Deputy workforce research found that managers waste an average of 8 hours per week on scheduling without a system — one full working day, every week, on a problem a spreadsheet solves permanently. This Restaurant Staff Schedule gives that day back.

What’s inside this Restaurant Staff Schedule template

• Role-based colouring — colour-code shifts by position so the rota is readable at a glance
• Cover request log — record swap requests and replacements in a structured format
• Monthly cost summary — total wages for each period calculated from hours and hourly rates
• Compliance checker — flags shifts that violate minimum rest period rules automatically

How to use this Restaurant Staff Schedule template

1. Get access to the template and save a copy to your Drive.
2. Add your team members and their contracted hours in the employee configuration tab.
3. Build the first week’s rota by assigning shifts to each employee for each day.
4. Share the sheet with your team so everyone can see their schedule in real time.
5. Update the rota at the start of each week and archive the previous week for payroll reference.

Why Google Sheets for Restaurant Staff Schedule?

When shifts change at the last minute, a Google Sheets rota updates for everyone simultaneously. There is no version confusion, no outdated PDF circulating on WhatsApp, and no staff showing up for the wrong shift.

Frequently asked questions

Can I track sick days and holidays alongside the schedule?

Yes. The absence tab records all types of leave — sick days, annual leave, and unpaid absence — alongside the rota so the full attendance picture is always in one place.

How do I calculate wage costs from the schedule?

Enter each employee’s hourly rate in the configuration tab. The cost summary row multiplies total hours by rate for each employee and sums the total wage cost per week.

Can I use this for a business with different shift types?

Yes. Customise the shift type labels — morning, afternoon, evening, or any role-specific names — in the configuration tab. The schedule adapts to any structure.