Employee scheduling is one of the most time-consuming activities for a manager. Thousands of employees make it difficult to manage schedules, and many managers lack expertise in this area.
Although there’s no way to avoid mistakes entirely, this article provides seven common mistakes that managers should be wary of as well as suggestions for avoiding them.
The following are some of the most common employee scheduling mistakes and how to avoid them:
1. Setting Unrealistic Deadlines
Managers need to provide employees with enough time to schedule their work hours but not too much time that deadlines become unrealistic. Employees should complete their work within the given time, and managers should not take too much personal time in completing this task. Employers can determine a reasonable deadline during the first week of scheduling.
2. Setting Too Many Alternating Shifts
Changing shifts on the same day every week is more difficult for employees than changing once over two or three days.
Not only can it be challenging to remember which shift you are working that week, but it also leads to higher rates of mistakes and lower morale. Employees should have a set number of alternating work days each week.
Employee scheduling software apps allow employees to enter their availability and can be set up by employers to incorporate alternating shifts and workdays.
The apps can also alert employees of their weekly work schedules and can be quickly changed if they request time off or have any scheduling issues.
3. Not Providing Employees Enough Time Off.
Allowing employees to take paid time off from work benefits many employers offer their employees in exchange for working long hours and weekends.
Although employers need to maintain a full staff, they also need to consider the needs of their employees when scheduling shifts. Employees should have at least two weekends off per month and one whole weekend each quarter of the year.
4. Not Giving Enough Notice To Employees Who Are Working Overtime
Employees who work over 41 hours a week should be given at least two weeks’ advance notice if their schedule changes. Especially on holidays, employers should provide employees with more time when they request it because many employees make plans around working that day.
Managers can avoid many overtime scheduling issues by using scheduling software to input their availability and request time off. Management is a seminal factor in improving employee performance, of which scheduling is essential.
5. Not Taking Into Consideration Employees’ Personal Commitments When Scheduling Them For Shifts
Employers should consider family, school, work, and other obligations when assigning employee schedules to help prevent conflicts that are not worth causing an employee to miss a commitment.
Although this may require employers to give employees more time off or restrict them from working overtime, it will also help prevent employee mistakes and lower turnover rates.
6. Not Providing Enough Coverage For Employees Absent From Work
Managers need to ensure that employees working over 40 hours a week have sufficient coverage when they take time off.
Without that availability, employees are more likely to work overtime or visit the emergency room when they are sick because no one is available to cover their shifts. There is software to help employers with employee attendance that can help with this issue.
Employees can enter their availability when using scheduling software which will generate a schedule for the following week with enough coverage hours if any employees need time off. Managers should also always have a list of employees who are available to work if any issues arise.
Employers need to be flexible with their schedules to make sure they offer the best benefits for employees. Employee scheduling software is an increasingly popular option that can help employers create fair schedules, maintain consistent staffing levels, and save time. By assisting managers in scheduling employees more efficiently, these apps can also improve productivity in the workplace.