Creating a work schedule can be difficult, especially if you’re working a shift job in the service industry. You never know what you’re going to get, and it seems like every manager has a different way of doing things.
There are a few things to keep in mind when creating or adjusting your work schedule. If you’re working in F&B, here are some basic tips that will make your life a lot easier. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of work scheduling, from creating a roster to dealing with last-minute changes. We’ll also take a look at some other industries that rely on shift work rosters.
So, if you’re looking to make a good schedule for your business, read on for some helpful advice.
What Is Shift Work?
Shift work is a work schedule that is performed in rotations, which can include overnight hours, early morning hours, or a rotating schedule.
There are a few different types of shift work schedules, but the most common one is the 8-hour shift. This type of schedule has employees working 8-hour shifts for 5 days in a row, followed by 2 days off.
Other types of shift work schedules include the 12-hour shift and the 24-hour shift. The 12-hour shift has employees working 12-hour shifts for 4 days in a row, followed by 3 days off. The 24-hour shift has employees working in 24-hour increments, with 1 day off every 6 days.
No matter what type of shift work schedule you have, there are a few things to keep in mind when creating it.
Want to Know More About Employee Scheduling? Read More:
The Importance of a Good Work Schedule
A good work schedule is important for a number of reasons. First, it helps you plan and organise your team’s time. With employee scheduling, you can allot shifts to workers based on their past shifts, work experience, and skills. This ensures that your team is properly staffed during each shift.
Second, scheduling isn’t just about operational efficiency—especially when it comes to hourly employees. A good schedule takes into account employee preferences and needs. This helps to ensure that employees are happy with their shifts, which leads to better retention and morale.
Finally, a good schedule is flexible and can be easily adjusted to accommodate changes in staffing or customer demand. This ensures that your business can always meet its operational needs, no matter what changes come up.
How to Make a Work Schedule
Now that you know the basics of what goes into a work schedule, you’re probably wondering how to actually make one. Here are a few tips:
- Think about staffing levels and availability:
You’ll need to consider how many employees you have and when they’re available to work. If you’re short-staffed, you’ll need to be creative with your scheduling to make sure all your bases are covered. - Different types of work schedules include uniform and rotating shifts:
A uniform shift is when everyone works the same hours, like 9-5. A rotating shift is when employees’ hours rotate, like one week someone works 9-5, and the next week they work 2-10. There are pros and cons to both types of shifts, so it’s important to decide what will work best for your business. - Shift work schedules can be used to boost productivity:
Believe it or not, there is such a thing as the best time to work. By scheduling employees during those times, you can actually boost productivity. So if you’re looking to get the most out of your team, paying attention to when they work best can make a big difference in your team’s productivity.
Secrets Behind Making a Good Work Schedule
- Flexibility in Grabbing Open Shifts
Give your employees the option of choosing their own shifts.
Mass Grab Shift is a feature on StaffAny that allows your employees to pick their own shifts. This not only gives them the flexibility and autonomy in planning shifts, but also reduces the time on the manager’s end to plan shifts for specific employees. - Schedule the Right Amount of People
It goes without saying that you might need more manpower during busy periods and fewer employees during the slower hours of the day.
Figure out which are your busiest periods by checking your transactions on your POS systems and understanding footfall on a daily basis. - Try Our Auto-Scheduling Function
At StaffAny, we’ve built an auto-scheduling function for you to build your weekly schedules by setting customisable rules. You can set your schedule based on availability, roles, leaves, and even the lateness rate of your employees. Auto-scheduling helps you not only save time scheduling but also minimises any human errors.
If you prefer to set your own schedule, you can use the shift template to copy shifts over to any day of the week.
Things to Consider When Making a Schedule
When you’re making a schedule, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. Make sure that you’re evenly distributing the workload. You don’t want one person working three shifts in a row while others are getting three days off.
You’ll want to keep in mind the toll that shift work can take on physical, emotional, and mental health. It’s important to make sure that your team has enough time to rest and recharge between shifts.
Other Industries That Utilises Hourly Work
You’re not alone if you work in an industry that uses hourly work. In fact, there are a lot of industries out there that use shift work in order to keep things running smoothly. Here are just a few examples:
- Healthcare: Doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals often work in shifts in order to provide around-the-clock care for patients.
- Manufacturing: Many manufacturing plants operate on shifts in order to keep production running around the clock.
- Retail: Many retail stores are open 24 hours a day, which means that they need employees who are willing to work overnight shifts.
- Food Services: Restaurants, cafes, and other food service businesses also need employees who are willing to work overnight or early morning shifts.
Work Schedules Don’t Have to Be Daunting
Work scheduling can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. By taking into account a few key factors, you can make a work schedule that works for you and your team.
Keep in mind the goals of your business, the needs of your employees, and the regulations of your industry. With a little bit of planning, you can create a work schedule that will help your business run like a well-oiled machine.
Make Scheduling Your Employees Easy with StaffAny
Make the best of employee’s shifts with StaffAny. StaffAny helps business owners reduce work dedicated to scheduling and time-tracking, as well as reduce the cost of operations by minimising time theft and overtime spend.
With StaffAny, you can keep track of who’s working and when, easily send out shift reminders or updates, and spend less time doing the nitty gritty work of scheduling.
