Running a restaurant is an exciting but very serious and complex job. To maintain efficiency and productivity, you must ensure that you have the right workers on shift. However, creating the schedules requires managerial skills which can be aided by the use of a free restaurant scheduling app.
In this article, we’ll talk about the guidelines you should implement for successful scheduling. That way, you’ll surely manage your staff better, and increase productivity while maintaining the satisfaction of your employees as suggested by buddypunch. Keep reading and find out more.
Come up with a fixed date to post the Schedule
When it comes to shifts, it is important to receive schedules promptly and preferably on the same day. First, it is best to decide whether you will make the schedules on a weekly or monthly basis, and accordingly decide on a day on which the schedule must be released. For example, every Thursday.
With that, each of the employees will have in mind when to expect the schedule and thus work obstacles are reduced. Also, providing the schedule on time allows flexibility for potential shift changes which further increases staff satisfaction.
Scheduling staff can be a challenging task for restaurant managers. You need to ensure that you have the right number of people on duty at all times, while also balancing employee availability and preferences. In this article, we’ll provide some guidelines for successful scheduling that can help make the process easier and more effective.
Use a scheduling tool or software
One of the best ways to manage staff scheduling is to use a scheduling tool or software. There are many different options available, ranging from basic spreadsheet templates to more advanced software that can integrate with your POS system. Whatever tool you choose, make sure it’s user-friendly and allows you to easily see who’s scheduled for each shift.
Plan ahead
Proper planning is key to successful scheduling. You need to know how many staff members you’ll need for each shift, taking into account factors such as the day of the week, the time of day, and any special events that might be taking place. Make sure you plan ahead so you have enough time to adjust schedules if needed.
Be flexible
While it’s important to have a set schedule in place, it’s also important to be flexible. Emergencies and unexpected events can happen, and you need to be able to adjust your schedule accordingly. Make sure you have a backup plan in place, such as a list of on-call employees who can fill in if needed.
Communicate with your staff
Effective communication is essential for successful scheduling. Make sure you let your staff know about any changes to the schedule as soon as possible, and give them plenty of notice if you need them to work on short notice. Regularly check in with your employees to ensure they’re happy with their schedule and to address any concerns they may have.
Take employee availability and preferences into account
It’s important to take your employees’ availability and preferences into account when creating schedules. Ask your staff members to provide you with their availability and any time off requests in advance. This can help you create a schedule that works for everyone.
Balance workload
When scheduling your staff, make sure you balance the workload fairly. You don’t want some employees to be overworked while others have too much free time. Consider factors such as experience and skill level when assigning shifts to ensure that everyone has a fair workload.
Consider labor laws
Make sure you’re aware of any labor laws that apply to scheduling in your area. For example, some jurisdictions require employers to provide a certain amount of notice before changing a schedule, while others require employers to provide employees with a certain amount of rest time between shifts.
Use data to inform scheduling decisions
Data can be a powerful tool when it comes to scheduling. Use your POS system to track customer traffic and sales data to determine how many staff members you’ll need on any given shift. You can also use data to identify patterns, such as which days of the week are busiest, and adjust your schedule accordingly.
Consider employee preferences when scheduling breaks
Breaks are important for employee health and productivity. When scheduling breaks, take into account your employees’ preferences. Some may prefer to take a longer break in the middle of their shift, while others may prefer to take shorter breaks more frequently.
Implement technology for the scheduling process
Instead of creating the schedule on paper like before, today fortunately we have a free restaurant scheduling app that can help us a lot in creating a successful schedule.
These applications are cloud-based, so employees can open them and see when is their shift at any time. There are also options to set reminders so no one forgets their shift.
To create successful schedules, it is important to know the availability of employees. So they can easily log into the app when they’re not free, so you keep that in mind when creating your shifts.
Also, changing shifts is a breeze. All that is needed is for the workers to agree among themselves and send each other an invitation for a replacement, which you as the manager or owner will have to approve. If that replacement matches your idea, you confirm and the job goes smoothly.
Consider the restaurant’s needs and the qualities of your employees
When creating schedules, it is important to match the qualities of your employees with the needs of the restaurant. With that, you should strive to create a schedule that is composed of experienced and new employees so that the new ones can learn while productivity is still preserved.
You should also try to create a harmonious atmosphere so that shifts are created with employees who get along. This will also help you avoid unnecessary conflicts.
Balance the shifts
The most important thing is that the shifts are balanced and that you give the same chances to your employees. By using a free restaurant scheduling app, you can easily create shifts while offering the same possibilities to your staff. As you know, some days are busier which usually results in high tips which the employees mean a lot.
There should also be a balance for the day shift so that every employee has a chance to work during the day. When it comes to day shifts, it’s smart to put the best chefs during the day to promote your restaurant as a great lunch spot that opens up new horizons for your business.
