Mobile apps for workforce management significantly improve convenience, communication, engagement, and efficiency. As employees become more reliant on their mobile devices, they expect information on demand at their fingertips. Gone are the days when employees had to go to the store to get their schedules or use Post-it notes to request time off. Increased adoption rates for mobile apps underscore their importance, especially for hourly workers who benefit significantly from these tools’ flexibility and empowerment.

One of the biggest benefits of a self-service mobile app is the increased autonomy and control employees gain regarding schedules, pay, and communications with managers. With the ability to update personal information, request time off, and swap shifts with coworkers, employees feel like they have a say in their work life. That sense of control increases job satisfaction and engagement.

With systems like Legion Automated Scheduling, employees and managers can achieve a better work-life balance. Employees have increased flexibility and more personalized schedules because they can define when, how much, and where they want to work. All this information is automatically factored in, along with compliance rules and business needs, to generate schedules that meet the needs of the business and employees 96% of the time. But this is only the first step. Once generated, schedules are automatically available to employees on the mobile app.

Meanwhile, managers are liberated from the back office and the extensive time it takes to manually schedule shifts, approve or deny time-off requests, and seek out replacement team members when things don’t go according to plan. All of this can now be managed seamlessly through a modern mobile app.

Key Summary

• Self-service mobile apps used in workforce management (WFM) software offer greater autonomy to employees through increased visibility and control over their schedules, instant access to earned wages, and increased transparency through online communication tools.
• An app is only helpful if it is adopted and used regularly. Intuitive apps that employees embrace to check their schedules, request time off, swap shifts, or access earned wages are invaluable.
• When employees feel cared for and respected, they’re more likely to commit to their company, which increases productivity and retention.

The Role of Self-Service Mobile Apps in Workforce Management

Lack of schedule flexibility and poor communication often lead to a high turnover rate. Legion surveyed hourly employees and their managers and found that 59% of employees quit their jobs because of a lack of schedule empowerment.

Employees feel more in control when they have more access to schedules and tools to take action, such as swapping shifts. This is where mobile apps come into play.

Legion WFM’s self-service app enables employees to request time off, swap, or pick up shifts directly from their mobile devices. They can also complete their timecard and access earned wages immediately after a shift.

Legion InstantPay

Legion InstantPay provides immediate access to earned wages before traditional pay cycles. With InstantPay, next-day transfers are free, and instant transfers are also available for a minimal fee. To create a frictionless experience, there is no requirement to use a prepaid credit card or open a new bank account upon implementation, and there is no impact on current payroll processes.

By closely aligning work and pay in the same app, you can increase employee engagement and productivity in one fell swoop. Instant access to hard-earned wages may reduce financial and emotional stress, decreasing the likelihood that employees will want to start searching for another job.

Automated Scheduling

Pay isn’t the only determining factor when it comes to job satisfaction. Schedules that meet employee availability and preferences with flexible tools to manage schedules are game changers when empowering employees.

Legion Automated Scheduling creates schedules that match employee preferences and skills 96% of the time. With automated self-service shift claims, shift swaps, the ability to see how much they will be paid if they pick up a shift, and consumer-grade communication tools to interact with managers and team members, employees feel more empowered and trust their employers.

Managers can breathe a little easier, too. With real-time data at their fingertips, they can trust they’ve made informed decisions about scheduling and staffing. They can quickly approve or deny shift swap requests, ensuring all shifts are covered. They can also use the app to create and publish schedules in advance, giving employees plenty of notice while reducing last-minute scrambling. And communicate any changes to employees quickly and easily.

Frontline Communications

Self-service mobile apps provide a centralized hub for important announcements, updates, and resources. Managers can share kudos, build corporate culture, and empower employees with direct updates from management. Legion WFM enables intelligent automation to determine if messages can be viewed on or off the clock, freeing managers from manual tasks. Engagement with full reporting and analytics on views, clicks, likes, and comments is easy to measure.

Employees who feel informed and connected to their team are likelier to feel engaged and invested in their work. They’re also more likely to collaborate and support one another, creating a more positive and productive work environment.

Legion Frontline Communications drives engagement and captures employees’ pulse through surveys and polls to improve their experience.

Every enterprise hoping to expand knows employee feedback is integral to successful scaling. Providing a platform to give employees a voice demonstrates respect and ushers in new engagement insights that an executive team may not have seen. And, because the communications tools are embedded within WFM, the app is schedule-aware, meaning hourly workers only read messages when they are on the clock or have opted-in to receive critical communications when off the clock.

Personal Information Updates

Personal information updates may seem small, but they can make a big difference in employees’ day-to-day lives. A self-service mobile app allows employees to easily update their personal information without trying to track down HR. Everything can be done quickly and easily within the app.

This is more than just a convenience for employees; it’s also important for managers and HR. Accurate and up-to-date information is crucial for payroll, benefits administration, and emergency preparedness. With self-service updates, HR can spend less time on data entry and more time on strategic initiatives that move the needle for the business.

Empower Your Employees Today

It’s amazing how much things can change when employees feel valued and respected. When the corporate culture is tended to, things can quickly turn around.

Schedule a demo today to see how you can empower your employees with a self-service mobile app that gives them back control over their lives.