Understanding Shift Bidding Versus Volunteering for Overtime

SchedulePro offers various features that empower employees to express their interest in working regular or overtime shifts. Two of the most frequently used features for this purpose are Shift Bidding and Volunteering for Overtime. In this article, we will clarify the distinctions between these two functionalities to help you effectively utilize them.

Bidding on an Open Shift

The Shift Bidding feature enables schedulers to post open shifts, allowing employees to place bids for the opportunity to work these shifts.

It's important to note that Shift Bidding is specific to the exact shift details including the precise position, location and shift.

Shifts can either be automatically assigned or manually assigned to employees based on your organization's shift bidding settings and workflow.

Employees can bid on open shifts using the mobile app.

Volunteering for Overtime

Volunteering for Overtime allows for the employee to express their willingness to work additional shifts, without specifying the exact position or area they want to work in. This feature is not bound by the particulars of a position or area.

For instance, an employee can volunteer to work the day shift on a Monday, but they won't have the option to choose their desired area or position for that shift.

Schedulers have visibility into the list of employees who have volunteered for overtime, which enables them to make informed shift assignments based on operational needs. Once the scheduler has made a shift assignment, the employee who volunteered will be promptly notified.

Employees can volunteer for overtime using the mobile app.

Using Shift Bidding and Volunteer Overtime: Flexibility for Your Scheduling Needs

One of the strengths of SchedulePro is its adaptability to meet your organization's unique scheduling practices and preferences. You have the flexibility to choose to utilize the Shift Bidding and Volunteer Overtime features independently or in tandem.

Independent Use

Shift Bidding: If your organization primarily values allowing employees to choose specific shifts based on their preferences and qualifications, you can opt to use the Shift Bidding feature as a standalone tool. This enables your employees to actively participate in the shift allocation process and make selections based on their preferences.

Volunteer Overtime: On the other hand, if you simply need a way for employees to express their interest in working overtime without specifying shift details, you can use Volunteer Overtime independently. This approach streamlines the process of identifying employees available for additional work hours when overtime opportunities arise.

Combined Use

Alternatively, you can choose to leverage both Shift Bidding and Volunteer Overtime together. This hybrid approach allows you to strike a balance between providing employees with the ability to bid on specific shifts they desire while also maintaining a pool of volunteers for overtime needs.

The decision to use these features independently, together, or in a customized manner is entirely at your discretion. SchedulePro empowers you to tailor your scheduling practices to align with your organization's unique workflow and priorities.

Shuffles are not available for Bids because employees are specifying exactly what they are signing up for. They can, however, be used with Overtime Volunteering since employees are generically signing up to work anything they’re qualified for on a specific day and for a specific time frame.


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