Trapeze Blog Hybrid Bidding: The Key to Happier Teams, Smoother Operations?

By Kristi Urich Hybrid bidding offers a balanced approach to workforce management, benefiting both employees and transit agencies. In the first part of our series, we explored how hybrid bidding systems blend flexibility and structure. Now, let’s take a closer look at how hybrid bidding helps improve employee satisfaction while boosting operational performance. The Benefits of Hybrid Bidding for Employees  Hybrid bidding systems offer several advantages for employees:  Increased Flexibility: Employees who prefer more control over their schedules can still enjoy the flexibility of cafeteria-style bidding for part of their workweek. This is particularly useful for workers with changing personal obligations, such as childcare or schooling.  Greater Consistency: At the same time, hybrid systems offer the consistency of rostered schedules, giving employees the option to bid on full weeks of work with predictable start times. This reduces the stress of trying to build a workweek from scattered shifts.  Better Work-Life Balance: By allowing employees to customize part of their schedule while providing consistency in other areas, hybrid bidding systems can improve work-life balance. Workers who need specific days off for personal commitments can focus their bids on the more flexible part of the schedule.  Simplified Process for New Employees: Hybrid systems can make the bidding process less overwhelming for newer employees, who may struggle to navigate the complexities of cafeteria bidding. The availability of rostered packages simplifies their choices and reduces the anxiety associated with shift selection.  The Benefits of Hybrid Bidding for Agencies  For transit agencies, hybrid bidding systems offer operational benefits that can improve workforce efficiency and service delivery:  Maximized Shift Coverage: With part of the schedule offered as rostered packages, agencies can ensure that a significant portion of the workforce is assigned to key shifts in advance. This reduces the number of unbid runs and minimizes last-minute gaps in coverage.  Improved Workforce Utilization: Hybrid systems allow agencies to make more efficient use of their workforce by filling essential shifts through rostered schedules while offering flexibility where it makes sense. This balanced approach helps reduce the need for overtime and lowers the reliance on the extraboard to cover open shifts.  Supports Part-Time and Full-Time Employees: Part-time employees are often used to fill unbid work due to the day-off combinations of full-time employees.  Part-time employees can bid cafeteria with a minimum and maximum hours for their pick.  Enhanced Employee Satisfaction: By offering both flexibility and consistency, hybrid systems are more likely to meet the diverse needs of employees. Satisfied employees are more engaged, productive, and less likely to leave, which reduces turnover and recruitment costs.  Reduced Administrative Burden: Hybrid bidding systems streamline the scheduling process, reducing the administrative burden associated with unbid runs and large extraboards. By offering a mix of rostered and flexible shifts, agencies can more easily manage the workforce without sacrificing service quality.  Hybrid Bidding as a New Workforce Strategy  Hybrid bidding systems represent a forward-thinking approach to workforce management in the transit industry. By combining the flexibility of cafeteria-style bidding with the consistency of rostered schedules, agencies can create a more efficient, employee-friendly environment. As agencies continue to face workforce challenges and strive to improve employee satisfaction, hybrid bidding systems offer a versatile solution that enhances both the employee experience and operational performance.  CONNECT WITH US