One of the main challenges in the bar and restaurant industry is high employee turnover. That's why effective management is essential.
In that sense, creating a work schedule is an essential task not only to ensure the restaurant complies with labor laws and always has a full team available to serve customers, but also to keep employees satisfied and reduce the chances of them quitting.
Days off can be organized in a number of ways, according to the characteristics and needs of your business. To get some tips and learn everything about the subject, keep reading this article!
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What is a work schedule?
A work schedule, also known as a days-off schedule, is a plan that determines which days team members work and which they rest. This is necessary to ensure labor rights and the smooth running of the company.
The right to paid weekly rest (DSR) is set out in the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT), which also indicates the working hours and the types of schedule that can be applied in different contexts.
Every employee is entitled to a minimum rest of 24 consecutive hours per week, preferably on Sundays.
However, since restaurants and bars usually operate on weekends, holidays and at night, their schedules tend to be different from other industries that operate only during business hours.
That's why it's important to know the rules and assess which schedule model makes the most sense for your business's needs. We'll look at some examples further on — keep reading!
Leia também: How to train a restaurant team
Why is it important to create a schedule for your team?
The work schedule organizes staffing to ensure the restaurant has enough people to run smoothly every day of the week. But it's also important for several other reasons:
operational efficiency
A well-planned schedule helps ensure there's the right number of employees to serve customers, avoiding both overload and idle time. This contributes to the restaurant running well.
Employee satisfaction
A balanced schedule can help reconcile employees' needs with the restaurant's.
You can negotiate what the month's schedule will look like and let each person work the hours that best fit their profile and needs. Besides that, employees will know their working days in advance and can plan better.
This way, the schedule can help increase team satisfaction and retention.
Service quality
With the right team at the right times, the quality of customer service improves, because employees are more rested, happier and better prepared to deliver outstanding service.
The schedule also helps you know whether you need to hire or reorganize employees to handle the busiest days.
Cost savings
Finally, an efficient schedule also avoids wasting resources, since you don't need to pay more than necessary in overtime or by hiring last-minute freelancers, for example.
Learn more: Hiring a restaurant team: how to get the selection right
What are the main types of schedules for restaurants?
As we saw, the CLT sets out the working-hour models that can be used. Even so, it's essential to also check the rules agreed in the union's collective bargaining agreement in your region.
The main types of schedules for restaurants are:
5×1 schedule
On this schedule, employees work five consecutive days and take one day off. The daily shift must be 7 hours and 20 minutes.
For example:
They work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and take Saturday off.
They come back on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and take Friday off again.
And so on. In other words: in this model, days off fall on different days of the week. So you need to pay attention to the Sunday off, following what's agreed in the collective bargaining agreement.
This schedule is common in restaurants and bars that operate 7 days a week and requires a team large enough to cover all shifts.
5×2 schedule
On this schedule, employees work five days and take two days off. In this case, the daily shift is 8 hours and 48 minutes.
Although the days off don't have to be consecutive, this model is generally used by restaurants that operate Monday to Friday and close on weekends. If that's not your case, it's best to pick the slowest days for rest.
6×1 schedule
This is the model most used by restaurants and bars. On this schedule the employee works six consecutive days and takes one day off, usually on Monday. The working day, in this case, is 8 hours.
On the 6×1 schedule, the employee always takes the same day off. So you need to check the rules and guarantee the Sunday off provided for in the agreement.
12×36 schedule
In this model, the employee works 12 hours and rests for 36 hours. The shift becomes more tiring, but the employee gets to enjoy a longer break.
Although less common, this type of schedule can be used in some establishments that serve lunch and dinner or that operate 24 hours. It's advantageous because the same employee can cover both periods, reducing operating costs.
You need to check whether this practice is authorized by the union.
Leia também: Night Shift Pay at Restaurants: Learn How to Calculate It
5 tips for building a work schedule
Now that you know the main days-off schedules used by restaurants, check out some tips below for good planning.
1 – Learn about the collective bargaining agreement
We mentioned it above, but it's worth reinforcing: to plan days-off schedules, it's crucial to check both what's set out in the CLT and in the union's collective bargaining agreement.
If necessary, consult a lawyer to make sure your establishment is complying with labor laws properly, avoiding lawsuits and damage to your business's credibility.
2 – Identify the worst and best day off
Get to know your restaurant's demand patterns and identify the weekdays when traffic is highest and lowest. That will help you allocate your team according to the needs of the business.
Besides that, when planning, also consider events, holidays and other moments when the team needs reinforcement, and reorganize the days off accordingly.
3 – Organize the schedule monthly
Plan your employees' work schedule monthly. Check which events are coming up that month, see whether there are any holidays, talk to your employees to find out if there's any personal matter that might interfere, and negotiate if needed.
That way, your team knows in advance what the month's schedule will look like and can prepare. If necessary, make adjustments later, week by week.
4 – Watch out for the Sunday off
The law provides for the right to a Sunday off, and depending on the work-schedule model used, you'll need to pay closer attention to this.
It can vary: every 15 days for women, every 4 or 7 weeks. Check the collective agreement and organize your employees' Sunday days off monthly so nothing slips through.
5 – Balance the team
Beyond days and shifts, also take employees' experience and skills into account when planning the schedule. That way, you make sure your team is balanced and equipped to handle every customer demand.
Get even more operational efficiency with EPOC
As we mentioned earlier, the work schedule is essential to your business's success. Besides complying with labor laws, you also keep your team more engaged and motivated, avoiding employee turnover.
Another advantage is operational efficiency, since you'll be able to count on the best team to serve your customers. To support your team's work, it's worth investing in a platform like EPOC, which delivers greater efficiency from end to end.
Our solution includes a fast POS, a complete back office, a digital menu, a self-service kiosk and much more. If you'd like to see how it works in practice, Schedule a free demonstration now.
