Adding a Cover Shift

If you ever find yourself short-staffed, Cover Shifts makes it easy to offer open shifts to the right associates — fast.

Here’s how you can create a new cover shift in just a few steps.

How to Add a Cover Shift

1. Choose a Cost Center

Start by selecting the cost center where the shift is needed.
This tells the system which location or department you’re trying to staff.

2. Set the Shift Date and Time

Pick:

• Shift Date — the day the shift will take place.
• Start Time and End Time — when the shift begins and ends.

Make sure the times match when you actually need someone on site.

3. Enter the Position and How Many People You Need

Select the position you need to fill (for example: Barista, Server, Cashier).

Then, set the number of associates you need for that position.
If you need two Baristas, for example, just enter “2.”

4. (Optional) Add a Reason for the Cover Shift

You can add a reason to explain why the shift is open — like someone called in sick, or you’re expecting extra customers.
This is optional, but helpful for your associates.

5. (Optional) Add Notes

Use the Notes field if you want to give extra instructions or reminders to anyone who picks up the shift.

Managing Who Gets Offered the Shift

When you create a cover shift, associate groups (the priority order for who gets offered the shift) are automatically filled in for you based on how your account was set up.

In most cases, you don’t need to change anything — just move on.
But if needed, you can:

• Adjust the priority of groups
• Add or remove groups
• Fine-tune who gets first dibs on the shift

The system will offer the shift to associates based on the highest-priority group first.

Excluding Specific Associates

If you already know someone can’t work the shift — maybe they’re on vacation or already working another shift — you can exclude them when setting up the cover shift.

Just click Exclude associates and choose the people you don’t want to offer the shift to.

This helps avoid confusion and saves your team time.

Finishing Up

When you’re done:

• Click Continue to review the shift.
• Double-check your details.
• Then click Publish.

TrackPath will start contacting associates right away based on your settings.
No need to manually text or call everyone!