Skip to main content
Documentation
Documentation
Administrator Guide
Last Updated: 2026-07-10
Steps: Set Up Open Shift Bidding

Steps: Set Up Open Shift Bidding

You can enable workers to bid on shifts on the
Open Shift Board
, then managers can select which worker receives the shift based on criteria that meets your business requirements, such as distributing shifts by seniority. This gives workers more control over their schedules, and helps managers distribute shifts in a more fair way.
When workers bid on shifts, Workday:
  • Sends a notification to the manager’s
    My Tasks
     with details about the shift bids. The manager can then select an active bid to give the shift to the requesting worker.
  • Includes details about worker seniority in the manager notification so that the manager can make an informed decision when selecting a worker for the shift.
You can also attach a custom report to the notification so that you can include other relevant information that managers may need to decide which worker should cover the shift.
  1. Access the
    Create Business Process Definition
     task.
    Select the
    Cover Shift Bidding Event
     business process to create the default definition.
    Security: These domains in the System functional area:
    • Business Process Administration
    • Manage: Business Process Definitions
  2. Configure the
    Cover Shift Bidding Event
    business process.
    1. Add
      Bid to Cover Shift
       as the initiating action.
    2. Add
      Select Worker to Cover Shift
       as an allowed action.
  3. Customize the notifications that managers receive when workers request to cover shifts on the Open Shift Board so they can make a more informed decision when selecting a worker to cover a shift.
    1. Under the related actions menu of the
      Select Worker to Cover Shift
       action, select
      Business Process > Maintain Step Related Worklets
      .
    2. In the
      Window Default State
      field, select
      Default to Open
      .
    3. In the
      Window Name
      , enter a title for the custom report.
    4. In the
      Embedded Worklets Icon or Label
      , use the default icon, default label, or a custom label.
    5. Click the
      Add
      button.
    6. In the
      Name
       field, add an existing custom report or create a new one to use as a worklet.
    7. (Optional) Create a new custom report that includes information that helps managers decide which worker should receive an open shift, such as Performance Rating, Number of Years Employed, Skills.
    8. Click
      OK
      .
    See: Concept: Related Worklets in Business Processes.
  4. Access the
    Edit Scheduling Settings
     task for the high-level scheduling organization for which you'd like to enable shift bidding.
    On the
    Worker Experience
     tab, select
    Enable Shift Bidding
    .
    Security:
    Set Up: Scheduling: High Level Scheduling Settings
    domain.
Workday displays a
Bid to Cover Shift
 option on shifts on the
Open Shift Board
 when shifts are in
Open
 or
Bidding Pending
status. Workday only displays the option if the worker is eligible to work the shift.
Managers can’t edit shifts once bidding has started.