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Develop staffing guides

1 December, 2015 - 12:53

Once a standard has been set using one of the methods outlined above, we have a figure for determining how many staff hours are required for varying levels of forecasted business. A staffing guide shows how these hours should be scheduled to provide the required level of service with a minimum of unproductive labor.

A staffing guide is usually prepared for the average level of business expected. Forecasted sales can be plotted for each half hour of operation, and then the appropriate number of staff hours per half hour can be scheduled. The most productive arrangement is probably a staggered schedule. In such a schedule, people come in to work at different times depending on the flow of business. While two servers may operate a station during peak meal times, one may come in early to open the station while the other may stay late to close up.