--- title: [Real Life HR] Struggling to Fill Schedules description: Here are a few things you can do to offer your employees flexibility, while still maintaining the scheduled coverage you need. image: https://blog.ahola.com/hubfs/schedule.jpg --- Start typing and press Enter to search * * # [Real Life HR] Struggling to Fill Schedules [Home](https://www.ahola.com/) » [News & Events](https://blog.ahola.com/real-life-hr-struggling-to-fill-schedules) » [Real Life HR] Struggling to Fill Schedules [2023-04-17%2017:47:34](2023-04-17%2017:47:34) ![](https://blog.ahola.com/hubfs/schedule.jpg) ## [Real Life HR] Struggling to Fill Schedules By [ Ahola Corporation ](https://blog.ahola.com/author/ahola-corporation)  Posted [ April 17, 2023](2023-04-17%2017:47:34)  In  [Payroll](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/payroll), [Employee Engagement](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/employee-engagement), [Human Resources](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/human-resources), [Training & Development](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/training-development), [Employees](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/employees), [Hiring](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/hiring), [Time & Attendance](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/time-attendance) - - - - - Q: W**e want to offer more flexibility but have a hard time staffing our shifts as it is. Any suggestions?** **A:** It’s great that you are considering offering more flexibility to your employees. This is one way to increase retention and give your employees some control over their time at work. There are a few things you can do to offer flexibility while still maintaining the coverage you need: - Implement self-scheduling. Self-scheduling is when you let your employees know what shifts are needed and allow them to choose when they are going to work. [**You can use software**](https://ahola.com/time-attendance/) or a paper calendar, but allowing employees some choice over the days and times that they will work gives them control over their week. This will also offload some of the manager’s responsibilities of regularly making a schedule. - Communicate with employees about open shifts and encourage them to share changes to their schedule with managers or the team to keep shifts covered. - Offer incentives, such as [**bonuses**](https://blog.ahola.com/how-to-tax-a-bonus-check) or shift pay, to persuade staff to pick up additional or less desirable shifts. - Offer cross training. Not only does this give your employees the opportunity to learn a new skill, but it will give everyone more flexibility as they can cover different shifts and roles. - Look at offering a variety of shift lengths or different starting times. Determine what shifts would work to provide the coverage you need and then work with your employees to discuss which options they would like to see. *This Q&A does not constitute legal advice and does not address state or local law.* ### Reply a Comment ## RELATED POSTS [![](https://blog.ahola.com/hubfs/christina-wocintechchat-com-HocFQHhGjDE-unsplash.jpg) ](https://blog.ahola.com/real-life-hr-employees-arent-getting-along) [[Real Life HR] Employees Aren't Getting Along](https://blog.ahola.com/real-life-hr-employees-arent-getting-along) [![](https://blog.ahola.com/hubfs/us%20immigration.jpg) ](https://blog.ahola.com/can-you-ask-applicants-about-their-immigration-status) [[Real Life HR] Can You Ask Applicants About Their Immigration Status?](https://blog.ahola.com/can-you-ask-applicants-about-their-immigration-status) [![](https://blog.ahola.com/hubfs/blog%20stock%20frame%20(13)-1.png) ](https://blog.ahola.com/real-life-hr-what-employers-need-to-know-before-implementing-reference-checks) [[Real Life HR] What Employers Need to Know Before Implementing Reference Checks](https://blog.ahola.com/real-life-hr-what-employers-need-to-know-before-implementing-reference-checks) ## SUBSCRIBE ### Recent posts - [Professionalizing HR Without Losing Your Family Culture ](https://blog.ahola.com/professionalizing-hr-without-losing-your-family-culture) - [Why Encouraging Employees to Take Summer Vacation Benefits Your Workplace ](https://blog.ahola.com/why-encouraging-employees-to-take-summer-vacation-benefits-your-workplace) - [Ahola Named a 2026 Top Workplace — Six Years Running! ](https://blog.ahola.com/ahola-named-a-2026-top-workplace) - ### Topics - [Affordable Care Act (13)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/affordable-care-act) - [Benefits (223)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/benefits) - [Cybersecurity (1)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/cybersecurity) - [Employee Engagement (255)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/employee-engagement) - [Employees (603)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/employees) - [Family Business Insights (10)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/family-business-insights) - [Hiring (282)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/hiring) - [Human Resources (645)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/human-resources) - [Laws/Policies (26)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/laws-policies) - [Managing COVID-19 (153)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/managing-covid-19) - [News Release (56)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/news-release) - [Offboarding (3)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/offboarding) - [onboarding (7)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/onboarding) - [Payroll (428)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/payroll) - [Recruiting (142)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/recruiting) - [Safety (121)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/safety) - [Tax Compliance (230)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/tax-compliance) - [Time & Attendance (124)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/time-attendance) - [Training & Development (214)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/training-development) - [Trending Topic (75)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/trending-topic) - [Uncategorized (1)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/uncategorized) - [Webinars (69)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/webinars) - [Workers Comp (1)](https://blog.ahola.com/tag/workers-comp) [see all topics](https://blog.ahola.com/real-life-hr-struggling-to-fill-schedules#) ### GENERAL DISCLAIMER This blog is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and cannot constitute legal advice, because the authors are not licensed attorneys. Readers should not rely or act upon any information presented on this blog without seeking professional legal counsel. The views expressed in each post are those of the author, and the author alone; they are not the views of Ahola. The information provided in this blog is general, and based on information available as of the date of publishing. Information herein is provided on an “as is” or “as available” basis; we make no warranty of any kind to you regarding the information provided and disclaim any liability for damages from use of the blog or its content. Please consult an attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular question or issue. [![](https://blog.ahola.com/hubfs/emma-dau-n_4iTY1KmDE-unsplash.jpg) Do You Have a Best Friend at Work? Q: We want to offer more... ](https://blog.ahola.com/do-you-have-a-best-friend-at-work) [![](https://blog.ahola.com/hubfs/pexels-mikotoraw-photographer-3367850.jpg) 6 Ways to Prevent Burnout at Work Q: We want to offer more... ](https://blog.ahola.com/6-ways-to-prevent-burnout-at-work)