Today I dedicated my efforts to enhancing the user interface of the shift adjustment and overtime request modules implemented yesterday. A well-designed UI is critical for ensuring adoption of these features, especially since they’ll be used by employees across various technical skill levels and device types.
I started with the shift adjustment interface, focusing on making the process more intuitive and error-resistant. The previous basic implementation was functional but lacked visual clarity and guidance. I redesigned the adjustment form with a step-by-step wizard approach that breaks the process into logical stages:
- Selection of adjustment type (time change, location change, etc.)
- Specification of new parameters with clear before/after comparisons
- Documentation of reasons and any required approvals
- Confirmation and notification settings
Each step now includes contextual help and validation that provides immediate feedback, reducing the likelihood of errors. I implemented interactive time selectors that visually highlight conflicts or policy violations as users make selections, helping managers make compliant adjustments without needing to memorize all organizational rules.
For visual clarity, I created a side-by-side comparison view that clearly shows the original shift details alongside proposed changes, with differences highlighted for easy verification. This comparison persists through the confirmation screen, ensuring managers understand exactly what they’re changing before committing.
I also implemented a batch adjustment interface for scenarios where the same change needs to be applied to multiple shifts. This interface presents a filterable grid of eligible shifts with checkboxes for selection, followed by a unified adjustment form that clearly indicates how many shifts will be affected. The system provides appropriate warnings when batch adjustments might override individual customizations that had been previously applied.
In the afternoon, I turned my attention to the overtime request module’s UI. I designed separate interfaces for requesters (employees) and approvers (managers), each tailored to their specific needs and permissions.
For employees, I created a streamlined request form that automatically suggests relevant information based on context:
- Pre-filling dates and times based on the selected shift
- Suggesting common justifications based on department and role
- Providing estimates of overtime hours and potential earnings
- Showing the employee’s overtime history and remaining allowances
The form includes real-time validation against policy limits and scheduling conflicts, with clear explanations when requests might be problematic. I also added a status tracking view that shows pending, approved, and denied requests with appropriate details about each.
For managers, I built a comprehensive approval dashboard that presents overtime requests in a prioritized queue. The dashboard highlights critical information for decision-making:
- Employee overtime history and patterns
- Departmental budget impact of the request
- Staffing levels during the requested period
- Policy compliance indicators
I implemented batch approval capabilities for efficient processing of multiple similar requests, with appropriate safeguards to prevent accidental mass approvals. The interface includes justification fields for approvals and denials, ensuring proper documentation for compliance purposes.
Throughout both interfaces, I implemented responsive designs that work effectively across device sizes, recognizing that these features might be used in various contexts from desktop workstations to mobile phones in the field. I paid particular attention to touch targets and readable typography for mobile users.
By the end of the day, both the shift adjustment and overtime request modules had fully polished, user-friendly interfaces that complement their functional capabilities. Initial testing with sample users showed positive responses to the intuitive workflow and clear information presentation in both modules.