Employee scheduling and schedule modification method and apparatus

A computer implemented method for scheduling at least one of a plurality of employees to a work shift based on identified changes of a workload in the work shift, anticipated undesirability for the work shift, and adjusted workforce requirements, the computer implemented method comprising:

• storing, by a computer hardware processor, work schedules of the plurality of employees;
• checking, by the computer hardware processor, attendance of the plurality of employees utilizing the work schedules and a presence of the plurality of employees during the work schedules;
• determining, by the computer hardware processor, violations of the plurality of employees, wherein said violations comprise at least one of absence infractions of the plurality of employees and attendance infractions of the plurality of employees;
• identifying, by the computer hardware processor, the changes of the workload in the work shift as either an attendance excess or an attendance shortfall and,
• when the attendance excess is identified in the work shift, implementing at least one resolution selected from a group consisting of:
• extending lunchtimes of the plurality of employees, extending break times of the plurality of employees, shortening the work shift, and eliminating the work shift,
• when the attendance shortfall is identified in the work shift, implementing at least one other resolution selected from another group consisting of:
• extending the work shift for the plurality of employees, offering other employees the opportunity to work additional hours in the work shift, and truncating breaks and lunchtimes for the plurality of employees;
• anticipating, by the computer hardware processor, whether the work shift is undesirable to the plurality of employees, and when the work shift is anticipated as undesirable to the plurality of employees, provide the plurality of employees at least one incentive selected from a group consisting of:
• an increase in pay, a time off at a later date, gifts and a sign up bonus to accept the work shift;
• adjusting, by the computer hardware processor, the workforce requirements in the work shift at specific time intervals to ensure continuous availability of a workforce ratio from a total workforce of the plurality of employees;
• displaying, by the computer hardware processor, said work shift to at least one of the plurality of employees;
• scheduling, by the computer hardware processor, at least one of the plurality of employees to the work shift based on the identified changes in the workload of the work shift, the implementing of the at least one resolution and the at least one other resolution in response to the identified changes, the anticipated desirability for the work shift, and the adjusted workforce requirements.

A system for scheduling at least one of a plurality of employees to a work shift based on identified changes of a workload in the work shift, anticipated undesirability for the work shift, and adjusted workforce requirements, the system comprising:

• a hardware computer processor and one or more components of the hardware computer processor programmed to:
• store, work schedules of the plurality of employees;
• check, attendance of the plurality of employees utilizing the work schedules and a presence of the plurality of employees during the work schedules;
• determine, violations of the plurality of employees, wherein said violations comprise at least one of absence infractions of the plurality of employees and attendance infractions of the plurality of employees;
• identify, the changes of the workload in the work shift as either an attendance excess or an attendance shortfall and,
• when the attendance excess is identified in the work shift, implementing at least one resolution selected from a group consisting of:
• extending lunchtimes of the plurality of employees, extending break times of the plurality of employees, shortening the work shift, and eliminating the work shift,
• when the attendance shortfall is identified in the work shift, implementing at least one other resolution selected from another group consisting of:
• extending the work shift for the plurality of employees, offering other employees the opportunity to work additional hours in the work shift, and truncating breaks and lunchtimes for the plurality of employees;
• anticipate, whether the work shift is undesirable to the plurality of employees, and when the work shift is anticipated as undesirable to the plurality of employees, provide the plurality of employees at least one incentive selected from a group consisting of:
• an increase in pay, a time off at a later date, gifts and a sign up bonus to accept the work shift;
• adjust, the workforce requirements in the work shift at specific time intervals to ensure continuous availability of a workforce ratio from a total workforce of the plurality of employees;
• display, said work shift to at least one of the plurality of employees;
• schedule, at least one of the plurality of employees to the work shift based on the identified changes in the workload of the work shift, the implementing of the at least one resolution and the at least one other resolution in response to the identified changes, the anticipated desirability for the work shift, and the adjusted workforce requirements.