Waitlists that actually move

A waitlist is only useful if it moves. Most of them are a list of names nobody gets back to. Causefolk treats a freed spot as something to offer, not something to announce.

What happens when a spot opens

Someone cancels on a full shift. Causefolk looks at the waitlist in order, finds the first person whose party fits the free spots, and emails them a claim link. The spot is held for them, 24 hours by default, or until one hour before the shift starts, whichever comes first. If they claim it, they are confirmed. If they do not, the offer expires and the next person gets their turn.

Why hold the spot

Without a hold, the first person to see the email wins, which is usually whoever happens to be at a desk. A hold is fair to the person who was first in line, and it keeps you out of the business of refereeing.

When you want it instant

Some organizations prefer the old way: a freed spot goes straight to the next person, confirmed, no claim step. Set the hold time to zero under Settings and that is what you get. Everything else stays the same.

Parties on the waitlist

A family of four on the waitlist is a party of four. If one spot opens, Causefolk skips them for now and offers it to the next single person, and they keep their place in line. When four spots open, they get the offer. Nobody has to split up a group or be bumped for being one.

Staff can step in

From the roster you can promote someone on the waitlist directly, or skip them for this round. The queue is yours to shape; the automation is there for the nights you are not watching it.

What your folk see

Joining a waitlist is one click on the shift. The offer arrives as an email, and as a text for people who opted in. The claim link works without signing in, and it says how long the hold lasts. In Spanish, if that is their language.