Preferential bidding preferences

As an administrator, you can define a set of preferences for shifts or shift patterns that can then be ranked by employees. Preference items can be for any field that is used on the shift or shift pattern description. For example, shift pattern start time or day off pattern. For each preference item, you can specify the maximum number of preference values an employee can rank.

You can use bidding preferences to calculate shift or shift pattern assignments in these cases:

• An employee has not bid (the Apply Preferential Bidding field from the Create/Manage Bid Group Detail page has to be selected for their bid group)
• An employee has not bid on enough shifts (the Apply Preferential Bidding field from the Create/Manage Bid Group Detail page has to be selected for their bid group)
• The bidding mode for the schedule bid is set to preferential (PREF)
• Any combination of the above cases

You must set up the bidding preferences before you open the bid; that is, when the schedule bid is in the NEW state.

You must open a bid before the bidding information (and the preferences) display in the employee’s view. When in preferential bidding mode, you must open the bid to allow employees to set up their preferences. For information about opening bids, see Opening bids.