Workforce scheduling for growing teams
Cover every shift.
Control every labour dollar.
Build and publish schedules in minutes, keep labour costs in view as you plan, and fill last-minute absences without the scramble — in one system your whole team can rely on.
No credit card required · Set up in minutes · Demo needs no signup
The platform
Everything your team needs. Nothing locked behind “contact sales”.
Code Red call-out coverage
When someone calls out, WorkForward ranks the best-qualified available staff — by role fit, availability, hours, and overtime risk — and sends offers in a tap. The first to accept gets the shift, and the schedule updates itself.
6:02 AM
Marcus calls out sick
6:03 AM
Offer sent to top 3
6:16 AM
Priya accepts — schedule updated
Filled in 14 minutes
Labour intelligence
Budget vs scheduled, labour % of sales, coverage gaps — live while you build, not month-end.
Friday runs hot — flagged before it costs you
Earnings estimate
Staff see estimated gross pay as hours accrue — and what every open shift is worth before they pick it up.
An estimate from hours × rate — not payroll. Tips, premiums, statutory pay, and deductions aren't included.
Time clock & kiosk
A PIN pad for shared tablets and geo-stamped punches on phones. Off-site clock-ins are flagged automatically.
Plain-language schedulingBeta
− Marcus · Fri 12:30p–7p
+ Emma · Fri 12:30p–7p (24h → 30h)
The AI proposes; you approve a visible diff. It never touches data on its own.
Fair distribution
Clopenings, weekend load, and swings in hours — surfaced before they drive turnover.
Mobile access & alerts
Schedule changes, offers, and approvals arrive as push notifications. Installs like an app and works offline; read receipts confirm who's seen it.
Your schedule is out
Shifts for Jul 27 – Aug 2 published
Time off approved ✓
Fri, Jul 31 → Sat, Aug 1
Compliance, built in
Overtime thresholds, rest between shifts, and minimum wage for every Canadian province — flagged as you build, never after.
Priya hits 44h — overtime past this shift
Only 7h rest before the open — clopening
Advisory only — WorkForward warns, you decide. Not legal advice.
Create your workspace
Sign up, name the business, and add positions. No onboarding call or sales demo required.
Your team joins with a code
One 6-letter invite. Staff sign in on their phones and set their availability.
Publish your first schedule
Templates and copy-last-week do the heavy lifting. Everyone's notified, and confirmations roll in.
For your team
Managers plan. The team stays in sync.
Your team gets an installable app that answers the three things they actually ask: when do I work, how do I swap or cover a shift, and what will I earn?
- See the schedule the moment it's published
- Swap, drop, or claim shifts in one tap
- Request time off against a live balance
- Clock in from a phone or the kiosk
- See the pay before picking up a shift
Who it's for
If it runs on shifts, it runs on WorkForward.
Restaurants
Kitchen, servers, and hosts — covered through every rush.
Cafés & coffee shops
Staff the morning peak without overspending.
Bars & pubs
Late closes and last-minute call-outs, handled.
Retail & franchises
One schedule across every location.
Salons & spas
Book around each provider's real availability.
Gyms & studios
Front desk and classes, always covered.
Hospitality groups
Every department, one schedule.
Our blog has practical playbooks for staffing each of these.