Shift Notes: What to Include and a Simple Template

Short answer: Shift notes are a short written record that one shift leaves for the next: what happened, what is unfinished and what needs attention. Good shift notes are brief, factual and written in the same format every time, so the incoming team can act on them in a few minutes.

Manager writing shift notes at the end of a shift — Shift notes carry key information to the next shift.

What to include in shift notes

Staffing: who worked, call-outs, late arrivals and early departures.
Open tasks: anything started but not finished.
Issues: equipment problems, customer complaints, safety incidents.
Inventory or supplies: what ran low.
Follow-ups: who needs to do what, and by when.

Simple shift notes template

Field	Example
Date and shift	Nov 14, second shift (1500–2300)
Shift lead	Name
Staffing	1 call-out, covered by an open shift
Completed	Deliveries received and checked
Open	Freezer temperature log for 2200 not done
Issues	Register 2 card reader slow; ticket opened
Next shift must	Recheck freezer at 0100

For a printable version, use the shift handover log or the end-of-shift report template.

Tips for useful shift notes

Write facts, not opinions.
Put urgent items first.
Use the same format every shift.
Keep notes where the next shift will see them, not in a personal group chat.

Shift notes in EZTime

With EZTime, shift leads fill out a digital form or checklist at the end of the shift, and managers share updates through team chat and the company wall. Read about third shift handoffs.

Frequently asked questions

What are shift notes?

A short record one shift leaves for the next, covering what happened, what is open and what needs attention.

Who writes shift notes?

Usually the shift lead or supervisor.

How long should shift notes be?

Short enough to read in a few minutes. Put urgent items first.

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Updated November 2026.