Employer Newsletter – May 2025
Smarter Scheduling for a Happier Team
Flexible and fair scheduling helps your business and your people thrive.
In today’s labor market, flexible scheduling isn’t just a perk – it’s a competitive advantage. When done right, it boosts morale, reduces turnover, and keeps your business running smoothly.
Best Practices for Flexible Scheduling
- Post schedules 1–2 weeks in advance
- Rotate weekend/evening shifts fairly
- Ask for availability in advance
Respect builds loyalty.
Use the Right Tools
Scheduling apps like Homebase, Sling by Toast, and Deputy make creating, adjusting, and communicating schedules easy. They also automate reminders, handle shift swaps, and track hours – all in one place.
- Homebase, Deputy, or Sling by Toast –create and share work schedules, manage availability, and track hours.
- Google Calendar – Coordinate and share a team calendar for visibility of shifts.
Need better coordination? Try:
- When I Work (Free for small teams) – Clean mobile interface, easy shift swaps.
- Excel/Google Sheets Templates – Still effective for smaller teams if updated consistently.
- ZoomShift (14-day free trial) – Great UX and strong analytics
Balance Business Needs & Employee Lives
Yes, you have a business to run – but people have lives, too. Consider input from your team when possible. Flexibility often pays back in retention and performance.
Poll employee availability using:
- Google Forms – Simple, shareable way to collect preferences and availability.
- Doodle – Great for collecting input on shift options and meeting times.
Managing Time Off & No Shows
Set clear policies:
- Create a system for requests (Google Forms, app features)
- Offer coverage guidelines
- Plan for no-shows with a backup strategy
Build a process with:
- Trello or Notion (Free tiers) – Track requests, approvals, and notes in one place.
- Slack or WhatsApp – For fast, clear communication (especially when time off is denied or rescheduled).
Communication + consistency = smoother operations.
Need help choosing the right tech or designing better workflows? We’re always here to help.
The appie Team
Helping you hire and retain with ease.
Recruiter Insights with Becca
Respecting Hourly Workers’ Time: Why Flexibility Matters
Since launching appie, I’ve had countless conversations with hourly workers – students, parents, folks working multiple jobs – and one word comes up again and again: flexibility.
For many, traditional scheduling just doesn’t work. They’re managing classes, childcare, second jobs, or transportation challenges. When employers offer flexibility – whether it’s consistent shifts, part-time options, or simply asking, “What’s your availability?” – it shows respect and builds trust.
That’s the whole idea behind appie. Job seekers share their availability first, and employers reach out to those who actually fit their needs. It’s a small shift that makes a big impact – fewer no-shows, better matches, and happier teams.
Flexibility isn’t a favor. It’s smart, it’s respectful, and it’s what today’s workforce is asking for. When we listen and adapt, everyone benefits.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Paquette
Founder, appie
