2024’s Essential Features Every Restaurant HR Software Should Offer

Did you know that 62% of Gen Z prefers dining out at least once a week?

As restaurants scramble to cater to this tech-savvy generation, the challenge isn’t just about creating Instagram-worthy meals; it’s about ensuring smooth operations behind the scenes.

One major challenge is managing diverse staff schedules while tracking attendance for payroll. With high turnover—most employees leave within two months—the need for effective training is crucial. This turnover is costly, especially when replacing trained staff is more expensive than retaining them.

Payroll for contract employees adds another layer of complexity, with manual processes often leading to errors, particularly during overtime on festivals and weekends. Inventory management also poses issues, with perishable ingredients and inaccurate stock records leading to wastage and lost revenue.

On top of all this, accurate demand forecasting is essential to avoid over-ordering and food waste, while administrative tasks, though hidden from customers, are key to effective restaurant management. In today’s tech-driven world, reliable restaurant HR software isn’t just helpful; it’s essential.

So, what are the must-have features of HR software for restaurants in 2024? Let’s check it out

What exactly is Restaurant HR software, and how does it work?

Restaurant HR software is designed to handle the complex HR tasks of running a restaurant. It automates scheduling, payroll, and benefits management, which helps reduce errors and save time. It also keeps you compliant with laws and organizes hiring. No more spreadsheets—just a smooth, integrated HR system that lets you focus on running your restaurant.

For instance, instead of manually tracking hours worked and calculating wages, the software can automatically generate accurate paychecks based on the hours recorded. It also assists in recruiting new staff by managing applications and tracking candidate progress.

Essentially, restaurant HR software centralizes all HR-related activities in one place, making it easier for restaurant managers to oversee their team’s needs efficiently.

Key Features to Look for in Restaurant HR Software

1. Employee Scheduling and Shift Management

• Flexible Scheduling: The restaurant HR software should offer features like shift management of employees, drag-and-drop scheduling, swap shifts, automated reminders, and automated scheduling of employees based on peak hours.

  It’s all about making your life easier so you can spend more time doing what you love—running a fantastic restaurant. You may also check out the free weekly Excel templates for employee scheduling ideas.

• Comprehensive Labor & Availability Management: Managing labor and availability has never been simpler.

  The restaurant HR mobile app platform offers an intuitive way to stay compliant, allowing employees to update their availability and empowering managers to create accommodating schedules. No more juggling schedules manually – everything’s streamlined and user-friendly.

2. Time and Attendance Tracking

• Accurate Payroll Processing: Restaurant HR software takes the hassle out of payroll by accurately tracking employee hours, so paychecks match what’s worked. This reduces errors and fosters trust between management and staff.

  With dependable payroll systems, restaurants can focus on offering top-notch dining experiences.

• Reduced Administrative Work: Running a restaurant is challenging enough without getting bogged down by admin work, right? Let’s say you’re the manager of a lively diner and are drowning in administrative tasks like tracking vacation days and overtime.

  With Restaurant HR software, you can streamline these processes. For example, the system can automatically calculate and apply overtime pay based on your staff’s hours, freeing you up to focus on delivering top-notch service instead of crunching numbers

3. Employee Self Service

• Request Time Off: Ever wished requesting time off was as simple as sending a text? With Restaurant HR Software, it’s just that easy. You can quickly put in your request, check your balance, and get approvals—all from one handy platform. Imagine being able to request your vacation days right from your phone or computer, without the hassle of going through endless paperwork.

  It’s like having a personal assistant for your time-off needs

• View their schedules: You can view your work schedules online, right from your phone. This means if you’re out with friends and need to plan your week, just pull up your schedule on your phone and see exactly when you’re working. No more waiting around to see the paper schedule posted on the wall.

  This means more time to focus on serving our amazing customers and less time worrying about when your next shift is.

4. Payroll Integration

• Effortless Payroll Management: The payroll software makes switching payroll systems an easy task.

  This software solution is designed to handle tips, overtime, and varying labor costs with ease. Ideal for the hospitality industry, it ensures a smooth transition so you can keep your operations running effortlessly.

• Direct Deposit and Tax Compliance: Why stress about payroll? With Restaurant HR software, you get direct deposit that makes payday quick and painless.

  And this employee management software restaurants take care of all the tax compliance stuff – from local to federal regulations, we handle it, so you don’t have to. Enjoy peace of mind and a smoother payroll process in the restaurant industry and get back to what you love.

5. Comprehensive training modules

• Onboarding Solutions: Engage new employees with innovative training modules introducing them to various features, ensuring rapid integration and ongoing skill enhancement for all staff members.

  This innovative approach helps employees get up to speed quickly, making them feel valued and empowered from day one.

• Watch Out for Buddy Punching: Keep an eye on new hire employee progress through training programs to prevent buddy punching, ensuring every minute spent is productive and not time-consuming.

  By doing so, you maintain accountability and make the most of your workforce’s time, fostering a culture of transparency and productivity.

6. Performance Management

• Aligned Goals with Fair Rewards: As your restaurant begins utilizing paid plans, features like direct deposit and tip pooling become integral to ensuring timely and fair compensation for your staff, reinforcing a culture of continuous improvement and transparent communication.

  Investing in HR software that offers these capabilities helps your restaurant to efficiently manage payroll, minimize errors, and build trust within your team.

• Holistic HR Approach: Boost employee morale and engagement by implementing self-service recognition programs alongside HR performance analytics.

  Reward high achievers and use payroll data to identify trends and areas for improvement, aiding strategic decisions.

7. Recruitment and Onboarding

• Applicant Tracking System (ATS): Looking for a way to make hiring less of a headache? An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is here to save time.

  Restaurant owners can use an ATS to automate the boring stuff like interview scheduling, and run background checks, all while boosting employee experience to retain workers.

• Simplify onboarding: In the competitive world of the restaurant industry, attracting and retaining top talent is essential. An automated onboarding process ensures that new employees feel welcomed and supported from day one.

  Through mobile-friendly portals, they can find all the information they need in one place, making it easier to settle into their roles and understand the company culture.

8. Integration Capabilities

• Streamlined Payroll Precision: When your HR software is synced with your POS system, everything from clock-ins to employee shift management becomes an easy task. The software automatically tracks work hours, eliminating the need for manual timecards.

  This not only saves you time but also reduces errors and ensures that payroll is accurate.

• Accounting Software: Restaurant’s HR software and POS system work hand-in-hand to ensure your operations run smoothly. Integrating these systems allows your restaurant to efficiently handle tasks from employee management to sales tracking.

  When your staff clocks in, their work hours are automatically recorded in the employee management software restaurants, and sales data is updated in real-time, giving you a clear picture of your business’s performance.

9. Tax Management 

• Tax Filing Support: Tax filing doesn’t have to be a complex chore. The restaurant HR software streamlines the entire process, from generating all the required documents to uncovering every credit and deduction you might qualify for.

  It’s designed to save you time and keep your team running smoothly. No more tax headaches—just efficient, hassle-free filing!

• Tax Compliance & Reporting: Taxes got you stressed? Don’t worry!

  The restaurant HR software POS system makes it super simple to stay on top of state and local taxes. And, with handy third-party integrations, you’ll get detailed tax reports effortlessly. It’s like having your own tax expert right in your system

10. Food Safety Hygiene:

• Simplify Hygiene Management: Ensuring impeccable hygiene standards in your restaurant is now easier with restaurant HR solutions.

  It centralizes all your hygiene-related tasks, from conducting HACCP checks to managing routine audits. You can effortlessly track and record food and equipment temperatures, helping you comply with food safety regulations.

• HACCP Made Easy: Managing Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) procedures is simplified with HR software. It provides a structured framework for identifying, evaluating, and controlling food safety hazards, ensuring your kitchen meets all safety standards.

  The software’s intuitive interface allows staff to easily follow HACCP protocols, ensuring compliance and consistency in food safety practices.

Benefits of Using HR Software in Restaurants

1. Automated Payroll Management

Remember the old days of sitting with a calculator, sweating over a payroll process? Those days are over.

With restaurant HR payroll processing solutions, it’s like having a super-efficient restaurant management solution for restaurant owners like time tracking, employee data management, employee self-service, and benefits administration.

2. Accurate Time and Attendance Tracking

Juggling shifts and roles? The restaurant HR software simplifies employee logging hours with automatic reminders and easy direct deposits, making it easy to log clock-ins and clock-outs.

3. Improved Compliance and Regulations Adherence

The Employee management software restaurants keeps you on the right side of the law by automating compliance checks and updates. It ensures your practices are always up to date, reducing the risk of costly fines or legal issues.

4. Real-Time Reporting and Analytics

HR software for restaurants offers real-time reporting and analytics that provide valuable insights into your people management.

Restaurant owners can track employee performance, process payroll, and access legal assistance, helping you make informed decisions to drive your business forward.

5. Reduced Administrative Burden

With the usage of full-service HR software, available on a free plan, administrative load can be lightened, such as data entry and record keeping, freeing up working hours for your team to work on projects that add value to your business.

6. Enhanced Security and Data Privacy

With HR software for restaurants, large and small businesses can keep their restaurant running smoothly by securely managing payroll and safeguarding personal data.

The Journey with KNOW’s Restaurant HR Software Begins Here!

To stay competitive in 2024, having HR software that handles fluctuating staffing & shift swapping, turnover, seamlessly integrates with payroll services and employee data management is a must for restaurant owners.

With KNOW’s Restaurant HR Software and a range of people management add-ons, all your HR headaches can be easily solved and give your employees the support they deserve

Here’s what you can look forward to

1. Simplify Staff Coordination: Take control of your restaurant’s staffing by managing full-timers and part-timers effectively. KNOW knows their availability, design their work schedules, and keep an eye on attendance.
2. Track Equipment Faults: Efficiently report, track, and resolve equipment faults, repairs, and IT incidents with your restaurant’s HR software. Minimize disruptions and maintain a seamless operation with prompt incident resolution.
3. Instant Access: With KNOW restaurant HR software, you can access digital log books, checklists, and reports with a single click. It’s like having your entire HR office in your pocket
4. Optimize Food Hygiene: Manage HACCP checks effortlessly, conduct detailed hygiene audits, and track the temperatures of food and equipment to ensure optimal food safety practices.
5. Digital Audits: From pest control to fire safety and equipment quality checks, digitize every aspect of your restaurant’s safety and compliance processes.

That’s quite an impressive range of benefits, isn’t it?

So, Why wait? Begin your journey with KNOW’s Restaurant HR Software today and transform your HR benefits administration processes into a efficient experience & get a eBook to learn how to digitize your operations!