Several unique terms and phrases describe the features of software we review on this site, some easier to grasp than others. This list briefly defines terms relevant to Employee Scheduling Software.

Ratings

Feature Set

A category that scores the software's available tools and attributes, including total number of features and their overall effectiveness in creating and maintaining schedules.

Ease of Use/Setup

This rating addresses how easy the employee scheduling software is to run. This is an important aspect of this software, since employers look to it to help them simplify and increase their overall, employee-scheduling efficiency.

Reporting Capabilities

A general assessment of the reports offered by the employee scheduling software, including the total number of reports, the ability to view the daily, weekly and monthly schedule of employees. There may also be reports on how many shifts have been assigned, who's traded shifts and whether an employee has the time off they've requested.

Ease of Installation

This category rates how easy the employee scheduling software is to install on a computer. Higher scores are given to programs that offer easy-to-follow installation steps, don't produce errors and download quickly.

Features

Employee's Scheduled

The number of employees the software allows for scheduling. Some programs offer an unlimited number of employees, whereas other programs come with a restricted number of employees possible, which, for a fee, can be upgraded to handle additional employees.

Schedule for Multiple Locations

The program allows you to schedule and organize employees spread out over multiple locations. For example if you have employees in different buildings or departments of your company you are able to specify where that employee is located within your company and manage his or her schedule from one location.

Manage Employee Information

The employee scheduling software allows you to input all of your employees' personal information, which may include an employee's home address, phone number, wage and so on.

Printable Schedules

The program allows you to print all of your employee schedules into a single, combined schedule.

Print Individual Schedules

The software allows you to print an individual schedule for a specific employee.

Post Schedules Online

The program gives you the ability to post your schedules online or export them into an HTML format, to make them accessible through the Internet.

Import/Export Data

The program gives you the timesaving ability to import data from other sources into your employee scheduling software. The option to export data allows you to provide scheduling information in a variety of formats, including posting it online.

Backup/Restore Data

The employee scheduling software lets you backup and restore schedules. This feature is especially useful if the original schedules are corrupted or lost.

Password Protection

The program allows you to password protect your scheduling information, so you can limit access to the software and keep your employees' personal information private.

Schedule Creation Features

Schedule Setup Wizard

A built-in wizard that takes you step-by-step through the schedule-creation process.

Assigns Jobs/Projects/Assignments

Allows you to not only schedule the hours and days of your employees, but also assign tasks and jobs. This feature comes in handy for employers that use contracted employees, rather than hourly.

Schedule Full/Part Time Employees

The employee scheduling software allows you to schedule both fulltime and part-time employees.

Assign Multiple Shifts to Same Employee Same Day

Especially useful for employers that use lots of part-time employees, this feature lets you schedule multiple shorter shifts during the day for just one employee (i.e. three-hour shift in the morning and a two-hour shift at night).

Color Code your Shifts

A feature that makes a document containing multiple shifts easier to read.

Define Holidays

The program comes with pre-marked holidays to eliminate the possibility of scheduling employees on them.

Define Week Start Day

The employee scheduling software lets you assign any day of the week as the beginning of your workweek.

Warnings for Schedule Conflicts

The program warns you if you attempt to schedule an employee and it conflicts with hourly constraints or other issues.

Monthly View

Lets you view your employees' schedules by month.

Weekly View

Lets you view your employees' schedules by week.

Daily View

Lets you view your employees' schedules by hour, for a selected day.

Scheduline Views/Reports

Available Reports

The number of employee scheduling reports the software offers.

Shifts per Day/Employee

A report showing the number of shifts assigned for each day or each employee.

Employees

A report showing the number of employees working and the shifts they work.

Time-Off Summary

A report showing the amount of time an employee has off and whether they have enough to cover a requested leave.

Weekly Employee Hours

A payroll report showing the number of hours an employee is scheduled per week.

Daily Schedule

A report that generates a daily schedule for all employees.

Weekly Schedule

A report that creates a weekly schedule for all employees.

Monthly Schedule

A Report that generates a monthly schedule for all employees.

Help/Documentation

Phone Support

The software manufacturer offers customer assistance by telephone; this is handy when you've read help files yet still have questions.

Help Documentation

A written form of help support that's available for the software.

Link to Manufacturer

A quick link that's built into the program's help section and takes you directly to the manufacturer's website.

Tutorials/Tour

The software offers a tutorial or product tour to help you learn the software faster.

FAQ

Most websites post a list of "Frequently Asked Questions" to address common customer concerns. This is the first place you should check when you need quick answers to software questions.

eMail/Online Form

The manufacturer offers an email address or an online form for technical support.

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