Manually scheduling employees in any type of business is widely considered a daunting task. Every week, time is spent on employee scheduling. The more employees the business has, the more complex the scheduling workload will be. For an already overloaded manager, trying to make time for this repetitive task can be extremely stressful.
Luckily, there are many employee scheduling software programs that will do the bulk of the work for you, such as Paycom Payroll LLC, 7shifts, and Deputy. With software programs like these, management will have an array of benefits that will not only make their lives easier but the employees’ lives as well.
Collaborative Scheduling
One of the best features of implementing scheduling software is it allows collaboration between both management and the employees. Employees can mark the times and days they are available to work and can easily trade shifts amongst each other. This is especially useful for employees who are juggling school and work. There should be some ground rules in place for this scheduling freedom, but overall this increases employee satisfaction and takes some of the burdens off of management.
Saves You Time
Saving time is one of the top reasons management looks to implement scheduling software in their business rhythm. As mentioned earlier, using the pen-and-paper method takes a lot of time. Scheduling software is undeniably a time-saver for management, allowing them to use their time and energy on other important business tasks.
Access Schedules Remotely
Another impressive benefit to having scheduling software is that most of the programs offer remote accessibility for both management and the employees. Being able to see the real-time schedule 24/7 can reduce shift confusion, such as misreading the schedule or forgetting shift days or times. Being able to have full remote access can dramatically minimize miscommunication and help the business run much more smoothly.
Reliable Metrics
Metrics and reports are essential to see patterns, trends, and progress in your business so you can accurately forecast future requirements. Management can utilize staffing metrics from scheduling software to track and analyze patterns, such as workload and productivity. This will help with adequately forecasting future staffing needs. Metrics can also provide business information, such as busy and slow times of the year, so you can schedule accordingly. Measuring statistics is just one way businesses can leverage metrics for greater success.
Protects Against Labor Law Violations
A significant scheduling software benefit is the ability to help businesses avoid labor law violations. Abiding by the law and staying compliant can be difficult. In fact, many companies tend to ignore this, which is terrible practice. Scheduling software tools drastically reduce the probability of breaking labor laws and getting hefty fines. Many applications have a built-in notification system that will alert you when you are not adhering to the labor law. For example, if you scheduled someone to work too many days without a day off, the software will notify you so you can fix it.
