Scheduling
Create and manage employee schedules with ezyWFM's powerful scheduling tools.
Overview
ezyWFM scheduling features include:
- Shift template management
- Manual and auto-generated schedules
- Skills-based assignment
- Shift bidding for employees
- Schedule publishing workflow
Shift Templates
Creating Templates
Templates define reusable shift patterns:
- Go to Scheduling → Templates
- Click Create Template
- Configure the template:
| Field | Description | Example | |-------|-------------|---------| | Name | Template identifier | Morning Shift | | Start Time | Shift start | 08:00 | | End Time | Shift end | 16:00 | | Break Duration | Minutes of break | 60 | | Days of Week | Applicable days | Mon-Fri | | Color | Visual identifier | #3b82f6 |
Break Rules
Define multiple break periods within a template:
{ "breakRules": [ { "startOffset": 120, "duration": 15, "type": "break" }, { "startOffset": 240, "duration": 60, "type": "lunch" }, { "startOffset": 360, "duration": 15, "type": "break" } ]}Break offsets are in minutes from shift start time.
Creating Schedules
Manual Schedule Creation
- Go to Scheduling → Schedules
- Click Create Schedule
- Enter schedule details:
- Name (e.g., "Week of Feb 1")
- Start and end dates
- Click Create
Adding Shifts Manually
- Open a schedule
- Click on a day/time slot
- Select employee and template
- Confirm the assignment
Auto-Generation
Let ezyWFM generate optimal schedules:
- Create a new schedule
- Click Auto-Generate
- Configure options:
| Option | Description | |--------|-------------| | Employees | Select who to schedule | | Templates | Which shift patterns to use | | Coverage Target | Minimum agents per interval | | Respect Availability | Honor employee preferences | | Balance Hours | Distribute hours evenly |
- Review generated shifts
- Make adjustments as needed
- Save the schedule
Auto-generation works best with forecasts. Link a forecast to optimize coverage.
Schedule States
Draft
- Being created or modified
- Not visible to employees
- Can be freely edited
Published
- Finalized and visible to all employees
- Agents can see their shifts in Self-Service
- Changes notify affected employees
Locked
- Historical schedules
- Cannot be modified
- Used for reporting
Publishing Schedules
- Review all shifts in the schedule
- Verify coverage meets requirements
- Click Publish
- Confirm the action
Publishing sends notifications to all scheduled employees. Ensure the schedule is final.
Shift Bidding
Allow employees to bid on available shifts.
Setting Up Biddable Shifts
- Create shifts without assigned employees
- Mark shifts as Biddable
- Set bidding window (start and end dates)
- Publish the bidding opportunity
How Bidding Works
- Employees see available shifts in Self-Service
- They submit bids with priority preferences
- When bidding closes, admins review bids
- Assign shifts based on seniority, skills, or other criteria
Skills-Based Scheduling
Configuring Skills
- Go to Settings → Skills
- Create skills (e.g., "Billing", "Technical Support")
- Assign skills to employees with proficiency levels
Skill Requirements
When creating shifts, specify required skills:
- Shifts only show to qualified employees
- Auto-generation considers skill requirements
- Reports track skill coverage
Schedule Reports
Coverage Analysis
View staffing coverage vs. requirements:
- By day and interval
- Identify gaps and overstaffing
- Compare to forecast needs
Hours Summary
Track scheduled hours:
- Per employee
- Per team
- Against weekly targets
Best Practices
- Create templates first: Define all shift patterns before scheduling
- Use auto-generation: Save time and optimize coverage
- Publish early: Give employees time to plan
- Enable bidding: Improve satisfaction with shift preferences
- Review before publishing: Check for gaps and conflicts