Improve operational efficiency with Cross-Location Open Shifts

by | Oct 16, 2024 | Technology | 0 comments

This article is contributed. See the original author and article here.

We’re excited to introduce the cross-location shifts feature in Microsoft Shifts app, designed to enhance flexibility and efficiency for both frontline managers and workers. Currently in public preview, this feature empowers businesses to better manage staffing across multiple locations while giving employees more control over their schedules.


 


For Frontline Managers


With cross-location shifts, managers can offer open shifts across various teams and locations, helping to balance workforce needs, fill last-minute gaps, and improve customer satisfaction. By turning on the cross-location feature in Shifts settings, managers can post open shifts that employees from other locations can request, ensuring their store or site is always fully staffed.


 


Managers will be notified when employees from other locations request shifts and can easily approve or decline requests. Once approved, workers from other locations will appear in your schedule as external employees, making it seamless to track staff across locations.


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For Frontline Workers


The cross-location feature provides more flexibility for employees, allowing them to pick up open shifts at different locations that suit their schedules. Workers can view open shifts at other sites and submit a request to pick up the shift. Once approved by the manager at that location, the shift will appear in their schedule.


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Getting Started


For IT Admins: To enable cross-location open shifts in your organization, follow the steps outlined here: Set up open shifts across locations in Shifts for your frontline – Microsoft 365 for frontline workers | Microsoft Learn


For Managers and Workers: Learn more about using this feature here: Use open shifts across locations in Shifts – Microsoft Support


What’s coming next:



  1. Manager of employees can opt in for approval when they are working at other locations in addition to approval of the target store manager

  2. Manager of employee can view the location name in the team schedule when they are working at other locations


This powerful new feature helps businesses optimize staffing, enhance worker flexibility, and improve overall operational efficiency. Stay tuned as we refine this feature during its public preview phase, and we encourage you to share your feedback!


Please take a moment to share your feedback/questions on this feature via this brief survey (https://aka.ms/CrossLocationShifts) and include your email for any further queries. We’re eager to connect with you!


 


 


 


 


 

Brought to you by Dr. Ware, Microsoft Office 365 Silver Partner, Charleston SC.

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