Keeping a prison staffed and running smoothly is no small task — especially when you’re responsible for managing 331 officer positions locally and coordinating schedules across nine facilities statewide. At the Minnesota Department of Corrections (MN DOC), the complexity of varying schedules, vacation requests, and shift exchanges pushed their previous system to its limits. They needed a faster, more adaptable scheduling solution — and they found it in Aladtec.
A system that couldn’t keep up with complex correctional schedules
At MCF-Faribault, one of Minnesota’s largest correctional facilities, Anthony Sunde oversees shift scheduling for those 331 correctional officers. As scheduling lieutenant, he also doubles as the go-to tech support for all MN-DOC facilities across the state. The challenge? The scheduling platform they were using wasn’t built for the realities of the job.
“The ability to make schedules in our previous system was a challenge department-wide,” Sunde said. “Some facilities have fixed-day schedules. Others use complex rotations. Our old system couldn’t keep up — and in some cases, it couldn’t build the schedule at all.”
This meant hours of manual work and frustrating workarounds. In Faribault, processing vacation requests could take up to three hours per week. Running autofill for staffing gaps took so long that Sunde would often start the process before leaving for the day — just to have it ready the next morning.
For other facilities, the system’s limitations were so extreme that schedulers simply stopped using it altogether.
A streamlined, adaptable platform
The MN DOC wasn’t just shopping for software. They needed a scheduling system that could flex across different facilities, shifts, and staffing models — without adding unnecessary complexity. Aladtec stood out as the system that could do just that.
“We wanted something that was simpler and focused only on the features we needed,” Sunde said. “We didn’t want a bunch of unnecessary functions slowing things down.”
Aladtec delivered the flexibility they needed to support a variety of shift structures and the power to handle scheduling at scale. From the start, the TCP team worked closely with the MN DOC to make sure implementation was a success, making real-time adjustments to our configuration based on staff feedback.
“The support and production staff were very helpful throughout the process. They listened to our needs and made changes before we fully rolled it out,” Sunde said.
Adoption came quickly. Officers appreciated the ability to log in from anywhere, check their schedules, and request trades or time off with just a few clicks.
“For staff, the ability to just look at their schedule, see a shift, and click on it to request a trade or vacation, it was received very positively.”
Making scheduling smarter, faster, and more transparent
The impact of switching to Aladtec was immediate. Vacation approvals, once a weekly chore that took hours, now take less than 30 minutes. Running autofill — a task that used to run overnight — now finishes in under five minutes.
With features like one-click shift trades and intuitive vacation limit settings, schedulers across the department now have the tools to work faster, with greater accuracy and visibility. Officers appreciate the clarity too, with visual indicators for trade shifts and built-in reminders via email or text.
Even seemingly small features, like autofill for partial shifts, have had a major impact. “Autofill is a game changer for us,” Sunde added. “It’s fast, accurate, and respects hour limits, even on partial shifts.”
And when questions do come up, the MN DOC relies on Aladtec’s customer success team to step in with fast, knowledgeable support. “They always respond quickly and either walk me through it or fix the issue if there is one, which isn’t often,” he said.
A more efficient, responsive, and connected department
Since rolling out Aladtec, the Minnesota Department of Corrections has transformed how scheduling gets done.
Schedules are more accurate. Administrative workload is significantly reduced. Officers are more empowered and connected to their schedules. And the system helped create consistency across a large, multi-site agency.
“We’ve seen improvements in vacation accuracy, our daily duty rosters, and a big reduction in time spent completing tasks,” Sunde noted.
The user-friendly platform, speed, and adaptability have helped unify scheduling practices across facilities. It’s especially valuable during staff transfers or new employee onboarding. “It allows for much more collaboration amongst facilities,” Sunde said. “And it makes training new employees easier.”
Built to grow with the department
Aladtec has proven itself not just as a quick fix, but as a long-term partner in making scheduling easier across the state.
“We plan to utilize it for as long as we can,” Sunde said. “It works. And it works well.”
Whether it’s processing hundreds of vacation requests, building complex rotational shifts, or keeping every officer on the same page, Aladtec has become an essential part of the Minnesota Department of Corrections’ daily operations.
“It’s a scheduling system that allows us to manage a large number of employees and maintain their records, vacation requests, and trade requests with speed and accuracy,” said Sunde. “User friendliness, speed, accuracy, adaptability, that’s what makes Aladtec stand out.”
TCP Software’s employee scheduling and time and attendance solutions are flexible and scalable to accommodate your business and employees as you grow.
From TimeClock Plus, which automates even the most complex payroll calculations and leave management requests, to Humanity Schedule for dynamic employee scheduling that saves you time and money, we have everything you need to meet your organization’s needs, no matter how unique. Plus, with Aladtec, we offer 24/7 public safety scheduling solutions for your hometown heroes.
Ready to learn how TCP Software takes the pain out of employee scheduling and time tracking? Speak with an expert today.
