Patent ID: 8401884

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for staffing a work schedule, the method comprising: providing a computing device that includes a processor, a data storage medium operatively coupled with said processor that is capable of at least temporarily storing work schedule data and tit least one computer readable medium operatively coupled with said processor and said data storage medium; said at least one computer readable medium comprising software to manipulate said work schedule data; the computing device being operatively coupled with an electronic network; creating work schedule data, wherein the work schedule data is at least partially related to specific unfilled work shifts whereby each work shift is assigned a uniform pay rate that is relative to characteristics of each such work shift, wherein the specific unfilled work shifts within said work schedule data are arranged into a plurality of separate categories according to an employer's anticipated worker needs at predetermined times, wherein said separate categories of unfilled work shifts have different pay rates, wherein categories having higher anticipated worker needs pay higher rates than categories having lower anticipated worker needs, wherein said work schedule data is presented to said at least one worker in a calendar format identifying individual days; storing said work schedule data on said data storage medium; at least one worker electronically accessing said work schedule data and selecting one or more work shifts to work; creating shift data, wherein the shift data is related to specific work shifts selected by said at least one worker; storing said shift data on said data storage medium; and the computing device amending said work schedule data in accordance with said shift data by identifying the specific work shifts selected by the at least one worker as having been selected.