7shifts employee scheduling and shift management for restaurants
7shifts scheduling is built around the restaurant operating model — dayparts (breakfast, lunch, dinner), role-based shifts (server, cook, bartender, host), and labor target budgets that update in real time as shifts are added.
7shifts scheduling is built around the restaurant operating model — dayparts (breakfast, lunch, dinner), role-based shifts (server, cook, bartender, host), and labor target budgets that update in real time as shifts are added. The interface is drag-and-drop with templates for recurring weekly patterns.
Auto-scheduling on the Entrée plan and above uses employee availability, labor budget targets, and role requirements to generate a first-draft schedule that managers then adjust. This saves 30–60 minutes per scheduling cycle compared to building from scratch. Shift swapping, open shift posting, and schedule notifications keep the team informed without manager intervention.
Role-based scheduling and daypart management
Shifts are assigned by role (server, line cook, bartender, dishwasher) and organized by daypart. The scheduling engine prevents role conflicts — a cook cannot be scheduled as a server unless they hold both role qualifications. Minimum and maximum staff counts per role per shift enforce coverage requirements.
Labor target integration in scheduling
Managers set daily or weekly labor cost targets as a percentage of projected revenue. As shifts are added to the schedule, the running labor cost updates in real time. When the schedule exceeds the target, the system alerts the manager before publication, preventing overstaffing before it happens.
7shifts tip pooling and tip distribution automation
Tip pooling in 7shifts automates the distribution of tips based on configurable rules.
Tip pooling in 7shifts automates the distribution of tips based on configurable rules. Operators define distribution logic — percentage by role, weighted by hours worked, or custom formulas — and the system calculates tip-outs for every shift automatically. The calculation accounts for tip credits, minimum wage requirements, and state-specific regulations.
Tip reports are generated automatically and can be exported for payroll processing. The audit trail shows exactly how each tip dollar was distributed, which protects operators from disputes and regulatory scrutiny. For restaurants processing thousands of dollars in tips per week, automating this process eliminates errors and saves managers meaningful time every pay period.
Configurable tip distribution rules
Operators choose between percentage-based splits (e.g., 20% to bussers, 10% to runners), hours-worked weighting, or hybrid formulas. Rules can vary by location, shift type, or daypart. Changes to distribution rules take effect on the next shift, and historical calculations are preserved for audit purposes.
Tip compliance and reporting
7shifts generates tip reports that comply with IRS reporting requirements and state-level tip credit regulations. The system flags potential compliance issues — such as tip pools that include ineligible employees or calculations that would push hourly wages below minimum wage after tip credits — before distribution is finalized.
7shifts time clock and attendance tracking
The time clock is available on all plans, including the free Comp tier.
The time clock is available on all plans, including the free Comp tier. Employees clock in via mobile app, web browser, or a shared tablet in kiosk mode. GPS verification confirms clock-in location for mobile entries, and photo capture on kiosk mode prevents buddy punching.
Timesheets aggregate automatically from clock events, and managers approve hours before export to payroll. Overtime alerts notify managers when employees approach weekly thresholds, and break tracking ensures compliance with state-mandated rest periods.
GPS and photo verification for clock events
Mobile clock-ins capture GPS coordinates that managers can verify against the restaurant's location. Kiosk mode captures a photo at clock-in, which provides visual confirmation of identity. Both features reduce time theft — a persistent issue in the restaurant industry where buddy punching costs operators an estimated 2–5% of labor costs annually.
Payroll integration for time data
Approved timesheets export directly to integrated payroll providers or as CSV files for manual import. The export includes regular hours, overtime, tips, and break deductions. Direct payroll integrations include ADP, Gusto, Paychex, and several restaurant-specific payroll providers.
7shifts hiring and employee training modules
The hiring module on The Works plan streamlines hourly restaurant hiring.
The hiring module on The Works plan streamlines hourly restaurant hiring. Job postings distribute to multiple job boards from a single interface, applications flow into a candidate pipeline, and managers can review, message, and advance candidates without leaving 7shifts. The module is not a full applicant tracking system — it does not offer AI scoring, structured interviews, or background check integration — but it covers the basics of high-turnover hourly hiring.
The training module assigns onboarding tasks to new hires — food safety certification, menu quizzes, POS system training, and company policy acknowledgments — and tracks completion. Managers see a readiness status for each new hire, so they know when someone is cleared to work independently.
Job posting and application management
Jobs are posted to Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and 7shifts' own job board from a single form. Applications are collected in a unified inbox with applicant details, availability, and any pre-screening responses. Managers can message applicants directly through the platform.
Onboarding task tracking and training completion
Training checklists are assigned automatically to new hires based on their role. Tasks can include document uploads (food handler certificates), video completions, quiz assessments, and manager sign-offs. The system tracks completion percentage and flags overdue items.
7shifts manager log and operational continuity tools
The manager log on The Works plan is a digital shift journal where managers record daily operations notes — sales performance, staffing issues, equipment problems, customer complaints, and any notable events.
The manager log on The Works plan is a digital shift journal where managers record daily operations notes — sales performance, staffing issues, equipment problems, customer complaints, and any notable events. Each entry is timestamped, tagged by category, and visible to other managers and corporate leadership.
The log creates operational continuity across shifts and locations. Instead of relying on verbal handoffs that lose information, incoming managers review the previous shift's log and know exactly what happened. For multi-location groups, the log provides corporate visibility into daily operations without requiring phone calls or site visits.
Shift-to-shift knowledge transfer
Each manager log entry includes predefined sections for sales summary, staffing notes, operational issues, and follow-up items. Incoming managers receive a notification to review the previous log before their shift starts. Critical issues can be flagged for immediate attention.
Corporate visibility and trend tracking
Multi-location operators can view manager logs across all locations from a single dashboard. Issue tags allow corporate teams to track recurring problems — equipment failures, staffing shortages, customer complaints — and identify patterns that require systemic intervention.
7shifts POS integrations and restaurant technology ecosystem
7shifts integrates with over 30 POS systems, making it compatible with nearly every restaurant technology stack.
7shifts integrates with over 30 POS systems, making it compatible with nearly every restaurant technology stack. Supported POS systems include Toast, Square, Clover, Lightspeed, Aloha, Micros, Revel, TouchBistro, Upserve, and many others. The integration pulls sales data into 7shifts for labor cost tracking, demand forecasting, and scheduling optimization.
Beyond POS, 7shifts connects with payroll providers (ADP, Gusto, Paychex), accounting platforms, and communication tools. The integration breadth means restaurant operators do not need to replace existing technology to adopt 7shifts — it layers on top of whatever POS and payroll stack is already in place.
POS data flow for labor optimization
Sales data from the POS updates labor cost percentage in real time within the 7shifts dashboard. Historical sales data powers the demand forecasting engine on the Gourmet plan. Managers can view actual versus projected labor costs overlaid with sales data to evaluate scheduling accuracy after each shift.
Payroll and accounting integrations
Approved timesheets, tip reports, and labor cost data export directly to integrated payroll and accounting systems. The integration eliminates manual data re-entry between 7shifts and the financial stack, which reduces payroll processing time and errors.