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AUTO SHIFT SWAPS

Staff shift swaps without losing control

Give employees the freedom to swap shifts directly through the app, while you keep full visibility and approval control.

  • Only qualified, available staff can swap

  • Review, approve or decline swap requests in one tap

  • Rosters and timesheets automatically update after approval

No credit card required
4.8 stars, 1570 ratings

Best-rated rostering software on Xero and Google.

How shift swaps work

How shift swaps work

How shift swaps work

Request a swap

Request a swap

If an employee can’t work a scheduled shift, they submit a swap request directly from the mobile app — choosing a colleague qualified and available to cover.

Review and approve

Review and approve

Managers get an instant notification, review the proposed swap for conflicts, award rules and labour costs, then approve or decline in one click.

Update and notify

Update and notify

Once approved, the roster updates automatically and both employees receive confirmation. Timesheets and payroll sync instantly — no manual edits needed.

EMPLOYEE-DRIVEN SWAPS

Let staff request shift swaps within your business rules

POLICY CONTROL

Empower staff while staying compliant

Give employees the flexibility to request shift swaps directly in RosterElf—without losing control.

You decide the boundaries: how far in advance a swap can be requested, which roles qualify, and what notice period applies.

RosterElf automatically enforces these settings to keep every swap compliant and fair.
MANAGER APPROVAL

Approve or decline every shift swap with confidence

INSTANT VISIBILITY

Review and action changes in seconds

Managers remain fully in charge of all shift swap activity.

Each request routes to the right approver with full visibility of employees, qualifications, costs, and compliance warnings.

Approve or decline in one click, and RosterElf instantly updates rosters and timesheets to reflect the change.
AI PERFECT MATCH™

Smart shift swap suggestions for qualified staff only

INTELLIGENT MATCHING

Let AI find the right replacement instantly

RosterElf’s AI Perfect Match™ automatically identifies the best candidates for a swap.

It checks role fit, skills, location, availability, and award rules—so only suitable, compliant employees are offered the shift.

Managers save time while maintaining accuracy and coverage.
AUTOMATED NOTIFICATIONS

Real-time shift swap alerts for teams and managers

LIVE UPDATES

Keep everyone in sync automatically

As soon as a swap is requested, RosterElf sends instant notifications to all involved.

Employees see their request status and approvals in real time, while managers receive live alerts to approve or decline.

Every action is tracked, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.
EMPLOYEE CHAT

Discuss and confirm complex shift swaps in chat

BUILT-IN COMMUNICATION

Manage shift changes without leaving RosterElf

When a swap needs extra discussion, like a multi-site move or role change, continue the conversation inside RosterElf's Employee Chat App.

Keep every message, note, and decision tied to the original roster for complete visibility and traceability.
KEY BENEFITS

6 reasons shift swap software is useful for your business

Reduce rostering admin

Reduce rostering admin

Say goodbye to endless calls and messages — shift swaps happen automatically through the app with full manager visibility and approval.

Keep rosters fully covered

Keep rosters fully covered

When someone can’t work, they can instantly offer their shift to qualified teammates, ensuring every shift is filled and service never stops.

Improve flexibility for staff

Improve flexibility for staff

Give employees the freedom to trade shifts when life changes. Happier, more empowered staff means fewer no-shows and greater retention.

Maintain compliance and control

Maintain compliance and control

Managers approve every swap before it’s final, ensuring award rules, fatigue limits, and budget guidelines are always met.

Increase transparency and communication

Increase transparency and communication

All shift changes are tracked in real time and synced to the roster — so everyone stays aligned without confusion or overlap.

Sync automatically to payroll

Sync automatically to payroll

Once approved, swapped shifts flow straight into timesheets and payroll — no manual edits, no missed hours, just accurate pay every time.

What are shift swaps?

Shift swaps let employees exchange shifts with one another while keeping full manager oversight and compliance control. Instead of cancelling or leaving a roster gap when someone can’t work, the system allows eligible staff to offer their shift to teammates who are available and qualified to fill in.

The main goal of shift swaps is to keep rosters fully covered, reduce last-minute chaos, and give staff more flexibility over their schedules. When a swap is requested, managers are notified instantly, review the proposed trade, and approve or decline in one click — ensuring coverage and compliance stay intact.

Modern platforms like RosterElf automate the entire process. The software checks each swap for availability, fatigue limits, skills, and award compliance before approval. Once confirmed, the new shift automatically appears in both employees’ rosters, and timesheets are updated in real time.

Because shift swaps integrate directly with auto-scheduling, staff availability, and payroll, every approved change flows through seamlessly. There’s no manual data entry or risk of error — just accurate, flexible scheduling that adapts as plans change.

In short, shift swaps make managing changes effortless — giving teams the freedom to trade shifts responsibly while keeping managers in full control of coverage, compliance, and costs.

Start your free 15 day RosterElf trial today

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4.8 stars by 1570 users
100+ countries
30,000+ users