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Two words that will strike fear into any employer or manager, a missed shift can have a huge impact on a business and its staff. So we’ve taken a look into the common causes of missed shifts - and what you can do to prevent them.
What is a missed shift?
A missed shift is when someone who is scheduled to work doesn’t show up for their allotted shift, and misses the entire thing.
This can be due to any number of factors, and can leave businesses short-staffed and colleagues needing to fill in.
What are the causes of a missed shift?
There are all sorts of reasons why someone might miss their shift at work - both in and out of that person’s control. Here are some of the most common:
Personal reasons or emergencies
We all have unexpected things crop up now and again. It could be an illness, a family emergency, or the trains not running on time. These are generally unavoidable situations that can mean someone misses a shift.
Poor communication
Probably one of the most frustrating causes of a missed shift is bad communication. If there’s been a lack of reminders about upcoming shifts, or a lack of communication about the rota schedule in general, employees might not realise they’re needed at work at that time.
Lack of engagement
Employees who feel disengaged or dissatisfied with their work are less likely to be motivated to come to work, and more likely to miss shifts. If employees don’t feel valued, motivated, or connected to their work, they may not prioritise showing up at all.
Poor scheduling
Another frustrating one from a manager’s perspective, poor or inaccurate rosters can cause confusion amongst staff. If employees are unsure about when they’re supposed to be working, or if shifts overlap, it’s easier for a shift to be missed.
Employee burnout
Long hours and high demand can make even the most committed of workers miss a shift. Physical and mental exhaustion can make it harder to stay on top of their schedule, while fatigue can mean they simply have to miss a shift.
What are the impacts of a missed shift?
A missed shift can have negative effects on both a business and its employees, while persistent missed shifts can be a nightmare.
Impact on operations
Missed shifts can lead to operational inefficiencies, especially in businesses that rely on a set number of workers to carry out the work each day. In retail, for example, missing a shift can cause understaffing, poor customer service and a loss of business.
Impact on costs
Companies often have to pay overtime to other staff, or hire temporary workers, to cover missed shifts. These costs can add up over time - especially if a business needs to reallocate resources or adjust production schedules.
Impact on morale
Repeated missed shifts can demoralise the entire team. Colleagues may feel burdened with extra work, which can lead to resentment. In the long term, this can erode teamwork, employee morale, and overall job satisfaction.
Impact on productivity
One employee missing a shift can have impacts beyond just that one person. Overall productivity can take a hit, with that employee’s absence impacting whole projects or services.
How to prevent missed shifts
No employer or manager can prevent missed shifts entirely - they are just a fact of life. But there are steps you can take to reduce the chances of them happening.
One approach is to focus on employee wellbeing and satisfaction. If employees are fully supported in their roles and happy to come to work, they’re less likely to miss a shift through lack of engagement.
Read more: The experts share their tips on creating a happy workplace
Offering opportunities for professional development, creating a positive work culture, and recognising employees’ contributions can help boost job satisfaction. And encouraging breaks, offering mental health resources, and ensuring workloads are manageable can all prevent employee burnout.
It’s also important to work with staff to create schedules that work for everyone, which are communicated properly. Clear and transparent communication between management and employees make sure everyone is on the same page - smart scheduling software makes this easy to do.
And ideally a business should have contingency plans in place that allow for quick adjustments when shifts are missed. Whether it’s through on-call employees, temporary staff, or extra staff training, having a backup plan in place can help ensure that operations run smoothly even when someone doesn’t show up for their shift.
Make missed shifts a thing of the past
OK, so you’ll never get rid of missed shifts entirely, but Planday’s scheduling software can help you create rotas that work for everyone.
