Employee Scheduling Software Key Terms

Save time with these important employee scheduling software terms

By Sandy Baker

Purchasing employee scheduling software is one of the best ways that businesses can cut costs and promote a highly effective scheduling program. Consider many types of software for this need. Some terms are common throughout these programs including labor cost, recurrence scheduling, automatic scheduling and paid time off tracking. Other companies have very specific terms designed solely for their products. Understanding the terms associated with employee scheduling software can help a business make better decisions about the products they purchase.

Automatic scheduling

Automatic scheduling, sometimes called auto fill formats, allow employees to work shifts matched to their preferences. Most software programs offer automatic scheduling features, including several options to give employees more ability to log their scheduling requests.
Try: WhenToWork provides more information about automatic scheduling in its FAQ section.

Labor cost

Some types of employee scheduling software help to minimize overtime by managing labor cost. This is the cost of employing people and includes wages as compared to sales.
Try: ScheduleAnywhere offers information on labor cost and how their software product helps to manage it. Look about halfway down the page of features to find out how to reduce overtime.

Paid time off tracking

Paid time off tracking is a feature offered by many scheduling software programs. It is the ability to track when employees are not at work, but are being paid through sick days, vacation days or other personal days. Tracking paid time off enables a business to reduce labor costs and to monitor abuses in these policies.
Try: Internal Systems offers Paid Time Off Software and provides more information on this type of tracking.

Recurrence scheduling

Some software programs offer recurrence scheduling or specific features that wil automate the scheduling process. It creates a template and schedules based on information provided in the employee database.
Try: TimeCurve Software offers a recurrence scheduling application and provides more information on how this type of feature works.

User interface

A common term found on many employee software programs is user interface. It is everything that is designed for individual input, including display screens, characters and help menus used in the software.
Try: TechTarget offers more information on what a user interface is.

Shift patterns

Shift patterns are the way people work, such as rotating schedules, continuous, weekend shifts and staggered shift patterns. Some software programs help to analyze and make suggestions regarding effective shift pattern use.
Try: Intellicate offers a good explanation of what shift patterns are and how it affects employees.