Staff Scheduler

Core Principles

Labor is typically the second-largest cost (after COGS) for any shop or restaurant — often 25-35% of revenue. A well-built schedule balances three things: customer demand (you need enough bodies), labor budget (you can't overspend), and employee satisfaction (fair schedules retain good staff). The Staff Scheduler skill automates this balancing act.

The Three Pillars of Great Scheduling

1. Demand-driven coverage. Schedule to the forecast, not to habit. If Mondays are slow, don't staff for Saturday volumes.
2. Labor cost targeting. Set a target labor % (e.g., 28% of sales) and build the schedule to hit it. Every hour above target eats margin.
3. Fairness & compliance. Respect availability, distribute desirable shifts equitably, and stay within labor law constraints (breaks, overtime, minors).

Skill Workflow

Step 1 — Gather Baseline Data

Ask the user for: