regardless of how great the employees are or how good of an idea for a business you have. Instead of wasting time on phone calls, customers can use an online booking calendar. This approach especially appeals to younger customers who prefer using laptops and smartphone apps to phone calls.
The benefits of labor forecasting aren’t limited to the bottom line. Improved labor forecasting allows businesses to support their employees’ work/life balance. It establishes the company’s reputation as a forward-thinking employer of choice in their labor market. Enter rules for predictive scheduling, overtime, meals and breaks, and union contracts. If you manage a long-term care facility, find a system with Payroll Based Journal tools. Employee retention is an important part of business success and with the right software and business processes in place, it can certainly help with workplace satisfaction.
For example, as hourly staff are entitled to overtime pay after working 40 hours, you could choose to be notified when a shift swap will result in overtime. You also have the option to approve the shift swap after you ensure that everything is in order. Whether your hourly workers are employees or volunteers, they will appreciate the independence to work with their colleagues to swap shifts. Plus, overtime alerts and meals/breaks management simplifies compliance. In fact, with scheduling software, employers can comply with workweek regulations while decreasing labor costs.
Using relevant industry tools, you can easily accommodate your complex scheduling needs. If you are able to choose a software program specifically designed for your industry, be sure to factor that into your final decision. The technology solution of scheduling software helps with business efficiency, effectiveness, and profitability. The bottom line is, scheduling software is the key to getting happier employees in the future. It helps ease the burden on employees because they can choose their availability, and this is taken into consideration when making schedules.
Final thought: Everyone wins with transparent scheduling
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Successful implementation and positive ROI demonstrate the software’s effectiveness and value. While establishing solid employee schedules is the first step, you’ll also want to examine individual staff schedules to get everyone on the same page.
This makes scheduling software an easy solution to scheduling problems, and for increasing employee morale. Scheduling in advance is the best way to avoid staff getting bogged down in timetable clashes or managers facing a lack of employee availability. It means that everyone knows what they’re doing, and staff are less likely to need to reschedule. Managers can plan their scheduling process according to budget goals, and staff feel their time is more respected. When you’re planning out work schedules, it helps to get input from employees. Beyond the occasional vacation request, each worker will have preferences between the different weekly shifts and teams. Employees can’t always get their first picks, but they will appreciate a chance to state their preferences.
Now that you know scheduling best practices, let’s take it to another level. Small businesses can use data like organizations with large data analysis departments. In reality, U.S. workers take less vacation time than many of their counterparts around the world. Some people believe this has contributed to a highly-stressed, unhealthy workforce.
Employees with common first and last names are likely to one day have at least one co-worker who shares their name. In cases like these, you’ll need to use a differentiator, like a middle name or initial. Join 140,000 other leaders and receive updates that will help you grow your business, inspire new ways to engage your employees, and resources to help your workplace run smoother.
