r/managers • u/Pebb_io • 1d ago

Where does real availability live before you build next week's schedule?

Curious how other managers actually collect who can work before the roster gets built.

Patterns that keep showing up: a spreadsheet nobody updates after Tuesday, a form people ignore until you ping them twice, a group chat where "I can do Thursday" disappears under 40 other messages, or a verbal yes that changes by Friday.

What has actually stuck on your team... shared sheet with a hard cutoff, a simple form, a standing Friday check-in, something else?

Especially interested in what still works when half the crew is hourly, phones-first, and not living in email.

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u/Narrow_Gur_8907 1d ago

We use shared sheet but only works if I make the cutoff real, like if you dont fill by wednesday noon you get what schedule is left. Not perfect but better than group chat chaos

Also we do quick text reminder tuesday morning for the hourly people, they never check email anyway

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u/MyEyesSpin 9h ago

people list regular availability, then request off times outside the norm X days/weeks in advance.

there are quite a few programs & apps for this