Business Accountants: Rotating Schedules Guide: Finding the Right Fit for Your Hospitality Business

 

The hospitality industry is known for its diverse and unpredictable work hours, from early-morning cafes to late-night bars. Effective shift management strategies are essential for ensuring a smooth operation. For businesses like restaurants, cafes, and bars operating outside regular 9-5 hours, finding the right scheduling strategy is crucial to ensure staffing levels are met while keeping employees content. This guide delves into the key decision between two scheduling strategies: fixed schedules and rotating schedules. Let’s explore the pros and cons to help you make an informed choice.


Understanding Rotating Schedules: 


In essence, a rotating schedule, often called a rotating roster, is a system where employees’ working hours and shifts change periodically. Unlike a fixed schedule with consistent hours, rotating schedules vary over a designated period, such as weekly or monthly.


Fixed Schedules vs. Rotating Schedules: 


On one hand, there’s the fixed schedule, where specific teams work consistent shifts. On the other hand, the rotating schedule introduces variety, providing a fair distribution of shifts among employees.


Benefits of a Fixed Schedule:

  • Consistency for planning personal events and activities.
  • Enables employees to maintain regular sleep patterns.
  • Suitable for roles where tasks are consistent across shifts.

How a Rotating Schedule Works: For example, in a restaurant, a rotating schedule might involve employees alternating between day and night shifts. This approach ensures that no one is constantly assigned to the same less-desirable shifts.


The Three Types of Rotating Schedules:


  1. Dupont Shift Schedule:

    • Ideal for 24/7 coverage, featuring 12-hour rotating shifts with built-in week-long breaks.
    • Offers employees a mix of day and night shifts but requires working 72 hours in one week.
  2. Pitman Shift Schedule (2-3-2):

    • Provides employees with every other weekend off.
    • Consists of four teams working 12-hour shifts on a two-week cycle.
    • Employees never work more than three consecutive days but work longer shifts.
  3. 2-2, 3-2, 2-3 Rotating Shift Schedule:

    • Also based on a four-team, two-week cycle with 12-hour shifts.
    • Requires employees to work up to 62 hours in one week and adapt to switching between day and night shifts.

Benefits of a Rotating Schedule:


  • Ensures round-the-clock coverage for hospitality venues.
  • Develops employees’ skills and adaptability.
  • Enhances business flexibility to handle fluctuating demand.
  • Provides fair distribution of shifts.
  • Reduces employee burnout from working the same shifts constantly.
  • Maintains motivated staff members.

Drawbacks of a Rotating Schedule:


  • May disrupt employees’ work-life balance and routines.
  • Can hinder customer familiarity in businesses relying on personal connections.
  • Increases administrative complexity.

Setting Up a Rotating Schedule: When establishing a rotating schedule, it’s essential to consider factors like team division, shift allocation, and cycle length. A well-structured rotating schedule fosters an effective workforce and keeps both employees and employers satisfied.


Using Rotating Schedule Software: To simplify the scheduling process and reduce administrative workload, consider using employee scheduling software. Some top options in Australia include Deputy, Tanda, RosterElf, and When I Work.


Choosing the Right Schedule for Your Business: 


The decision between fixed and rotating schedules ultimately depends on the preferences and needs of your team. Communication with your employees is key to ensuring a harmonious and efficient work environment. Whether the flexibility and fairness of rotating schedules or the consistency of fixed schedules suits your team best, a happy team is the cornerstone of a successful business.

 

Your Outside Team

 

 

Need a bit of assistance with your business? Contact an Outside Accounting team member today and learn more about our fixed fees. You won’t regret it.

Aside from business consultation, we are business accountants Wellington who offer accountingbookkeeping, payroll services designed to help you achieve greater financial success.

You can click here to speak to a businessaccounting and bookkeeping firm. We will give you a call to know more about your needs. We will explain to you how we can improve your business. 

 

 

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