Restaurant staff scheduling: rota, time clock and hours worked
Good restaurant staff scheduling answers three questions: who is working when, who actually showed up, and how many hours that adds up to. Epidom covers all three in the Operations plan.
What a staff rota has to solve every week
A café or restaurant rota changes constantly: a day off, a swapped shift, a rush nobody planned for. A paper schedule or a group chat soon turns into several competing versions, and nobody is sure which one is current.
What you want from scheduling software is simple: one up-to-date rota the whole team can open, reliable proof of who was there, and a total of hours that is ready for payroll.
Build the weekly rota
- Add your team — Give each person a role (manager, cashier, kitchen, waiter) and a 4-digit PIN for the shared tablet. Page access follows the role, and you can adjust it person by person.
- Create shift blocks — For example "Morning 7:00-15:00" and "Evening 15:00-23:00". Place them on the grid, or apply one block to several people and several days at once.
- Publish the week — Each person sees their shifts under My Schedule in POS Mode. If you prefer your own layout, upload a photo of the roster instead and the whole team can see it.
An employee time clock for cafés: PIN, selfie, location
On arrival and departure, staff pick their name on the tablet, enter their PIN and take a selfie. The device's location is recorded too, when it shares it.
The log lists clock-ins, clock-outs and absences, with the photo taken at clock-in. You can see who is in without chasing anyone by text.
Example: Maya is rostered 7:00-15:00 and clocks in at 7:05 and out at 15:10. Epidom shows the hours actually worked next to the hours on the roster, so the difference is visible straight away.
From hours worked to salary
Clocked hours are compared with the hours on the roster. From recorded attendance, Epidom works out each person's salary, so you are not recounting hours by hand at the end of the month.
The tool gives you clear attendance numbers. The labor rules that apply to your business, such as overtime or breaks, are still something to confirm with your accountant or adviser.
Cash shifts with cash counts
The rota says who was supposed to work; the cash shift says who ran the drawer. When you open and close, you count the cash, and Epidom shows the expected amount, the counted amount and the difference.
- Starting float and cash on hand
- Cash in and out: tips, float top-ups, paid-outs, safe drops
- A list of every session, with the person who ran it
Plan and price
Staff, the rota, the time clock and cash shifts are part of the Operations plan: $29.99 per month ($24.99 per month billed yearly), before tax. It also includes everything in the POS plan, including the 14-day free trial.
Questions
How do I make a staff schedule for a restaurant?
List your roles and time slots, create shift blocks such as morning and evening, and place them on a weekly grid. In Epidom you then publish the week and each person sees their shifts on their own device.
How does the employee time clock work in Epidom?
Staff pick their name on the tablet, enter their PIN and take a selfie. The device's location is recorded if it shares it. Clock-ins and clock-outs show up in the log with the photo.
Can I compare hours worked with the roster?
Yes. Epidom shows hours worked next to rostered hours and calculates salary from the recorded attendance.
How much does scheduling cost in Epidom?
It is included in the Operations plan at $29.99 per month, or $24.99 per month billed yearly, before tax. The POS plan at $14.99 per month does not include scheduling or the time clock.
Does every employee need an account?
No, a PIN on the shared tablet is enough. You can also invite someone by email so they sign in with their own account; those accounts work in POS Mode only for now.