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VCS Blog

27 July 2020

Effective Shift Coverage During and After COVID-19

Posted by Meg McCormick

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There is no one way to create preparedness within an organization amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, even with the uncertain future ahead, there is an opportunity to evaluate and reorganize your business for success during these trying times. Developing new tactics for managing the expected return to normalcy can enable your business to remain positive and productive in the meantime. 

 

Keeping track of employees with new levels of concern and responsibilities can be challenging for any organization. Maintaining effective communication and awareness among staff ensures productivity, safety and business continuity; critical priorities for any organization. 

 

Workplace Welfare 

Those that manage employee scheduling understand the many changes and challenges that have occurred since the pandemic began, and the burden it became to manage such change. Your employees may now be faced with the responsibility of caring for a sick family member or will now have to make themselves available for a child whose upcoming school schedule has been dramatically altered by the pandemic with new safety protocols in place. These changes are unpredictable, many come with short notice. However, the optimal way to manage unexpected change within your organization includes flexibility and preparedness. 

 

Establishing guidelines for managing employees during this crisis is critical for their success and yours. Informing personnel of health guidelines and protocols with the expectation that they will be followed through to the full extent can help avoid unnecessary risk as well as maintaining safety within the workplace environment. 

 

Constructed consequences should be taken seriously and given to those employees who stray from set protocols. Discussion with your organization’s HR team is recommended to create proper responses to non-cooperative employees. 

 

Keeping those accountable can reduce the reluctance for many who maintain fears about returning to the workplace. Be that as it may, alternative work options should be put in place if an employee has given valid reasons as to why they feel uncomfortable returning to work. 

 

Fisher Phillips Law has created an extensive overview of frequently asked questions for those organizations looking to manage return to work protocols. This overview is regularly updated to keep businesses informed on current changing matters and issues related to today’s crisis.   

 

Maintain Business Continuity and Safety with Automated Scheduling 

An intelligent workforce management system can be your organization’s best friend during these challenging times. Having access to employee schedules allows you to track and adjust every schedule with ease. With remote access, no physical contact is needed, thus lowering the risk of contamination and fear. 

 

Visual Computer Solutions provides the answers to those organizations looking to promote a healthy work-life balance during this pandemic and after. With VCS employee monitoring tools, eliminate the need to micro-manage employees while still efficiently keeping track of ever-changing schedules and their related tasks. 

 

Visual Computer Solution’s workforce management system can easily stagger shifts, while also creating a safe and organized staffing structure that considers optimal staffing levels essential for best productivity.  By implementing shift scheduling protocol during COVID-19, one can easily identify those employees best equipped to work any designated shift. 

 

Creating Shifts and Shift Changes 

When creating a shift, VCS algorithms utilizes artificial intelligence inherent within the software to create shift patterns that cater to your organization’s specific scheduling requirements.  

 

Consider the following when determining shift structures: 

  • Evaluate the respectable capacity of your workplace after COVID-19 restrictions 
  • Introduce temporary work arrangements including remote options 
  • Off-set breaks to limit those in shared spaces 
  • Apply virtual elements where practical to remove unnecessary physical contact 
  • Utilize stand-by lists and call out windows for last minute needs easily adaptable with a workforce management solution 

Impact of Workforce Intelligence and Planning 

VCS workforce management systems provides an organization with the ability to tailor their existing HR system to best manage their staffing requirements both during the COVID-19 pandemic and after. 

With its ease of use, staffing adjustments can be made on the fly with a full return to normalcy thereafter. With employees working remotely, cloud solutions like VCS make it seamless. With secure and accurate time tracking, you can rely on VCS intelligent workforce management software to provide insightful data to manage your business. 

 

Additional Features of the VCS Workforce Management Suite  

  • Real-Time Shift Management Assistance 
  • Track Time in Cloud 
  • Works Seamlessly with Payroll and HR 
  • Manage PTO Requests 
  • View and Report on Reliable and Accurate Data 
  • Keep Track of Employee Tasks 
  • Manage Workforce from Anywhere 
  • Budget for the Upcoming Year 
  • Set Reminders 

Today’s times are unprecedented and for businesses to succeed, automation is key.  Now more than ever, managing your workforce effectively will enable your organization to continue to succeed Workforce management solutions can ensure this success. 

 

To learn more about the VCS workforce management suite of products, visit https://www.vcssoftware.com/features 

 

 

About VCS 
VCS provides the public sector with ultramodern workforce management tools that better manage their most complex scheduling patterns and tedious business processes. Backed by 20 years of experience, VCS’ platform boasts industry-specific products and services, carefully crafted to make employee scheduling, time & attendance, human resources, and payroll easier for the entire workforce. 

 
For more information, visit www.vcssoftware.com