Pros And Cons Of Shift Bidding: A Manager’s Guide

As a manager, you know all too well that filling shifts can be tough. Getting people to volunteer for less desirable shifts is especially challenging. And employees who call out last minute or grumble about their schedules only add to the hassle. 

If these issues are wearing you down, it’s time to try shift bidding. But before you do, you need to know what that actually means. And then you need to weigh its pros and cons, of course. 

Below, we’ll take a look at how shift bidding works, as well as its upsides and potential flaws. We’ll also show you how tools like When I Work can make the process even easier. 

First, what is shift bidding?

Shift bidding is a way of making schedules. It’s popular in stores, hospitals, law enforcement, and restaurants. And with it, employees get to “bid” on the shifts they want to work. Old-school scheduling leaves employees feeling stuck. Shift bidding, in comparison, allows you to plan your schedule with greater ease. 

It also gives your team a sense of control over when they work. That can help boost morale and keep employees around longer. In other words, happy workers are less likely to quit. And that means you’ll spend less time fixing schedules.

There are pros and cons of shift bidding, though, which means the strategy isn’t for everyone. We’ll explore both sides a little later.  

How shift bidding works

Shift bidding is pretty straightforward. Here’s a quick step-by-step:

• You post open shifts using a tool or app
• Employees bid and pick the shifts they’re up for 
• You review and assign those shifts
• Everyone gets the finalized schedule

You’ll assign the shifts based on preset rules. Seniority is the most common, but you can also assign shifts on a first-come, first-served basis. 

In any case, employees will love having choices, and you’ll get a schedule without any guesswork. Certain software can make things even easier by keeping everything organized.

What if nobody bids for a specific shift?

If no one bids on a shift, you may have to step in and assign it to someone yourself. You could also offer extra perks to tempt someone to take it. For instance, many hospitals offer higher pay for night and weekend shifts. 

Scheduling software can save the day here, too. When I Work can flag empty shifts and remove bid options as shifts get filled. That way, employees will only be able to pick from what is still available.

Pros and cons of shift bidding: Overview

Shift bidding can be a game-changer for your business. It gives your team more control over when they work and also prevents favoritism. A possible downside, though, is that employees might argue over shifts. Empty slots can also be a problem if you don’t manage the bidding process well. 

Shifting bidding pros	Shift bidding cons
✅ Empowers your employees by giving them more control over their schedules	Popular shifts can create internal competition
✅ Reduces manager bias and favoritism	Undesirable shifts may go unclaimed
✅ Encourages proactive planning among staff	Needs oversight to maintain fairness
✅ Helps identify the most engaged or motivated team members	Limits flexibility for employees with constraints
✅ Creates natural alignment between shifts and preferences	Can delay schedule finalization
✅ Reduces scheduling misunderstandings	New hires may struggle to get good shifts
✅ Can streamline scheduling for large teams
✅ Allows for built-in seniority
✅ Supports more dynamic staffing models

Here’s a closer look at the pros and cons of shift bidding:

Shift bidding pros you should know

Shift bidding can make your life easier and your team happier. Shift bidding: 

Empowers your employees by giving them more control over their schedules 

When employees can pick their shifts, they’ll feel like they have a say in things. They’ll also get to match their work with their lives, which can cut down on complaints. Making your team feel empowered is also great for employee engagement. A cashier might grab a morning shift to be home with their kids in the evening, for instance.

Reduces manager bias and favoritism

If you’ve ever had someone accuse you of playing favorites, shift bidding can stop that. Shifts will be set by specific rules. Everyone will see that it is fair, which will build trust.

Encourages proactive planning among staff

Since your team will need to think ahead to bid on shifts, you’ll get fewer last-minute “I can’t work” calls. After all, they will have asked to work the shifts they get. For instance, a nurse might bid on shifts a month out based on their child’s school schedule.

Helps identify the most engaged or motivated team members

Take a look at who’s stepping up to bid for vacant shifts. These are your go-getters, people who are eager to work and who might step up for more. A warehouse worker who always bids for extra shifts could very well be your next lead.

Creates natural alignment between shifts and preferences

People pick shifts that fit them and their needs. For instance, a server who is a bit of a night owl might excel at Friday and Saturday evening shifts. In a similar sense, someone who prefers to start their day early may do wonders working the morning shift. The result is happier customers and better tips.

Reduces scheduling misunderstandings

Since employees pick their shifts, everything about your schedule is out in the open. That means there’s bound to be way less “I didn’t sign up for this” drama. Everyone knows exactly what they’re getting. 

Can streamline scheduling for large teams

If you manage a large crew, shift bidding will help cut down on your workload. Your workers will do half the job by picking their shifts. All you’ll need to do is approve them and fill any gaps. Bidding can save you several hours every single week.

Allows for built-in seniority

You can set up your bidding process so that veterans get first bids. It rewards loyalty and keeps your best people happy. In a factory, the ten-year worker might snag a Monday through Thursday shift with three-day weekends. The new hires will be stuck working longer shifts that cover Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 

Supports more dynamic staffing models

If demand in your industry is always changing, shift bidding can help you bring in extra help. That’s because it’s flexible. It’ll fit your needs without running the risk of overstaffing. A store could add shifts during the holidays, for example, and let employees scoop them up. 

Shift bidding cons to consider

Some drawbacks to the bidding approach include the following: 

Popular shifts can create internal competition

Most employees will want their Friday nights or weekends off. But that can cause many people to chase the same shifts, which can cause tension. In a bar, servers might bicker over who gets the busy Saturday slot, and that can hurt team chemistry. 

Undesirable shifts may go unclaimed

Late-night or holiday shifts might go unclaimed. And without proper oversight, you’ll be stuck filling them yourself. A grocery store may see no one bid for New Year’s Eve, leaving you in a bind. 

Needs oversight to maintain fairness

Speaking of oversight, you need to keep your eye on the bidding process. Someone might feel cheated if the system isn’t clear, meaning you’ll need to step in and explain how bidding works. For example, two employees with an equal amount of seniority might argue if they bid for the same shift. 

Limits flexibility for employees with constraints

Employees who are also students or parents might have tighter schedules. That means they can miss out on good shifts and end up feeling stuck with “leftovers.”

Can delay schedule finalization 

Bidding takes time. You can’t lock things in until everyone’s picked and you’ve reviewed. That lag might annoy staff who need to plan. For example, an employee with young kids will need ample notice to set up childcare.

New hires may struggle to get good shifts

Seniority rules can leave rookies working tough hours for months or even years. And that could tank their morale fast. For example, a new hire at a gym might only get 5 a.m. shifts and feel left out of prime times. 

How software makes staff scheduling easier for your company

Employee scheduling software smooths out the shift bidding process. It enforces your rules and lets you track what shifts are being taken. Employees can also take part with ease from their phones. The system will assign everything based on your rules. 

The trick, though, lies in finding the right software. When I Work is the answer. It’ll get the schedule done fast, so you don’t have to tend to it on your own. It can catch problems like empty shifts and give you a heads-up about them. It will also track costs so that you won’t rack up overtime.

Shift bidding app example (with demo video)

Want to see When I Work in action? Here’s how it handles shift bidding:

Top features include:

• Automated shift bidding to allow equal access for all employees to view and pick shifts with final manager approval
• Blockouts to prevent sending shifts to team members who have existing conflicts in their schedules, reducing the likelihood of no-shows
• Notifications when new shifts open up 
• Ability to view unfilled/available shifts when logging in to the employee app
• Insight into how many hours each employee has prior to accepting a request
• Fairness rules for high-demand shifts and options to remove employees from eligibility for specific shifts
• Robust reporting to analyze bidding patterns and outcomes

Our platform makes shift bidding easy and effective. It helps with labor forecasting, so you’ll know how many slots to publish for each shift. And because it keeps things clear and automated, it stops issues like unfairness when assigning shifts. Altogether, automatic scheduling with When I Work can save you up to 15 hours per week.

Choose When I Work to see if shift bidding is right for your staff 

Now that you know the pros and cons of shift bidding, it’s time to consider whether it’s right for your business. Whether you decide to go with shift bidding or a different staffing model, When I Work can help you work smarter. The platform has a built-in time clock to help you track each employee’s hours with great accuracy. And its team messaging feature gives employees a secure way to communicate.

Our platform stops favoritism with fair rules and a clear bidding process. It works great on mobile devices, it’s cost-smart, and it’s easy to use. Ready to give it a try? Sign up with When I Work for free!