When I Work vs ESO Scheduling

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Our analysts compared When I Work vs ESO Scheduling based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Employee Scheduling Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

When I Work is a cloud-based platform that helps design, communicate and track work schedules for hourly workers. It replaces the hassle of spreadsheets and paper schedules with a user-friendly interface for creating and publishing schedules in minutes. You get features like drag-and-drop tools, schedule and timesheet templates, customizable automation, and reporting.

It offers built-in time tracking, communication tools and payroll integrations. Employees can clock in and out directly through the native app. They can also swap shifts and submit time-off requests from their profiles. It lets you access timesheets, identify labor cost trends and control overtime expenses.

Team messaging helps you coordinate staff members and avoid over or understaffing during peak seasons. While pricing varies based on company size and required features, the platform offers a free trial and multiple subscription tiers. This allows you to choose a plan that fits your budget and specific needs.

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ESO Scheduling is a robust software solution designed to streamline employee scheduling, particularly for emergency medical services, fire departments, and hospitals. It offers features like automated shift assignments, time-off management, and real-time schedule updates, making it ideal for organizations that require precise and flexible scheduling to ensure optimal staffing levels. Users appreciate its intuitive interface and the ability to integrate with other systems, enhancing overall operational efficiency. The software stands out for its ability to handle complex scheduling needs, such as accommodating varying shift patterns and managing certifications and training requirements. This ensures that only qualified personnel are scheduled for specific tasks, reducing the risk of errors. Pricing typically varies based on the size of the organization and the specific features required, with options for monthly or annual payments. Compared to similar products, ESO Scheduling is praised for its reliability and comprehensive support, making it a preferred choice for critical service providers.
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$2.50/User, Monthly
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$795 Annually
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Product Insights

  • Top-Ranked Scheduling Solution: When I Work stands out as a leader in employee scheduling, with an analyst rating of 85 in our research. This puts it alongside industry heavyweights like Deputy (87) and 7Shifts (86). It offers a comprehensive set of features, including scheduling, time tracking and team communications, all of which are ready to use immediately, reducing setup time.
  • Effortless Shift Management: Our research shows that When I Work offers 96% of tools for creating and managing employee shifts out-of-the-box. These include everything from creating recurring shift templates and customizing layouts to features like open shift bidding and automatic vacant shift assignment. You can also add feedback, task notes, swap shifts and receive automated reminders.
  • Powerful Mobile App: The mobile app keeps everything you need for streamlined scheduling at your fingertips. It offers mobile scheduling, time tracking, geofencing, customizable push notifications and built-in chat for easy team communication.
  • Seamless Integrations: When I Work scored 92 for integrations in our analysis, effortlessly connecting with a wide range of business tools. These include accounting solutions like QuickBooks Online, Google and Apple Calendars, HR and payroll software like Rippling and Gusto, Square POS systems, and integration platforms as a service (iPaaS) such as Zapier and Tray.io.
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  • Improved Efficiency: Automate scheduling tasks to reduce manual errors and save time, allowing managers to focus on strategic activities.
  • Enhanced Employee Satisfaction: Provide employees with more predictable schedules and the ability to request time off or swap shifts easily, leading to higher job satisfaction.
  • Cost Savings: Optimize labor costs by ensuring the right number of staff are scheduled based on demand forecasts, reducing overtime and understaffing issues.
  • Compliance Management: Ensure adherence to labor laws and company policies by automatically tracking hours worked, breaks, and overtime.
  • Real-Time Updates: Instantly communicate schedule changes to employees via mobile notifications, reducing miscommunication and no-shows.
  • Data-Driven Decisions: Utilize analytics and reporting tools to gain insights into workforce trends, helping to make informed staffing decisions.
  • Scalability: Easily adjust to the needs of growing businesses by managing schedules for a small team or a large workforce with equal efficiency.
  • Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly integrate with payroll, HR, and other enterprise systems to streamline operations and ensure data consistency.
  • Employee Empowerment: Allow employees to view their schedules, request changes, and communicate availability through a user-friendly interface, fostering a sense of control and responsibility.
  • Reduced Administrative Burden: Minimize the time spent on scheduling-related administrative tasks, freeing up resources for other critical business functions.
  • Enhanced Communication: Facilitate better communication between managers and employees through built-in messaging and notification features.
  • Flexibility: Adapt to various scheduling needs, whether for part-time, full-time, or shift-based employees, ensuring all staffing requirements are met.
  • Improved Accountability: Track attendance and punctuality, helping to identify and address issues promptly, thereby improving overall workforce reliability.
  • Customizable Templates: Use pre-built or custom templates to quickly create schedules that meet specific business needs, reducing the time spent on repetitive tasks.
  • Conflict Resolution: Automatically detect and resolve scheduling conflicts, ensuring smooth operations and reducing the likelihood of staffing issues.
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  • Employee Scheduling: Create work schedules in one click based on employee availability and eligibility. View team availability, manage time off and track shift trades from one place. Allow employees to pick up and trade shifts while boosting workplace efficiency and productivity. Schedule multiple teams across job sites while preventing unnecessary overtime.
  • Time and Attendance: Track attendance, time off and breaks while turning any internet-connected device into an online time clock. Integrate schedules to control costs while applying pay rules. Implement an online time clock with a GPS facility for uniform clock-ins and outs across devices. Let remote employees log in and out using any device while receiving attendance data in real time.
  • Timesheets: Record weekly attendance changes into timesheets while setting differential pay rates for multiple positions. Monitor labor costs while auditing time records with labor distribution reports. Audit and approve timesheets from mobile or desktop while preventing overtime before it happens. Configure paid and unpaid breaks on schedule and time clock.
  • Shift Planning: Plan, swap and approve shifts using a mobile or desktop while empowering teams to collaborate on schedules. Ensure cost-effective shift coverage while creating schedules that work for the entire team.
  • Scalability: Start with a single team or location and scale to multiple teams across geographical locations as per business growth. Schedule multiple teams across various job sites.
  • Push Notifications: Send important messages to the entire staff in one go. Employees get email and text alerts for missed logins or outs. Notify all employees when you update or create new schedules.
  • Geo Check-In: Use GPS tracking and live map views to ensure that employees log in from their designated job sites. Monitor field staff’s real-time location, eliminating the need for employees to update their locations constantly in the office.
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  • Drag-and-Drop Interface: Easily create and adjust schedules by dragging and dropping shifts into place.
  • Real-Time Updates: Instant notifications for schedule changes, ensuring all team members are always informed.
  • Shift Swapping: Employees can request and approve shift swaps directly within the platform, streamlining the process.
  • Automated Scheduling: Generate schedules based on predefined rules and employee availability, reducing manual effort.
  • Mobile Access: Access and manage schedules from any device, providing flexibility for both managers and employees.
  • Compliance Tracking: Ensure schedules adhere to labor laws and company policies, minimizing legal risks.
  • Time-Off Management: Track and approve time-off requests, integrating them seamlessly into the scheduling process.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Generate detailed reports on scheduling metrics, helping to identify trends and optimize workforce management.
  • Integration with Payroll Systems: Sync scheduling data with payroll software to streamline payroll processing and reduce errors.
  • Employee Self-Service Portal: Allow employees to view their schedules, request changes, and communicate with managers directly through the platform.
  • Customizable Templates: Create and save schedule templates for recurring shifts, saving time on future scheduling tasks.
  • Overtime Management: Monitor and control overtime hours to manage labor costs effectively.
  • Shift Reminders: Automated reminders sent to employees before their shifts, reducing no-shows and tardiness.
  • Role-Based Permissions: Assign different access levels to users based on their roles, ensuring data security and appropriate access.
  • Historical Data Access: Access past schedules and employee attendance records for reference and compliance purposes.
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Product Ranking

#3

among all
Employee Scheduling Software

#58

among all
Employee Scheduling Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 1454 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 31 reviews
90%
of users recommend this product

When I Work has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 90% when considering 1454 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

90%
of users recommend this product

ESO Scheduling has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 90% when considering 31 user reviews from 1 recognized software review sites.

5.0 (11)
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4.4 (286)
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4.48 (31)
4.5 (1093)
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4.4 (64)
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Awards

When I Work stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

ESO Scheduling stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Intuitive and Efficient: Users appreciate the user-friendly interface and comprehensive features that centralize managing all scheduling needs from a single app.
Prompt Customer Support: Users report getting timely and helpful assistance from the vendor’s support team through live chat and email.
Enhanced Employee Experience: The app boosts staff productivity by offering them flexible tools to control their work schedules.
Improved Integration and Accessibility: Most users have had a positive experience connecting the platform with other necessary third-party tools.
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Easy to Use: Users find the interface intuitive and easy to navigate, making it simple to create and manage schedules.
Flexible Scheduling: The system allows for various scheduling options, including shift swaps, time-off requests, and different shift types, accommodating diverse employee needs.
Mobile Access: Employees can access and manage their schedules from their mobile devices, enhancing flexibility and communication.
Real-Time Updates: The system provides real-time updates on schedule changes, ensuring everyone is informed and on the same page.
Automated Reminders: The system sends automated reminders for shift changes, time-off requests, and other important events, reducing the risk of missed shifts.
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Pricing and Transparency Issues: Users have complained about the vendor’s pricing practices, which include hidden costs and a lack of clear information before signing up.
App Glitches: Users reported issues with iPhone and Android apps, particularly with tasks like staff punch-ins and location tracking using the phone’s GPS.
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Limited Customization: Some users find the scheduling options too rigid, making it difficult to accommodate unique employee needs or business requirements. For example, they may not be able to easily adjust shift lengths or create specific break schedules.
Complex Interface: The interface can be overwhelming for new users, with a steep learning curve and a lack of intuitive navigation. This can lead to frustration and wasted time trying to understand the system.
Poor Mobile Experience: The mobile app is often reported as clunky and difficult to use, making it challenging for employees to manage their schedules on the go. This can be a major inconvenience for employees who rely on their phones for scheduling information.
Lack of Integration: ESO Scheduling may not integrate well with other business systems, such as payroll or time tracking software. This can lead to data duplication and manual workarounds, increasing the risk of errors and inefficiencies.
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According to the reviews, users praise When I Work’s user-friendly design and all-in-one features for scheduling and time tracking. The customer support team is another win — responsive and helpful via chat and email. However, the pricing structure is a point of contention for some users, with complaints about hidden fees and a lack of transparency before signing up.What truly set it apart was its affordability for small and medium businesses. The starter plan, costing just $1.50 per location per month, offers unlimited employee scheduling and auto-scheduling — features usually reserved for top-tier plans in competitors like 7Shift and Homebase.However, communication features are restricted. During testing, I could send individual and group messages, but there's no bulletin board or newsfeed functionality, and message read receipts are absent.Security is another concern. The platform lacks biometric clock-in options, opening the door to potential time theft through buddy punching. Additionally, it doesn’t support geofencing or GPS tracking. I couldn’t remotely track staff shifts to ensure they were following established procedures.Overall, When I Work offers a compelling solution for small and medium businesses with a user-friendly interface, robust features and a budget-friendly starter plan. However, be mindful of the pricing concerns and other limitations, which can be a problem for growing teams and businesses.

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User reviews from the past year on ESO Scheduling are largely positive, highlighting its suitability for EMS and fire departments. Users particularly appreciate its comprehensive suite of features, including employee scheduling, time and attendance tracking, payroll management, and certification tracking, all within a single platform. This integration simplifies administrative tasks and reduces the need for multiple software solutions, saving time and money. Users rave about the significant reduction in payroll processing time, citing a decrease from an entire workday to under 30 minutes. The ability for employees to access schedules and submit requests from anywhere is also frequently commended. However, some users find the software's navigation to be convoluted due to its extensive menu options, making it challenging to locate specific functions quickly. While acknowledging this drawback, ESO Solutions states that their development team is actively working on simplifying the user interface for improved ease of use. Overall, ESO Scheduling is best suited for EMS and fire departments seeking an all-in-one solution to streamline operations and reduce administrative burden, particularly those prioritizing efficient payroll processing and flexible employee access.

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Top Alternatives in Employee Scheduling Software


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WhenToWork

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