What is the first step in planning and managing employee work schedules?

The first step in planning and managing employee work schedules is assessing employee availability. Understanding when employees are available to work ensures that the scheduling process aligns with both the needs of the business and the preferences or commitments of the staff. This foundational assessment allows managers to effectively fill shifts, avoid scheduling conflicts, and enhance employee satisfaction by considering their availability.

Determining budgeted labor costs, while also an important aspect of workforce management, comes after understanding the staffing needs. You need to know who is available to work before you can allocate budget resources accordingly. Creating a master schedule relies on having this information about employee availability to ensure shifts are filled appropriately. Calculating overtime needs is typically done further along in the scheduling process when actual schedules are being adjusted based on workloads and employee availability.