Shift Absence

A shift absence occurs when a shift assigned in the schedule is not staffed as planned. Common reasons include sickness notifications, short notice cancellations, vehicle or travel problems and unannounced no-shows.

An absence must be distinguished from a shift that is open from the outset: an open shift has not yet been assigned to anyone. An absence arises from an assignment that has already been scheduled, usually at short notice and therefore under time pressure.

Lead time is crucial for assessing the situation. An absence three days in advance can be rescheduled normally. An absence two hours before the start of a shift requires several candidates to be contacted immediately, either in parallel or in rapid succession.

If the absence is properly recorded, it also provides the basis for analysis: how often shifts are affected, at which sites and at what times. Only these figures show whether a site is chronically understaffed in the schedule.