Basic Terms

Section II: Basic Terms

Shift: A defined period of time during which a group of workers performs a specific job or set of tasks. A shift can last several hours, parts of a day (morning/evening shift), a full day, or more.

Job: A job refers to a specific activity or task that a particular employee needs to perform. (Not to be confused with "Job" in the Connecteam scheduling app). The job is not based on time but rather on the execution and completion of the task.

Shift Scheduling:

Definition: The process of assigning employees to open time slots in a fixed location within a given day or week to ensure adequate and full functionality of the business.

Goal: Ensure that there are enough workers available to handle the workload during each shift (maintain a functioning shift), while also ensuring that employees are not overworked or working too many consecutive hours (resulting in overtime).

Factors taken into consideration in shift scheduling:

The location The actual employees performing jobs in shifts. The tasks in the shift. Time of shift.

Examples of shift scheduling: Restaurant - a restaurant needs 3 waiters, 2 cooks, 1 manager to run an effective shift. Store - a store needs 3 frontline personnel and 1 manager to run a morning shift. Call center - a sales and service call center cannot operate with less than 10 reps holding the lines. Support center - a call center needs 3 reps, 1 manager to be able to accept chats and calls. Factory - for the factory to be able to produce X KGs of products, they must man all 10 machines, with at least 10 employees.

Relevant industries for shift scheduling: retail, hospitality, healthcare, F&B, cleaning, security, or any service provider that supplies personnel to a client (a mall receiving security service from a security company).

Job Scheduling:

Definition: The process of determining which jobs, tasks, or projects need to be completed, when they need to be completed, and who will be responsible for completing them. Assigning employees to specific tasks and jobs.

Goal: Ensure that work is completed efficiently and effectively, with minimal delays or conflicts.

Factors taken into consideration in job scheduling: Place/location of job. The actual job needed to be completed. Person performing job. Time of job.

Examples of job scheduling: Technician - A technical specialist working for HOT cable company tours all day around the country, visiting clients and performing different tasks such as connecting new customers, fixing problems, adding more outlets and more.

Electrician - An electrician receives their work schedule and starts the day. They can start with fixing a malfunction in an appliance, move on to installing a new power outlet, and finish the day with installing a new home appliance.

Handyman - The handyman can perform different jobs throughout the day - installing shelves, fixing walls, or assembling furniture. Logistics driver - The driver arrives at the warehouse, picks up the deliveries, but then every stop looks different - unique locations, different drop-offs at each location.

Home caregiver/nurse - A nurse arrives at a specific client/patient, and they might have several of those per day.

Relevant industries for job scheduling: Delivery, field service, HVAC, plumbing, logistics.

The difference between job and shift scheduling can also be understood by looking at the impact of downtime. If there is downtime in a job scheduling-oriented company, employees have no idea where

Think you know the difference between shift and job scheduling? Test your knowledge with this quiz! Learn about the basic terms and factors to consider when scheduling employees for shifts or specific jobs. From restaurants to call centers, this quiz covers relevant industries and examples of both types of scheduling. Take the quiz and see how you stack up!