Built for busy services and split shifts

Restaurant staff rostering & HR software

Service peaks are unforgiving—bookings spike, walk‑ins queue, and kitchen tickets stack. RosterElf brings rostering, scheduling, time & attendance, payroll, and HR together so owners run smooth, compliant shifts across FOH and BOH. With award interpretation, mobile access, and digital certifications, managers control costs, keep coverage tight, and stay audit‑ready every service.

Start free trial Book a demo

No credit card required

4.8 stars, 157 ratings

Best-rated rostering software on Xero and Google.

Streamlined staff management for restaurants

Why restaurants choose RosterElf

RosterElf helps restaurants coordinate kitchen, bar, and floor teams with compliant scheduling and payroll. Three reasons restaurants choose RosterElf:

Keep covers moving and stations staffed

Employee rostering for restaurants

Build costed rosters in minutes

Match sections, stations, and service peaks

Balance front‑of‑house sections and back‑of‑house stations with precise rostering and flexible scheduling. RosterElf’s rostering tools let managers drag‑and‑drop shifts, apply live labour budgets, and template coverage for lunch, dinner, events, and split shifts—so line cooks, prep, grill, servers, bartenders, runners, and dish are in the right place at the right time. Include open/close checklists and multi‑venue views to keep service tight across patios, bars, and private dining.

Accurate hours for kitchens and floor teams

Time and attendance for restaurants

Reduce disputes and manual errors

Clock-ins with photo or GPS

Replace paper timesheets with reliable clock‑ins at the iPad on the pass or on mobile. Time & attendance records start, finish, and breaks with photo or GPS verification, handles early starts and late cuts, and pushes approved timesheets straight to payroll. Ideal for split shifts, doubles, late closes, and delivery out‑runs where precise records reduce disputes and overtime blowouts.

Award interpretation without the headache

Payroll integration for restaurants

Automatic compliance and accuracy

Connect timesheets to Xero or MYOB

Night rates, weekend penalties, overtime, allowances, and higher duties are applied automatically from approved timesheets. Payroll integration syncs to Xero or MYOB so FOH and BOH teams are paid correctly while managers avoid re‑keying and back‑pay risk. Support multiple roles and pay classes per employee and export payroll quickly, even after menu change‑driven schedule tweaks.

Protect service from roster gaps

Leave management for restaurants

Approvals that sync instantly

Keep sections and stations covered

Staff request leave in the app; approvals update rosters instantly so service remains covered. Leave management helps managers protect key stations—grill, sauté, pass, bar—and keep host and server rotations balanced. Forecast time‑off against expected covers and backfill with eligible casuals to avoid last‑minute scrambles and protect guest experience.

Mobile shifts for teams on the move

Mobile apps for restaurant staff

Cut no-shows and confusion

Instant roster updates and alerts

Chefs, servers, and bartenders get live scheduling updates, shift offers, and reminders on mobile. Managers publish changes in seconds and fill gaps fast. See how the mobile‑friendly rostering experience improves punctuality, supports shift swaps, and reduces no‑shows across prep, service, and close—without messy group chats or paper rosters.

Shift-linked chat without the noise

Employee chat for restaurants

Replace messy group apps

Brief specials and section changes

Keep communications shift‑linked and professional. Roster‑linked chat lets managers brief specials, 86’d items, section changes, or allergen alerts without noisy group apps. Messages sit against the roster so the right people see the right update in time for service, cutting miscommunication during rushes.

Licences and training always up to date

Certificates and permits for restaurants

Always audit ready

Track RSA, food safety, and first-aid

Store RSA, Food Safety Supervisor, allergen, and first‑aid certificates in one place with automated expiry reminders. Certificates & permits ensure only qualified staff are scheduled for liquor service, food handling, and manager‑on‑duty shifts—supporting compliance, incident response, and safer kitchens.

Faster hiring for peak trade

Employee onboarding for restaurants

Contracts and policies in one place

Paper-free onboarding for new hires

Digitise contracts, policies, and induction forms so new hires are shift‑ready before their first service. Employee onboarding streamlines tax and bank details, collects availability, and standardises uniform and hygiene policies. Reduce admin and speed up scheduling across FOH and BOH during peak trade or seasonal hiring bursts.

Instant HR clarity for managers

Workwise AI for restaurants

Confidence in every decision

Award guidance fast

Award rules can be complex across ages, classifications, and shift types. Workwise AI gives quick guidance on overtime, breaks, allowances, and junior rates so managers can adjust rostering and scheduling with confidence—and stay audit‑ready without waiting on external advice.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Rostering and Payroll Software Questions? We have the answers.

Yes. Staff request swaps and accept open shifts with manager approval to keep coverage stable.
Managers publish open shifts or reassignments in seconds. Staff see push notifications and can accept on mobile, while eligibility rules filter by availability, skills, and cost. That makes it easier to backfill line cooks, servers, or bartenders just before service or when reservations spike.
Not necessarily. Teams can clock in on a shared tablet at the venue or use personal devices. Push notifications and roster updates work on mobile, while managers can still publish changes from the web or app so everyone stays aligned.
Managers publish changes in seconds via the RosterElf app. Eligible staff receive instant notifications and can accept shifts on mobile, helping fill grill, pass, bar, dish, or section roles when demand spikes or someone calls in sick. It keeps service running without frantic phone trees.
Mobile rosters, push notifications, and roster‑linked chat keep everyone aligned. Staff see updated sections, role changes, and call times immediately, reducing missed cues and ensuring better coordination across kitchen, bar, and floor. Clear updates mean fewer surprises in the rush.

Rosters can be created in minutes with drag-and-drop tools, templates, and AI suggestions.
RosterElf builds costed rosters around bookings and peak trade so kitchens, bars and service areas are covered.
Yes. Live labour budgets and costed rosters show wage impacts across day parts and venues.
RosterElf lets managers adjust rosters in seconds when covers spike or staff call in. Publish changes from the app; eligible team members receive instant notifications and can accept shifts on mobile. Live labour budgets show cost impact as you schedule, helping you keep sections and stations covered without overspending.
Yes. RosterElf connects directly to Xero and MYOB, sending approved, interpreted timesheets to payroll. This eliminates re-keying, speeds up pay runs, and helps ensure chefs, bartenders, and servers are paid accurately and on time.
RosterElf lets managers template coverage for sections and stations and use live labour budgets to match staffing to bookings and walk‑ins. Drag‑and‑drop rostering, instant updates, and mobile alerts keep FOH and BOH aligned when covers spike. This reduces delays at the pass and improves table turns.
Yes. RosterElf connects directly to Xero and MYOB, sending approved timesheets and award interpretations to payroll. This eliminates re‑keying, speeds up pay runs, and helps ensure FOH and BOH staff are paid accurately and on time, even with different pay classes.