Case Study: Columbus Zoo & Aquarium achieves faster scheduling and reduced absenteeism with When I Work

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium - Customer Case Study

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, a long-established and highly regarded zoo with more than 7,000 animals and added attractions like a water park and golf resort, employs over 550 people at a single location. As the staff and departments grew, managers struggled with time-consuming, manual scheduling—last-minute changes, time-off requests, and shift swaps were handled by paper, phone and email, and employees sometimes missed shifts despite printed schedules.

The zoo implemented When I Work so employees can access schedules on their smartphones and managers can push instant text and email notifications about openings or changes. The result: faster scheduling (a 150+ person schedule can be built in about an hour), fewer tardiness and absence issues thanks to shift reminders, 3–4 hours saved per week for managers, and smoother staffing during peak seasons.

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium