Restaurant HR software is essential for restaurants that employ and manage more than a handful of employees. Integrations that manage everything from payroll to shift changes optimize the restaurant backend for both management and restaurant owners.
Below, we’ve listed the best restaurant payroll software in the food service industry. They are guaranteed to improve employee management and restaurant business functions for the better.
What Is Restaurant HR Software?
HR (human resources) software stores employee data and manages HR-related functions by combining payroll software, accounting software, and scheduling software. Management or restaurant owners no longer have to manually collect, examine, distribute, or maintain employee pay, shifts, etc.
Common HR tools include:
- Streamlining the hiring process
- Shift optimization and shift management
- Payroll data and management
- Team management
- HR functions tracking
- Performance management
- Applicant tracking system
- Restaurant operations tools
- Employee training
All these systems combined make it easier for restaurants to manage employees, the fair labor standards act, and employee concerns. This, in turn, increases employee performance, customer satisfaction, and restaurant revenue.
7 Best Restaurant HR Software Options
There is a lot of fluctuation in HR software capabilities, which is why we’re here to help you find the right HR software for your restaurant business.
1. Toast
Toast is a well-known and established management system within the restaurant industry, and offers various software options. One of its more popular options is its payroll and team management option, which, as the name suggests, manages the payroll and your restaurant teams.
Its main focus is helping management onboard employees while also simplifying the payment process. It also tracks restaurant applicants, making it easy to manage the hiring process, and provides human resources with a snapshot of employee lifecycles.
Finally, it also has features like loyalty programs and detailed analytics.
Main features
- Simplified payroll software
- Online hiring, training, and profiles
- Attendance and shit tracking
- Payroll tax integration
- Multiple payment options
- Tip pooling
- Integrated employee scheduling
- Comprehensive human resources toolkit customized for the food service industry
- Easy integration with other Toast software
Possible Cons
- The customer support options are varied but aren’t reliable.
- The software can be difficult for beginners.
- The tip pooling feature is a hit or miss.
Pricing
Toast isn’t clear on pricing and quotes per restaurant. There is also no free trial or free version of the human resources software.
2. Restaurant365
Another well-established software provider in the food service industry is Restaurant365. Their Workforce software option aims to modernize onboarding and team management with leading HR tools.
With their HR functions, it’s possible to find new, skilled employees and onboard them, making it much easier to train employees. The software also manages employee scheduling. From the dashboard, managers can create schedules, swap shifts, and manage time off requests.
Finally, the software also manages payroll and offers easy POS integration and flexible payout options.
Main features
- Professional job boards
- Applicant conversion metrics
- Digital onboarding and optimization functions
- Fast and flexible payroll options
- POS integration
- Automate ledger entries
- Fair labor standards act pre-sets
- HR tools and workflows
- Easy-to-use employee portal
Possible Cons
- The software is complex and can be difficult to understand for beginners and intermediary software users.
- Customer support is not reliable and can take longer to return with solutions.
Pricing
Restaurant365 starts at $249 a month. There is also no free trial or free plan available.
3. HotSchedules
HotSchedules was founded in 1999 and is a management system designed to optimize restaurants, hotels, and other customer-facing establishments.
As a restaurant HR management system, it offers comprehensive service solutions that aim to lower admin and management time, free up staff, and increase profits.
Besides its scheduling features, it also uses analytics to create personalized forecasts for both your business and the industry.
Built-in compliance features also ensure restaurants stay within federal law requirements. The software prevents overworking and ensures all employees are paid for their time at work, including overtime.
Main features
- Restaurant demand forecasting
- Smart scheduling
- Team communication tools
- Easy shift swapping
- Robust reporting
- Time and attendance tracking
- Task management
- Food safety monitoring
- Staff journals
Possible Cons
- Customer service is not reliable or completely unavailable.
- Users often struggle with an excess of notifications from the software.
Pricing
HotSchedules doesn’t share pricing information publicly. However, they do offer users a free trial when joining. There is no free plan available.
4. 7Shifts
7Shifts is an all-in-one labor management tool that uses machine learning to optimize restaurant functions. The software focuses on streamlining restaurant management to lower labor and management costs and increase revenue.
What makes 7Shifts stand out is that it was designed with restaurants in mind. All its features are specific to the food service industry, making it a great fit for restaurant human resources.
Notable software functions include AI auto-scheduling software that pairs the best employees at optimal times. It also provides hiring tools and applicant tracking for easy onboarding.
Main features
- All-in-one software
- AI-powered optimization and scheduling
- POS integration
- Labor compliance settings
- Customizable manager logbook
- Effective tip-pooling tools
- Performance management
- Employee engagement tools and analytics
- Team communication options
- Projected sales forecasts
- Mobile friendly
Possible Cons
- There is no in-training option under employee roles.
- Viewing items from the mobile app can be a little slow or glitchy.
Pricing
7Shifts starts at $34.99 a month and there is a free trial for premium members. There is also a free version of the software available.
5. Teamwork
Teamwork, previously known as Dolce, aims to simplify labor and HR management by integrating most restaurant management into one platform. As an HR tool, it provides easy-to-use payroll, labor complaince, scheduling, and sick time software. It also features a logbook, perfect for HR to track, note, and share employee performance.
Finally, Teamwork works well as a franchise HR system. With one login, users can manage payments, schedules, and other data for multiple restaurant locations
Main features
- Mobile friendly
- POS integration
- Labor compliance settings
- Tip pooling and distribution
- Manage multiple locations
- Scheduling & timekeeping software
- Employee logbook
- Schedule enforcement
Possible Cons
- The software can be slow after updates.
Pricing
Teamwork starts at $3 per user, per month, and offers users a free trial. There is no free version of the software.
6. Gusto
Gusto is a customizable human resources platform that adapts to your business, no matter the size. It provides all the features you would expect from HR software, including job posting, hiring, scheduling, and payroll management. However, it also has the added benefit of having resource management capabilities.
Main features
- Resource management
- Job postings and hiring features
- Easy employee onboarding and training
- Device management
- Payroll with tax integration
- Labor law compliance
- Team insights and analytics
Possible Cons
- Customer support is not reliable.
- The UI can be tricky to use and sensitive.
Pricing
Gusto starts at $6 a month, making it a very affordable option. However, there is no free trial or free version of the software.
7. Paycor
Paycor is a comprehensive HR platform with a focus on developing employees and creating leaders. The software manages all aspects of the hiring, training, and daily scheduling process, with features to optimize every aspect.
Main features
- Employee performance management
- Promotion tracking
- Mobile friendly
- Mobile employee dashboard
- Employee self-service portal for quick scheduling
- Comprehensive tracking and reporting
Possible Cons
- Customer service is not reliable.
- Initial setup can be difficult and training isn’t always the best.
Pricing
Paycor starts at $99 a month. There is no free trial or free version of the software.
Conclusion
HR management software is an employee management game changer. Basic features allow restaurant owners and managers to hire skilled employees, train them with established training systems, schedule and communicate with teams, and pay employees while staying tax and labor-law compliant.
All of this streamlines restaurant functions and frees up staff and management to improve the customer-facing section of the restaurant to increase revenue.
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