Evaluation of Request Order Sequencing Methods in the Selection Process of Substitute Employees

Abstract

This paper presents a simulation-based evaluation of various reactive scheduling methods designed to address workforce uncertainty in personnel scheduling, with a focus on substitution requests. We model employee availability and the demand for workers in a call center environment, using a mixed integer programming solver for shift scheduling and a probabilistic model for absenteeism. Our study compares different sequencing methods for substitution requests, assessing their effectiveness across a range of parameters, such as absenteeism probability and employee acceptance rates. The findings highlight the impact of sequencing choices on schedule fulfillment and substitution request efficiency, offering insights for optimizing personnel scheduling in uncertain environments. This research contributes to improving reactive scheduling strategies, essential for efficient workforce management.