If you work in a high turnover industry, you know that your employment situation can change on a dime.
Retail, hospitality, marketing, and warehouse shifts often change with the season or ups and downs in the market. Workers are in constant flux between working and pounding the pavement to fill out applications and turn in resumes.
But thanks to the gig economy, this is about to change. At least that is what Shiftgig trying to change.
Using a mobile app, Shiftgig connects businesses with on-demand workers. On the other side of the equation, Shiftgig makes it easier for service employees to find short-term jobs.
It’s an innovative solution to an age-old problem, and it’s also making it easier for you, as a worker, to find jobs and make money in a way that makes sense for you.
Curious to learn more about Shiftgig?
Read on for our complete guide to this exciting new service.
What Is Shiftgig?
Shiftgig was founded in Chicago in 2012. It’s an app-based staffing company that connects employees and employers in a wide range of industries. Basically, when a company needs employees on a quick turnaround, they can use Shiftgig to quickly hire talent.
Shiftgig supports service industry companies with temporary staffers called Specialists. These staffers each have a specialization in a particular industry or industries. Shiftgigs are diverse and include shifts for restaurants, hotels, trade shows, warehouses, and more. Popular gigs include:
- Experiential Marketing
- Brand Ambassadors
- Promo Models
- Event & Street Teams
- Product Sampling
- Event Registration
- Production
- Food Service
- Servers
- Fine Dining Servers
- Bartenders
- Front & Back of House
- Line & Prep Cooks
- Sous Chefs
- Dishwashers
- Hotel & Hospitality
- Banquet Servers
- Guest Relations
- Concessions
- Housekeepers
- Housemen
- Utility
- Custodians
- In-Store Retail
- Store Associates
- Cashiers
- Greeters
- Sales Associates
- Store Remodel Associates
- Inventory Stockers
Shiftgig’s most recent round of fundraising raised $20 million for the company, and it plans to use this money to expand its reach. So, if Shiftgig isn’t operating in your city yet, don’t worry. It most likely will be soon.
Currently, Shiftgig operates in the following cities:
- Atlanta
- Chicago
- Dallas
- Houston
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Nashville
- New Jersey
- New York
- New Orleans
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Tampa Bay
How Does Shiftgig Work?
As we’ve mentioned, Shiftgig specializes in partnering people looking for work with businesses in need of employees. Here’s a breakdown for how the service works for both parties:
For Businesses:
Managing human resources in a fast-paced environment can be challenging. If you’re a business with staffing needs, then Shiftgig makes it easy for you to find people to make your business run. Staffing agencies and human resources departments for larger enterprises can also get help through Shiftgig’s Deploy platform.
To begin, you need to reach out to the Shiftgig team. They will ask you to provide some basic information about your company, as well as which type and how many workers you need.
Once you set up your account to attract the right people, the only thing left to do is wait. Your shifts will start appearing in Specialists’ feeds, and you will be notified when someone picks up a shift you are offering.
From there, you can check your roster of employees by accessing your account on the Shiftgig website. You can also download the Shiftgig app to your phone.
For Specialists:
Shiftgig calls its employees “Specialists.” Working as a Specialist is relatively straightforward.
You accept shifts through the app and then work them. With Shiftgig you are the master of your own schedule, you can go through available shifts and only apply for the ones you want to work.
You start by applying to be a Specialist, and if you’re accepted, then you can start working almost right away. We’ll get more in depth on that in a moment.
Like many gig economy jobs, you will have the chance to choose how much or how little you want to work. Or, whether you want to work now or work later.
Some jobs will be sent to you from the Shiftgig team based on your qualifications. When you get a notification, you can choose to accept or reject the shift. But if you accept, you will be expected to work.
You will also have the option to search for jobs. You can do this in the “Find Shifts” section of the app. When you find something you like, click “claim,” and the shift is yours.
The shift details will outline:
- What type of work you will be doing.
- When you should show up.
- How long you will be expected to work.
- What you need to bring.
- How to contact the on-site supervisor.
Make sure to review all of this information carefully. If you fail to complete a job, you will get a strike. Strikes lead to account deactivation. We will go into more detail on strikes later in the guide.
The app records the shifts you work and you get paid directly through the app. The work week runs Sunday through Saturday with payday being the following Friday.
What is ShiftgigX?
If you peruse the Shiftgig website, you may come across something called “ShiftgigX.”
This service works like Shiftgig, except it specializes in experiential marketing, promotions, and brand ambassador shifts.
Furthermore, ShiftgigX is not limited to one city. You may get offers to work events around the country. So, if you have experience in this industry, and if you are willing and able to travel, consider checking out ShiftgigX.
What is BookedOut?
BookedOut is ShiftgigX on the business side, so to speak. BookedOut helps experiential marketers with most tasks related to hosting a marketing event. That includes booking talent through Shiftgig or ShiftgigX.
Working For ShiftGig
Does working for Shiftgig sounds like a good fit for you? You’re about to learn what it’s like to be a Shiftgig specialist, how much they make, and how you can apply.
Types of Shifts:
The first thing you should know about Shiftgig is that are several different types of shifts available to you.
When a job offer comes in, it will say which type of shift it is. Here’s a rundown of the different options:
Repeating Shifts
These are shifts that will take place on several days over a period of time, such as Monday and Tuesday of next week, or Monday and Tuesday, 9-5, for four weeks. If you want to work this shift, you must claim all the shifts in the series.
Backup
Sometimes supervisors are unsure about staffing more people. On the other hand, they want to be ready for the unexpected. If this is the case, they can request back-up shifts.
If you accept a backup shift but find out from the supervisor you’re not needed, then you will receive pay for four hours of work even if they send you home.
However, if you don’t show up for the shift, or if you volunteer to leave, then you will not receive pay.
On-call
Another option is to claim an on-call shift. But if you do this, you must be ready, willing, and able to respond to Shiftgig when they reach out to you.
For on-call shifts, you will receive pay for the time you spend waiting, but the maximum for this is four hours. Then, if you’re called in for a shift, you will receive payment from the client for the time you worked.
You will not receive pay for on-call shifts if you:
- Don’t respond to Shiftgig when they communicate with you
- Don’t show up to a shift after being called
- Don’t arrive for the shift when you were expected to
- Don’t go to the shift in proper uniform
- Don’t perform the duties required of the shift
Training
Some jobs will want you to do go through some training before you accept other shifts from them. You may or may not get paid for these shifts, so make sure to check the job details before claiming a training shift.
Unavailable Shifts
If you find a shift that interests you, but if someone already claimed it, you can still have a chance to work it. You do this by choosing “notify me.”
Should the shift become available, you’ll get a message from Shiftgig, and you can claim it for yourself.
Dropping Shifts
Shiftgig has built its business around helping companies find workers for their shifts. As a result, they want the people who claim shifts to follow through on their word.
Shiftgig understands that things happen. They have set up a system that allows you some flexibility while also ensuring they can deliver to their clients.
If you need to drop a shift, go into your “Upcoming” shifts list on the app and select “Drop shift.”
If you do this more than 48 hours before your shift start time, then nothing happens.
Late Drops (The Strike System)
But, if you drop a shift less than 48 hours before it begins, then you will be given a strike. Shiftgig allows you to do this three times for every ten shifts you work. If you drop more than three shifts, Shiftgig will suspend your account.
At this point, you will receive a notification from Shiftgig to contact them and explain what happened. If you can provide a good reason for dropping so many shifts, they will reactivate your account.
You can also receive strikes for showing up late, leaving early, or other attendance issues.
If you don’t drop your shift and don’t show up, this is considered a “No Call No Show,” and it counts for three strikes.
A “No Call No Show” is a serious offense. It can result in termination. Unless you provide a valid justification for not showing up, Shiftgig will deactivate your account.
All-Star Status
Shiftgig is transitioning from a “Reliability Score” model to a new evaluation system.
Employers will be able to see how many strikes you have as well as how many dropped shifts. They may use this when deciding to whom they want to offer shifts.
If you do an excellent job for one employer, they can award you with “All-Star” status. This will give you first dibs on future jobs posted by the same employers.
Shiftgig Requirements
In order to apply for Shiftgig, you need to meet some basic requirements:
- Have experience in specified industry.
- Live near one of the cities in which Shiftgig operates.
- Be at 18 years old.
- Be eligible to work in the United States.
- Have an iPhone or Android that can run the Shiftgig app.
Applying for Shiftgig
To apply for Shiftgig, you must download the app and make an account, which requires a valid email address and a password.
From there, you will need to provide your personal information, which includes your name, address, and phone number.
Then they will ask you to provide a summary of your work experience. This works much like any other online application form.
You click “add position,” and then fill out the details, such as the duties you performed and the time you spent on that job.
Once you’ve added in your experience, you can submit your application. The folks at Shiftgig will review it, and they will contact you within three business days.
If you match their needs, they may schedule an interview. It could be in-person, over the phone, or via web chat. Prepare to provide or show pertinent documents such as certifications or licenses.
Next, you will receive an email from the onboarding team that walks you through the final steps of the process. This is the part where you fill out those boring tax documents.
But once you finish this, you’re all set to start accepting jobs and making money.
How Much Can You Make Working for Shiftgig?
Unfortunately, every job has different pay rates, so it’s impossible to say how much you can make. That said, Shiftgig advertises competitive wages, and there is no limit to how much you can work, meaning you can earn as much as your schedule will allow.
If you pick up “On Call” or “Backup” shifts and end up not working, then you will receive pay at the rate advertised for that shift.
As mentioned earlier, you will get paid on Fridays for the time you worked from the Sunday to Saturday of the previous week. Here’s a helpful graphic that explains the Shiftgig pay schedule provided by the company:
After you work ten shifts, you could become eligible to get paid the day after you work. Unfortunately, this service is not available to ShiftgigX workers.
Benefits of Working for Shiftgig
If you’re still on the fence about working for Shiftgig, here’s a brief overview of its many benefits:
- Choose when and where you want to work
- Earn as much as you want; no limits
- Add variety to your work life by changing jobs
- Build your resume
- Help local businesses meet their staffing needs and stay running
Some Things to Consider
Overall, there are a lot of benefits to working for Shiftgig.
But, there are some things you should keep in mind when you sign up and start claiming shifts:
- Shiftgig does not compensate you for travel time, so factor this in when you are deciding whether or not to take a job
- The hourly rates you see posted are before taxes, so you may not see this full amount in your paycheck
- You must be eligible for direct deposit if you want to get paid
- Shiftgig does not provide workers compensation insurance to its employees. Instead, they rely on their partners to do this. If you get hurt at a job, or if you feel a work environment is unsafe, tell the onsite supervisor immediately. Then call Shiftgig at 844-658-1668 to report the incident. This number works 24/7, and Shiftgig recommends you call the same day as the incident.
Conclusion
Shiftgig is a clear example of how the gig economy and mobile technology are helping move us forward. It provides businesses with an easy way to meet their staffing needs. It gives individuals with experience the chance to earn more money and live more flexible lives.
If you think Shiftgig could be a good option for you, then download the app and give it a try today.
