All terms
Glossary
Open shift
An open shift is a scheduled shift that has no one assigned to it yet, or whose assigned employee is no longer available. It needs to be filled before the shift starts.
Last updated 2026-11-10
01 / Explained
Why it matters
Open shifts appear after call-outs, resignations, new contracts or last-minute client requests. How quickly they are filled decides whether a post goes uncovered.
Filling them fairly matters too: if the same people always get the extra hours, overtime costs and burnout follow.
02 / In InstaNotified
How InstaNotified handles it
Scheduling flags conflicts and coverage gaps, and ranks replacement candidates by proximity, skills and fairness. Shift assignments and changes reach employees automatically. Scheduling is part of the Complete plan.
Read more: AI SchedulingRelated terms