Posting Shifts in the Marketplace

Learn how to post your assigned shifts to the Shifts Marketplace when you need coverage, allowing eligible colleagues to claim them and ensuring shifts remain adequately staffed.

Overview

The Shifts Marketplace allows you to post shifts that you’re unable to work, making them available for eligible colleagues to claim. This feature helps ensure adequate coverage while giving you flexibility to resolve scheduling conflicts. This article explains how to post shifts, monitor their status, and understand the rules that govern the marketplace.

When to Post Shifts

You might need to post a shift in the marketplace when:

• You have an unexpected personal commitment
• You’re feeling unwell but it’s too late to request formal leave
• You want to reduce your hours for a particular week
• You have a scheduling conflict that wasn’t identified earlier
• You’re willing to trade a shift for a different day or time

The marketplace provides a flexible, peer-to-peer solution for these situations.

Accessing the Shift Marketplace

To access the marketplace:

1. Log in to your Shifts account
2. Click on Marketplace in the main navigation menu
3. The marketplace opens to the default Available Shifts tab
4. To post your own shift, click on the My Listed Shifts tab
5. Click the Post a Shift button to begin listing a shift

Posting a Shift to the Marketplace

To post a shift:

1. From the My Listed Shifts tab, click Post a Shift
2. A list of your upcoming assigned shifts will appear
3. Select the shift you want to post
4. Add optional notes about the shift (special instructions, reason for posting, etc.)
5. Click List Shift to post it to the marketplace

Once posted, the shift will be visible to eligible colleagues who can claim it.

Shift Listing Status

Your listed shifts will show one of these statuses:

• Open: The shift is available for eligible colleagues to claim
• Claimed: Another employee has claimed the shift
• Closed: The listing has expired or been manually closed
• Cancelled: You or a manager cancelled the listing

You can monitor the status of your listings in the My Listed Shifts tab.

Cancelling a Shift Listing

If you change your mind and want to keep your shift:

1. Navigate to the My Listed Shifts tab
2. Find the shift you want to cancel
3. Click the Cancel Listing button
4. Confirm the cancellation when prompted

You can only cancel listings that are still in the “Open” status and haven’t been claimed.

Who Can See and Claim Your Shifts

Your posted shifts are visible to colleagues who:

1. Work at the same location as the shift
2. Have the same role as you (or an eligible role for the shift)
3. Have appropriate permissions to claim shifts
4. Are not already scheduled during the shift time

These restrictions ensure that only qualified colleagues can claim your shifts.

Notification Process

When you post a shift, the system:

1. Immediately makes it visible in the marketplace
2. Sends you a confirmation that your shift has been listed
3. Notifies you when someone claims your shift
4. Updates your schedule once the shift has been successfully transferred

You’ll receive a notification with the name of the person who claimed your shift so you know who’s covering for you.

Shift Transfer Process

When a colleague claims your shift:

1. The shift assignment is transferred from you to them
2. Your schedule is updated to remove the shift
3. Their schedule is updated to add the shift
4. The shift listing status changes to “Claimed”
5. Both of you receive notifications about the transfer

The transfer happens automatically without requiring manager approval, though managers have visibility to all marketplace activity.

Rules and Limitations

Be aware of these important rules when posting shifts:

1. Timing Restrictions:
   • You can only post future shifts (not shifts in progress or past shifts)
   • Shifts must typically be posted at least 4 hours before start time (may vary by business)
2. Eligibility Restrictions:
   • You can only post shifts that are assigned to you
   • You can’t post shifts that are already in the marketplace
   • Certain critical shifts may be restricted from marketplace posting
3. Claiming Restrictions:
   • You cannot claim your own posted shifts
   • Colleagues must meet all role and location requirements
4. Other Limitations:
   • Once a shift is claimed, the transaction cannot be reversed
   • Managers may remove shifts from the marketplace in certain circumstances
   • Special shifts with specific skill requirements may have additional restrictions

Manager Oversight

While the marketplace is primarily a peer-to-peer system, managers:

1. Can see all marketplace activity for their locations
2. May remove inappropriate listings if necessary
3. Monitor the marketplace to ensure coverage needs are met
4. Can assist with special cases or exceptions

Benefits of Using the Marketplace

The Shift Marketplace provides several advantages:

• Flexibility: Resolve scheduling conflicts without formal leave requests
• Coverage: Ensure your shifts are covered when you can’t work
• Efficiency: Direct peer-to-peer process without requiring management approval
• Visibility: Clear tracking of who’s covering your shift
• Opportunity: Chance for colleagues to pick up additional hours

Best Practices

For the best results when posting shifts:

1. Post Early: The earlier you post a shift, the more likely it will be claimed
2. Add Details: Include helpful notes about the shift when posting
3. Communicate: Let colleagues know you’ve posted a shift if it’s urgent
4. Be Selective: Only post shifts when truly necessary
5. Be Reciprocal: Be willing to pick up shifts from others when you can
6. Check Status: Monitor your listings to see if they’ve been claimed
7. Cancel Properly: If your plans change, remove your listing promptly

Related Resources

• Shift Trade Rules
• Picking Up Shifts
• Leave Types

This article should be updated when:

1. The marketplace interface changes
2. The shift posting workflow is modified
3. New marketplace features are added
4. Eligibility rules for posting or claiming shifts change
5. Notification processes are updated