New Feature: Shift Marketplace — Let Guards Claim Open Shifts

Filling Shifts Without the Phone Calls

A guard calls in sick at 5pm. You need someone for the 10pm night shift. What follows is the familiar scramble — phone call after phone call, WhatsApp messages, favours called in. It’s stressful, time-consuming, and unreliable.

TacDesk’s new Shift Marketplace turns this process on its head. Instead of chasing guards, you post the shift and let them come to you.

How It Works

For Managers

1. Mark an unassigned shift as “Open” on the rota calendar
2. Optionally add details — site, special requirements, urgency
3. All eligible guards receive a push notification
4. Guards who want the shift submit a claim
5. Manager reviews claims and approves the best candidate
6. The approved guard is assigned and notified

For Guards

1. Receive a notification that open shifts are available
2. Browse available shifts — see site, date, time, and any requirements
3. Claim shifts they’re available for
4. Receive confirmation when approved

Why Guards Like It

Guards who want extra hours can actively seek them instead of waiting to be called. They can browse available shifts at their convenience, choose ones that fit their schedule, and build their income on their terms. This autonomy is consistently rated as one of the top factors in guard job satisfaction.

Why Managers Like It

The marketplace typically fills shifts faster than phone calls because it reaches all eligible guards simultaneously. Multiple guards may claim a shift, giving the manager choice rather than desperation. And the entire process is documented — no verbal agreements that get disputed later.

Approval Workflow

The marketplace isn’t a free-for-all. Managers maintain full control through the approval step. A guard claiming a shift is a request, not an assignment. Managers can consider factors like site experience, travel distance, and recent hours before approving.

Reducing No-Shows

Guards who voluntarily claim shifts are significantly less likely to no-show than guards who are assigned shifts they didn’t want. Self-selection means better attendance and better attitudes.

The Shift Marketplace is available on TacDesk Professional and Enterprise plans. Try the demo to see the marketplace from both manager and guard perspectives.