How do open shifts work in RosterElf?

When you publish an unassigned shift as an "open shift," RosterElf instantly notifies all qualified and available staff via push notification. Employees can claim the shift from their mobile app, and managers review applicants and approve the best fit. The roster updates automatically once approved.

Can managers control who sees open shifts?

Yes, RosterElf only notifies staff who are qualified for the role, available during those hours, and not already rostered. Managers can also restrict open shifts to specific sites or teams, ensuring only relevant employees receive notifications.

What happens if multiple staff claim the same open shift?

When multiple employees claim an open shift, managers see all applicants in one view and can review each person's qualifications, availability, and wage cost before approving the best fit. Once approved, the shift is assigned and other applicants are notified automatically.

Can staff reject or withdraw from an open shift after claiming it?

Staff can withdraw their claim for an open shift before it's been approved by a manager. Once a manager approves and assigns the shift, it becomes a regular rostered shift and follows standard shift swap procedures if the employee needs to change it.

Do open shifts work with award rules and compliance?

Yes, RosterElf applies your configured pay rules, overtime limits, and award requirements when staff claim open shifts. Managers can review live wage costs for each applicant before approving to ensure shifts stay compliant and within budget.

How do I manage open shifts from a browser?

Create open shifts by adding unfilled shifts to your roster and marking them as open, or publish existing unfilled shifts to notify staff. Review applicants, compare wage costs, and approve the best candidate—all from the browser dashboard. The complete workflow keeps everything in one place. Managing open shifts from browser →

How do I manage open shifts from a smartphone?

Managers can publish open shifts, review applicants, and approve claims directly from the mobile app. Perfect for responding to last-minute needs when you're away from your desk. Staff also use mobile to claim shifts, making the entire process fast and accessible. Managing open shifts from smartphone →

How do I find available staff for a shift?

The dashboard shows which staff are qualified and available for each open shift. See who has claimed the shift, their current availability, qualifications, and the cost impact of assigning each candidate. Make informed decisions quickly with all the data in one view. Finding available staff →

Can I create roster templates with open shifts?

Yes, build templates that include unfilled open shifts for recurring needs. Apply the template to future weeks, and open shifts automatically notify eligible staff. This is perfect for seasonal peaks or predictable gaps where you want staff to volunteer. Creating templates with open shifts →

Can I track which staff regularly claim open shifts?

Yes, RosterElf tracks which employees claim and work open shifts. This data appears in reporting, helping you identify reliable staff who are willing to pick up extra hours and reward their flexibility.

SMART ROSTERING

Open shifts that fill themselves

Employee viewing open shifts notification on mobile showing 12 staff ready to fill shifts

RosterElf makes it easy to publish unassigned shifts and let the right people put their hand up. Available staff are instantly notified and can claim it from their app.

Publish unfilled shifts to qualified staff in seconds
Managers approve who gets each shift
Built-in award checks and live wage costing

Start free trial Book a demo

No credit card required

4.8 stars, 1,570 ratings

Best-rated rostering & HR software on Xero and Google

VERIFIED RATINGS

Trusted by 30,000+ workplaces

4.7+ average

Rated on Xero · Google · G2 · Capterra

4.9 / 5

4.8 / 5

4.5 / 5

4.3 / 5

SMART SHIFTS

How open shifts work

RosterElf lets you publish unassigned shifts to qualified staff instantly. Available employees claim shifts from their app, and managers approve the best fit—no phone calls or group texts required.

Publish the shift

Mark a shift as open and RosterElf instantly notifies all qualified, available staff via push notification.

Staff claim it

Available employees see the open shift and put their hand up to claim it—all from their mobile app.

Manager approves

Review who's applied and approve the best fit. The roster updates automatically and everyone is notified.

OPEN SHIFTS

Open shifts that let your team claim unassigned shifts in seconds

SELF-SERVE COVERAGE

Post it once, eligible staff volunteer and you approve.

When you don't know who should take a shift, publish it as an Open Shift.

RosterElf notifies qualified employees for that position and site so they can nominate themselves. You review the nominees and approve the best fit—the roster updates automatically and everyone is notified. This turns back-and-forth calls into a fast, auditable flow

See full Employee Rostering features →

FILL GAPS FAST

See nominees at a glance and pick the best fit

RosterElf shift scheduling interface showing Bourke St Cafe shifts with available candidates

CANDIDATE LIST

All volunteers, one screen—no guesswork

As staff volunteer, managers can open the Available Candidates view to see who's put their hand up and make a decision in seconds.

It's the quickest path from "gap on the roster" to "shift covered," and it lives right where you work—on the roster and dashboard

See full Employee Rostering features →

CONTROL & COMPLIANCE

Approvals that keep skills, budgets and rules in check

RosterElf approval screen showing approved hours and estimated cost with Send to Xero button

MANAGER APPROVAL

You stay in control of who works

Every Open Shift nomination requires manager approval, so you can factor in skills, wage budgets and other criteria before confirming.

For added peace of mind, the RosterElf award interpretation applies your configured pay rules (overtime, penalties, allowances) when you run payroll—helping your team stay aligned with Fair Work settings end-to-end.

Check out our Payroll Integrations →

MOBILE & NOTIFICATIONS

Open shifts handled on the go

Mobile phone showing RosterElf push notifications for additional shift available and shift swap approved

REAL-TIME ALERTS

Volunteers and approvals—right on your phone

Managers can review and process Open Shifts on iPhone or Android, and employees receive real-time notifications so everyone sees shift changes, volunteer status and approvals straight away.

If needed, staff can fine-tune push-notification preferences from their profile. When plans shift, RosterElf keeps you covered.

Employees get instant notifications on mobile, and managers approve with one tap — ensuring your roster stays full, fair, and on time.

KEY BENEFITS

6 reasons to use open shifts

Fill gaps fast

Publish an open shift and get responses in minutes. No more calling through your contact list or waiting for text replies.

Right people only

RosterElf only notifies staff who are qualified, available, and not already rostered. No wasted messages or confusion.

Manager control

You decide who gets each shift. Review applicants, check costs, and approve the best fit before the roster updates.

Award compliance

Built-in checks ensure shifts comply with award rules, overtime limits, and minimum rest periods before approval.

Live wage costing

See exactly what each applicant will cost before you approve. Make informed decisions that protect your budget.

Mobile-first

Staff claim shifts from their phones. Managers approve on the go. Everyone stays in the loop without being at a computer.

WHAT IT MEANS

What are open shifts?

Open shifts are unassigned work periods that managers publish for qualified staff to claim. Instead of manually calling or texting employees to fill gaps, open shifts let available team members volunteer for extra hours through the rostering app. Managers retain full control—reviewing applicants, checking compliance and costs, and approving the best fit before the roster updates.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

When you publish an unassigned shift as an "open shift," RosterElf instantly notifies all qualified and available staff via push notification. Employees can claim the shift from their mobile app, and managers review applicants and approve the best fit. The roster updates automatically once approved.
Yes, RosterElf only notifies staff who are qualified for the role, available during those hours, and not already rostered. Managers can also restrict open shifts to specific sites or teams, ensuring only relevant employees receive notifications.
When multiple employees claim an open shift, managers see all applicants in one view and can review each person's qualifications, availability, and wage cost before approving the best fit. Once approved, the shift is assigned and other applicants are notified automatically.
Staff can withdraw their claim for an open shift before it's been approved by a manager. Once a manager approves and assigns the shift, it becomes a regular rostered shift and follows standard shift swap procedures if the employee needs to change it.
Yes, RosterElf applies your configured pay rules, overtime limits, and award requirements when staff claim open shifts. Managers can review live wage costs for each applicant before approving to ensure shifts stay compliant and within budget.