An End of Shift Report is a document employees complete at the end of their working shift to summarize key activities, completed tasks, incidents, and pending work for the next team. It ensures smooth handovers and maintains consistent communication across shifts.
Whether your business operates in healthcare, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, or security, this guide explains how to create an effective End of Shift Report and includes a free downloadable template you can adapt for your team.
Why an End of Shift Report matters
End of Shift Reports keep operations running smoothly by providing visibility into what happened during each shift. They help identify recurring issues, track productivity, and ensure that important updates don’t get lost between handovers.
They’re especially valuable in shift-based environments where multiple teams share responsibilities, ensuring continuity and accountability in daily operations.
Key sections to include in your End of Shift Report
A complete report captures what was done, what went wrong, and what needs attention next. Here are the essential elements to include:
1. Basic Information. Date, shift time, department, employee name, and supervisor.
2. Summary of Tasks Completed. Outline major duties or goals achieved during the shift.
3. Outstanding or Pending Tasks. List unfinished work or follow-ups for the next shift.
4. Incidents or Issues. Record any accidents, malfunctions, or policy breaches.
5. Equipment or Supply Status. Note inventory levels, damaged tools, or maintenance needs.
6. Communication Log. Document messages, calls, or updates relayed to other teams.
7. Handover Notes. Provide clear instructions or reminders for the next shift.
8. Signatures and Approvals. Include employee and supervisor signatures to verify accuracy.
How to create your own End of Shift Report
Start by listing the key information your team needs to share at the end of each shift. Consider what managers and next-shift employees must know to start effectively.
Keep the report short but structured. Use consistent categories and prompts to make it easy for employees to complete quickly.
Automate wherever possible — digital forms and mobile apps make it easier to submit reports on time and track patterns over time.
Sample End of Shift Report Template
Use the sample form below as a starting point. Copy and modify it to match your internal shift reporting process.
Company Name: __________________________ Form Title: End of Shift Report Date: _________________________________ Department: ___________________________ Employee Name: ________________________ Supervisor: ___________________________ Shift Time: From __________ To __________ 1. TASKS COMPLETED ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ 2. OUTSTANDING / PENDING TASKS ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ 3. INCIDENTS / ISSUES REPORTED ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ 4. EQUIPMENT / SUPPLY STATUS Working Equipment: ______________________ Damaged / Missing: ______________________ Inventory Level Notes: __________________ 5. COMMUNICATION LOG Messages / Handover Notes: ___________________________ Calls / Updates: _____________________________________ 6. NOTES FOR NEXT SHIFT ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ 7. SIGNATURES Employee Signature: __________________ Date: ___________ Supervisor Signature: _________________ Date: ___________
Disclaimer
Important: This End of Shift Report template is provided for informational purposes only. Customize it to reflect your company’s operational needs and internal reporting procedures.
Everhour and Shifts accept no legal responsibility or liability for outcomes based on this example template.
How to implement and improve your End of Shift Report
Train team leaders and employees on how to complete and review shift reports consistently. Reports should be checked at the beginning and end of each shift for accuracy.
Store reports digitally for easy reference and data analysis. Track common issues or downtime to improve shift scheduling and resource planning.
Use report insights to improve training, maintenance, and team coordination.
Benefits for your organization
End of Shift Reports create transparency and accountability across teams, reducing errors and improving communication.
They help managers identify performance trends, recurring issues, and workflow bottlenecks early.
With this free template, you can streamline shift handovers and build a more organized, reliable operation.
The bottom line
A consistent End of Shift Report process keeps operations flowing smoothly and ensures no detail is lost between shifts.
Use this free template to improve communication, accountability, and shift handovers across your organization.
