Rostering & Scheduling
Building effective staff rosters requires balancing business needs with employee preferences and legal requirements. Our rostering guides cover everything from creating your first roster template to managing complex multi-site schedules across different awards.
Explore Rostering software17 articles in Rostering & Scheduling
Rostering disputes that lead to Fair Work complaints
Learn how rostering disputes escalate into Fair Work complaints and what you can do to prevent them with fairer scheduling and better communication.
Rostering transparency: reducing disputes before they start
Discover how transparent rostering reduces disputes and mistrust among staff, with practical tips for clear communication about shifts, changes, and fairness.
Staff availability issues that inflate labour spend
Poor availability data leads to overstaffing and wasted wages. Learn how to capture accurate availability and reduce labour costs.
Casual vs permanent rostering: what works best for SMEs
Compare casual and permanent rostering models for Australian SMEs. Understand costs, flexibility trade-offs, and compliance implications.
Why casual and part-time staff need a mobile rostering app most
Casual and part-time workers have the most unpredictable schedules. A mobile rostering app gives them instant access to shifts, availability control, and self-service tools.
Shift swap policy for Fair Work compliance in Australia
Learn how to create a shift swap policy that meets Fair Work Act requirements, covers award obligations, and protects your business from compliance risk.
Shift swap patterns reveal roster issues
Frequent shift swaps are symptoms of deeper roster problems. Learn how to read swap patterns as diagnostic data and fix the root causes in your scheduling.
Hospitality rostering challenges and how to solve them
See how hospitality venues solve common rostering challenges including penalty rates, last-minute changes, and shift coverage during peak periods.
Key trends in modern rostering (2026)
Explore 2026 rostering trends: AI scheduling, employee preferences, real-time labour budgets, compliance automation and mobile-first workforce management.
Create a staff rota in Excel using ChatGPT
Learn how to create a staff rota in Excel using ChatGPT. A step-by-step guide for building and optimising rosters, plus when to upgrade.
Coordinating rosters across locations: practical tips for franchise operators
Scale rosters across multiple locations without complexity. Practical strategies for Australian businesses managing distributed teams.
Free vs paid scheduling tools: which is right for your team?
Compare free vs paid rostering software for Australian businesses. Covers compliance, payroll integration, true costs and when to upgrade.
Spreadsheets vs scheduling software: true cost comparison
Compare the true costs of spreadsheet rostering versus software for Australian SMEs. See where manual rostering actually costs more than the alternatives.
Fair and cost-effective rostering for Australian SMEs
Learn how Australian businesses build fair, cost-effective rosters while staying award compliant. Covers NES entitlements and penalty rate obligations.
Planning workforce capacity for the new year
Plan workforce capacity to meet demand next year. Forecast staffing needs, identify capacity gaps, and build flexible teams for Australian businesses.
Reviewing rostering KPIs from the past year
Review rostering KPIs to improve next year. Analyse labour costs, roster accuracy, overtime rates, and set realistic targets for Australian businesses.
Rostering strategy planning for the new year
Plan your rostering strategy for the new year. Review performance, set goals, forecast capacity, and implement improvements for Australian businesses.
Related rostering & scheduling resources
Explore more guides, templates and tools for your business.
Rostering & Scheduling FAQs
- Under the Fair Work Act, you should provide reasonable notice of roster changes. Most awards require at least 7 days notice. Publishing rosters 2 weeks in advance gives staff time to plan and request swaps, reducing last-minute disruptions.
- A compliant roster must meet minimum engagement periods, provide adequate rest breaks between shifts, respect maximum weekly hours, and follow the specific rules in your applicable Modern Award. Using rostering software helps automate these checks.
- Clear communication is key. Send roster notifications via multiple channels, allow easy shift swaps, collect availability in advance, and use time and attendance tracking to identify patterns and address issues early.
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