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The schedule is a primary tool used in determining the best means of meeting guest demand. Moreover, a schedule is a purchase order for labor. Once a manager begins to view the schedule from these perspectives, it becomes apparent that the conventional approach of developing a schedule based on predetermined employee work days is neither cost nor service effective. The manager must match the schedule to both the pattern of guest demand, maximizing the available work force during peak demand hours, and the organizational needs to control its labor costs and meet the needs of the staff. A good schedule requires careful thought and a degree of creativity. Cross shifts, short shifts, even split shifts, if allowable, are all means for more effectively utilizing labor resources.

Scheduler provides a schedule for all departments based on the forecasted hours from the Weekly Planning Report. Schedules are based on the unique circumstances of the position and on employee preferences and requirements. Scheduler provides the framework within which managers can quickly edit and complete schedules.

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Once the schedule is complete, the manager must ensure that guest needs are met, that standards are maintained, and that guests have a satisfactory experience. This is accomplished by ensuring that resources are put to proper use and that employees know exactly what is expected of them to accomplish the task. The manager must control the work flow and guest service in terms of quality and quantity.

What Does Scheduler do?

Scheduler takes all of the information that has been collected for the forecast week and produces a first draft schedule for the operation. This draft is not intended to be a final version but gives the manager a suggested schedule to edit based on a combination of the following:

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One of the most effective ways to use the system for scheduling is to incorporate the concept of flows and flow plans into the scheduling process.

What are Flows?

Flows are the times that customers demand service, whether it is in a restaurant or at the front desk. In order to develop flows, it is necessary to track customer demand for a period of time (usually 6 to 8 weeks minimum) to determine, by half hour, when the customer requirement for service begins. Many electronic POS systems and front desk systems provide this information; however, it is important to be aware that often times servers do not open tickets until after the guest has been seated for a period of time. The flow must record when the need for service first appears.

It is possible to have flows for each day of the week, as well as for particular periods of the day. The Administrator can guide you through the process of deciding which method, if any, would be helpful to the operation. 

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For more information, contact the Administrator at the property.

What is a Flow Plan?

Flow plans take the individual daily patterns you have established and allow the system to account for an entire week. These can be in any number of combinations as long as the entire day and week has been accounted for in the flow plan. The flow plan is then attached to the KBI(s) for that operation.