# What features should I look for in employee scheduling software?

<p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">What features should I look for in employee scheduling software?</p>

##### Post Metadata
- Posted at: about 2 months ago
- Author title: Account Manager
- Net upvotes: 1


## Comments
### Comment 1

Hi, Kristie here with the Customer Care team at When I Work! Choosing employee scheduling software comes down to a few core capabilities:

Scheduling shortcuts: Copying schedules into future weeks, creating repeating shifts, and making bulk edits means you don&#39;t have to build every schedule from scratch, saving significant time each week.

A mobile app for employees (that they actually like): Employees need to view their schedule, clock in and out, request time off, and swap shifts from their phones. Low employee app adoption means managers are still stuck handling schedule questions through texts, calls, and emails.

Integrated time clock: Scheduling and time tracking should live in the same system. This helps managers track attendance, identify no-shows and late clock-ins, compare scheduled versus worked hours, and simplify payroll processing.

Shift swap tools: Employees should be able to trade or pick up shifts with manager approval built into the workflow. This reduces last-minute call-outs and helps maintain coverage without creating extra work for managers.

Auto-scheduling: The ability to generate a draft schedule based on employee availability, labor targets, and coverage needs. Instead of manually assigning every shift, the system helps place the right people in the right roles.

Overtime alerts: The software should flag potential overtime before schedules are published and alert managers before overtime is worked—not after it&#39;s already happened.

Labor forecasting: Knowing how much a schedule will cost in labor helps managers make adjustments before the week begins instead of reacting after costs have already exceeded targets.

Adaptable for every business: Choose software that can grow with your business. It should be easy to add employees, locations, departments, or team members without changing systems or rebuilding your workflows.

AI-assisted setup: Look for software that can help import your existing schedules from a spreadsheet, export, or even a photo. Faster setup means less time rebuilding schedules and less disruption for your team.

When I Work includes all of these capabilities in both plans, with pricing starting at $2.50 per user per month.


##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: about 2 months ago




## Related Product
[When I Work](https://www.g2.com/products/when-i-work/reviews)

## Related Category
[Workforce Management](https://www.g2.com/categories/workforce-management)

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