THE JOURNAL
A smoother week starts here.
Practical guides, honest advice, and ideas you can put to work today.
Templates · 6 MIN READ
Rota Template UK: Free Staff Rota Layouts and the Rules to Build Around
Free staff rota templates for UK cafes, pubs, restaurants and shops, plus the working time, rest break, holiday and minimum wage rules every rota must follow.
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Comparisons · 7 MIN READ
The Best Employee Scheduling App for Small Business in 2026
We compared the best employee scheduling apps for small businesses on price, ease of use, time clock and payroll. Here is which to pick for your team size.
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Templates · 6 MIN READ
Shift Swapping Policy: A Template You Can Copy, Plus the Rules That Make It Work
A copy-and-paste shift swapping policy for restaurants, cafes and shops, with the approval rules, deadlines and overtime checks that stop swaps going wrong.
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Payroll · 7 MIN READ
How to Calculate Overtime for Hourly Employees (With Worked Examples)
Step-by-step overtime calculations for hourly staff: the regular rate, two pay rates, tipped employees, California daily overtime and common payroll mistakes.
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Labor law · 7 MIN READ
Tip Pooling Rules: Who Can Share Tips, and How to Split Them Fairly
Federal and state tip pooling rules explained for restaurant owners: who can join the pool, the tip credit trap, UK tips law, and a worked split example.
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Comparisons · 7 MIN READ
7 Best 7shifts Alternatives for Restaurants in 2026 (Honest Comparison)
An honest look at the best 7shifts alternatives for restaurants: Deputy, When I Work, Homebase, Sling, Shiftnest and more, with pricing and who each suits.
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Templates · 6 MIN READ
Free Employee Scheduling Template (Weekly, Biweekly and Monthly)
Free weekly, biweekly and monthly employee scheduling templates for restaurants, cafes and retail, plus how to fill them in and when to outgrow them.
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Scheduling · 7 MIN READ
Restaurant Holiday Staffing Without the Last-Minute Scramble
Holiday weeks are easier when staffing choices start with demand and availability rather than last year’s rota.
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Scheduling · 7 MIN READ
How to Make a Restaurant Schedule: A Step-by-Step Guide for Managers
A practical, step-by-step method for building a restaurant schedule that matches your sales, keeps labor on target and that staff actually stick to.
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Team management · 6 MIN READ
How to Reduce Employee Turnover in Restaurants
Better retention starts with predictable work, useful feedback and a manager who listens before a problem grows.
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Comparisons · 5 MIN READ
Homebase vs 7shifts: What Matters for a Small Team?
Scheduling tools differ most in the daily details: how fast managers publish, how staff respond and how hours reach payroll.
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Labor costs · 7 MIN READ
Restaurant Labor Cost Percentage: How to Calculate It and What Good Looks Like
How to calculate restaurant labor cost percentage, the benchmarks by concept, and six practical ways to bring it down without cutting service.
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