Roster management

Roster management

Roster management meaning

Roster management in HR refers to the creation and maintenance of employee work schedules. Effective roster management ensures that the right number of employees with the appropriate skills are available to meet the operational demands of the business at any given time. 

HRs should understand roster management as it helps them create and manage rosters. It also helps with giving allowances and doing payroll based on shifts.

Best practices for roster management in HR

Here are some tips and key elements for HRs to remember regarding roster management.

Roster management

Understand the requirements

Operational needs: Determine the number of employees needed for various shifts, considering the peak and off-peak periods.

Skill mix: Identify the skill sets required for different roles and schedule employees accordingly.

Consider employee preferences

Whenever possible, consider employees' shift preferences, days off, and any other personal requirements. This can improve job satisfaction and reduce turnover.

Flexible scheduling

Adopting flexible scheduling can address sudden changes in demand and employee availability. For instance, consider options like flex-time, compressed workweeks, and part-time work.

Fairness and equality

Ensure that shifts, especially undesirable ones (e.g., night shifts), are distributed fairly among the staff. Rotate employees through various shifts so that no one is consistently scheduled during unfavorable times.

Compliance with labor laws

Always be aware of labor laws and regulations related to working hours, overtime, rest periods, and other related matters. Non-compliance can lead to legal issues and financial penalties.

Use technology

There are many software solutions and tools available that can automate the rostering process, predict staffing needs, and help in creating efficient rosters.

Plan for absenteeism

There will always be unforeseen situations where employees are absent. Always have a backup plan or a pool of part-time or on-call staff to fill in when needed.

Communication

Clearly communicate the roster to all employees well in advance. This allows them to plan their personal lives around their work schedules and voice any concerns or requests for changes.

Feedback mechanism

Encourage feedback from employees regarding the rostering process. This will help in identifying pain points and making necessary improvements.

Regular review and update

Periodically review the rostering process to ensure it aligns with the evolving needs of the business and its employees.

Emergency preparedness

In some industries (like healthcare), emergency situations can arise, leading to sudden demand spikes. Having an emergency roster or plan can help address these situations swiftly.

Training and cross-training

Train employees in multiple roles if possible. Cross-training can help in situations where you have a shortage in a particular skill set.

Read: Difference between training and development

Forecasting

Use historical data, sales forecasts, and other relevant metrics to predict staffing needs. This allows for better planning and minimizes under or over-staffing.

Top 5 HR roster management software and tools

When considering any roster making software solution, it's essential to evaluate it based on the specific needs of your organization, ensuring that the software's features align with your operational requirements. Moreover, always consider scalability, customer support, integration capabilities, and user feedback before making a decision.

Lenvica

Overview: Lenvica offers a range of HR and payroll software solutions tailored for various organizational needs. Their roster management software focuses on effective scheduling, ensuring that the right personnel are allocated to the right jobs at the right times.

Key Features: Employee shift management, attendance tracking, integration with other HR processes, and detailed reporting capabilities.

Zoho People

Overview: Zoho People is a part of the extensive Zoho suite of business tools. It's a comprehensive HR solution catering to businesses of all sizes.

Key Features: Time tracking, attendance management, leave management, performance appraisal system, employee self-service portal, and seamless integration with other Zoho products.

TimeLabs

Overview: TimeLabs provides software solutions aimed at streamlining HR processes, with an emphasis on time and attendance management.

Key Features: Real-time attendance tracking, biometric integration, leave and holiday management, shift scheduling, and employee self-service portal.

SourceForge

Overview: While SourceForge is primarily known as a platform for open-source software distribution, it does host a variety of HR and roster management software tools, both open-source and commercial.

Key Features: The features will largely depend on the specific software tool you're looking at on SourceForge. In general, the platform allows for user reviews, ratings, and direct software downloads.

INX Software

Overview: INX Software offers a range of products tailored towards workforce management, compliance, logistics, and more.

Key Features: Depending on the specific INX product, features can range from training and competence management, health and safety compliance, rostering and logistics, to environmental and sustainability management.

Frequently asked questions

What is roster responsibility?

If you have been given roster responsibility, then it could mean you have to assign employees to different shifts/locations in your company and communicate the tasks and responsibilities. You have to manage the roster system without it hampering any operations.

What is a roster in HR department?

Roster management in HR refers to the creation and maintenance of employee work schedules. Effective roster management ensures that the right number of employees with the appropriate skills are available to meet the operational demands of the business at any given time. 

HRs should understand roster management as it helps them create and manage rosters. It also helps with giving allowances and doing payroll based on shifts.