What is a rota?
A rota is a central source of information created by business owners and managers to communicate work schedules to employees. A rota commonly takes the form of a document, whether it be digital or paper-based, and can be easily accessed by all employees.
Much like a roster or a planner, employees will refer to the staff rota to learn precisely when their upcoming shifts are, how long they will need to work for and any further details that employers provide.
Why is a rota important for my business?
For employers, rotas can help ensure all shifts are covered, and a consistent staffing level is upheld. This can be particularly important in businesses where customer service is a key priority.
Having an up-to-date rota can also help to avoid last-minute cancellations or absenteeism, as employees will be aware of their commitments in advance.
For employees, rotas are useful to plan work around other commitments, such as childcare or study. Rota’s can also help employees to request time off in advance, as they will be able to see when they are scheduled to work.
In some cases, rotas may be used as a tool for shift workers to trade hours with one another.
What’s the difference between a rota and a roster?
In short, there is no distinguishable difference between the terms “rota”, “roster” or “schedule”. The terms are interchangeable; however, one term is often preferred depending on geographical location.
For example, in the UK, rota is more commonly used than roster or schedule. However, in Australia, the term roster is more commonly used.
How to create a staff rota for your business
Staff rotas must be precise, reliable and easily managed. This can be challenging for business owners to upkeep when creating one manually.
This is why rota management software is seen as the optimal solution for many business owners. Rota management software offers a reliable, easy-to-use solution to improve communication within the workplace. Employment Hero’s simple HR and payroll software come equipped with efficient rota management capabilities.
By leveraging Employment Hero to create a staff rota for your business, you can:
- Reduce the risk of human error.
- Assign your team shifts
- Link directly to payroll
- Have confidence you’re planning your workforce to tackle those peak times
Create efficient staff rosters with less time
Learn more about Employment Hero’s efficient rota management capabilities today by booking a demo with one of our employment specialists.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is current as at 15-Dec-2022, and has been prepared by Employment Hero Pty Ltd (ABN 11 160 047 709) and its related corporate bodies (Employment Hero). The views expressed in this article are general information only, are provided in good faith to assist employers and their employees, and should not be relied on as professional advice. The Information is based on data supplied by third parties. While such data is believed to be accurate, it has not been independently verified, and no warranties are given that it is complete, accurate, up-to-date or fit for the purpose for which it is required. Employment Hero does not accept responsibility for any inaccuracy in such data and is not liable for any loss or damages arising directly or indirectly as a result of reliance on, use of or inability to use any information provided in this article. You should undertake your own research and seek professional advice before making any decisions or relying on the information in this article.
