Assigning Time to Shift Tasks
Shift Tasks allow you to add specific to-dos to a scheduled shift—helping employees understand
expectations beyond just start and end times.
With this new enhancement, you can now assign a numeric time value (hours or minutes) to
each shift task. This lets you:
- Clearly define how much time should be spent on individual tasks
- Better plan workload within a shift
- Track and report on task-level effort across your business
This feature builds on existing Shift Tasks and does not replace them—you can still use tasks
without time if you prefer.
What Are Time-Based Shift Tasks?
Previously, shift tasks were informational only. For example:
- Do inventory count
- Sweep floors
- Clean out the fridge
Now, each task can optionally include a target time, such as:
- Do inventory count – 1.0 hr
- Sweep floors – 0.25 hr
- Clean out the fridge – 0.5 hr
These times represent the expected effort for that task within the shift.
Why Assign Time to Shift Tasks?
Assigning time to tasks helps with:
Better Planning
Ensure the total work assigned during a shift is realistic and aligns with scheduled hours.
Clear Expectations for Employees
Staff know not just what to do, but how much time should be spent on each task.
Operational Visibility
Managers can understand where time is being allocated across roles, departments, or locations.
Meaningful Reporting
Task time data feeds directly into reporting so you can analyze effort beyond basic shift hours.
How Time Is Used
- Time values are per shift, not global
- Tasks can still be added without time if needed
- Task time does not change payroll hours
- Task time is used for tracking, planning, and reporting purposes
Think of task time as operational insight, not pay calculation.
Using Default Task Times with Time Bands & Templates
To save time and ensure consistency, default task times can be set when using Time Bands
and Shift Templates.
When a shift is created from a time band or template:
- Any tasks included can automatically carry predefined time values
- Managers don’t need to re-enter task times each time a shift is scheduled
- Task expectations stay consistent across locations, departments, or roles
Why This Matters
- Faster scheduling – no repetitive data entry
- Consistency – the same tasks always have the same expected time
- Better planning – task time totals remain predictable across recurring shifts
Example
A “Closing Shift” template might include:
- Cash reconciliation – 0.5 hr
- Floor cleanup – 0.75 hr
- End-of-day reporting – 0.25 hr
When that template is applied, all task times are added automatically to the shift.
Default task times can still be adjusted per shift if needed, giving you flexibility without
sacrificing standardization.
Reporting on Shift Task Hours
Once shifts with timed tasks are worked, you can review task-level time using the built-in report:
- Go to REPORTS
- Go to SHIFT TASK HOUR RECAP
This report allows you to:
- See total hours assigned to each task
- Review task effort by date range
- Identify which tasks consume the most time
- Compare workload across shifts or teams
This is especially useful for operational reviews, staffing adjustments, and process
improvements.
Common Use Cases
- Retail: inventory counts, store opening/closing tasks
- Hospitality: room checks, prep work, cleanup
- Healthcare: documentation tasks, shift handoffs
- Manufacturing: equipment checks, safety inspections
Good to Know
- Task time is optional—use it where it adds value
- You can mix timed and non-timed tasks in the same shift
- Reporting reflects the task time assigned, not employee clock punches