TouchBistro scheduling [Revel pos documentation, manuals]

Feel like you’ve been selling your soul to staff scheduling? Are you constantly sorting through availability lists and time-off requests, facing pesky “when will next week’s schedule be posted?” questions, and dealing with the turmoil of shift trading? Enough is enough!

Here are 5 tips to help you take the irritation out of scheduling for your restaurant.

1. Set expectations from the get-go

Make your life a little easier by laying down your “scheduling laws” during the hiring process. This way, you can ensure future staff is aware of how scheduling is conducted at your restaurant from the get-go. Be sure to discuss things like, how often you create schedules, how much advanced notice is needed for time-off requests, and shift trading protocols. You might also find it helpful to discuss different examples of “schedule abuse”, whether that’s constantly asking for long weekends off, or repeatedly asking to leave early. Discussing these specifics in the beginning will help set both you and your employees up for scheduling success.

2. Keep on top of your service trends

You’re setting yourself up for failure if you’re attempting to schedule employees without knowing your business like the back of your hand. In order to create a successful schedule it’s crucial that you reference your business’s insights. Before putting pen to paper, figure out which hours, days, and months are busiest. Whether you have a big event coming up in your area, a holiday quickly approaching, or your Friday nights are always crazy, take the time to map out your peak hours and schedule staff accordingly.

3. Provide easy access to schedules

If you still have a printed schedule posted on your kitchen’s back wall, with countless illegible names scratched out and filled in – you’re doing it wrong. With every aspect of our lives going digital these days, your schedule should receive the same treatment.

Technology has changed life as we know it, increasing efficiency and reducing stress levels with everything it touches. Tons of restaurateurs today have gone digital, swearing by text and email to provide their employees easy and instant access to their schedules. At the very least, ensure your schedule is posted in an area with high visibility, as well as providing each employee with their own personal copy through email or access to a shared document online.