I think one of the most difficult aspects of my job is creating the schedules. After looking over the "requests off" calendar, looking at the hours of availability for each person, and keeping in mind who is a minor and who isn't, I can begin to get schedules in the works. I begin it all at home.
I use photocopies of the calendar pages, plus notes on availabilities, to begin a one-page schedule for both managers and crew. I like to see it all on one page first so I can make sure I don't have anyone closing at night then opening the very next morning.
After a couple of hours of juggling things around so that everyone has decent scheduled hours without infringing on the hours or days they need to be off, I save it to my computer. When I go to work, I use a built in scheduling program there to insert names and times, which generates a schedule I can print out.
Still, even after all this there is always someone who will say, "I can't work XXX. Remember? I told you that last week." No, I don't remember. You have to write it on the "requests off" calendar or you can forget it, because I certainly will!
I have a lot on my mind where the restaurant is concerned - more than what one person spoke into my ear while I was busy doing other things. Sometimes I think I want to get baby bedding to hand out to these kids. Especially the ones who claim they didn't know they were supposed to work a certain time or a certain day. So, why didn't they look at the schedule?!
