Are Your Labor Benchmarks Still Working for You?

Jul 29

Written By Jennifer P.

Last week, I walked through a new client’s restaurant and asked two simple but telling questions:

On your slowest day and hour, what’s the minimum number of people you need to run?
During your busiest times, what’s the maximum number of staff you need to operate smoothly?

They answered right away. That told me they had a clear grip on their labor needs and, by extension, their business.

But not everyone does.

The Old Way: Bar Charting

Back in the day, I used a method called bar charting. I’d sketch out hourly staffing needs and overlay them with POS data to calculate Sales Per Man Hour (SPMH). It was a great visual tool, but it came with a lot of guesswork and relied heavily on flexibility and instincts in the moment.

The New Tools: Smarter Software, Smarter Managers

Today’s scheduling software can do most of that math for you. Real-time data makes it easier than ever to factor in:

Pay rates
Overtime
Breaks
Compliance rules

But even the smartest software can’t replace the judgment of a strong manager during a busy shift.

Take breaks, for example. You can plan to stack them, stagger them, or run shorter shifts to stay compliant. But what happens when a lunch rush runs long or a team member calls out?

You pivot. That’s why labor management is both strategic and situational.

Not All Labor Hours Are Created Equal

Here’s a truth we don’t talk about enough:
A seasoned team member can do the work of two.

Labor planning isn’t just about how many people are scheduled - it’s about who is on the floor. A lean team of pros often outperforms a full roster of less experienced staff. That needs to factor into your benchmarks.

Ask Yourself:

To keep your labor strategy sharp, revisit these questions regularly:

Where does your labor data come from? Are you using POS reports, scheduling software, or guesswork?
Is your whole leadership team aligned? Do owners, managers, and leads understand and use the same benchmarks?
Are you reevaluating often enough? Has your business changed since the last time you reviewed your staffing model?

Every Hour Counts

Managing labor isn’t just about cutting hours—it’s about planning wisely, adapting in real time, and making sure you’re staffed to serve the most guests, the best way, every time.

Because in this business, every hour counts.

Jennifer P.