Employee Schedule Maker

How to build a weekly staff schedule

A good week does three things at once: every shift is covered, hours are spread evenly, and everyone gets the days off they were promised. Done by hand it falls apart around the fourth person, because every change you make forces two more.

The order that works:

1. Shifts first, people second. Write down which shifts need covering and how many people each one needs. That is a business requirement — it does not depend on who happens to be on your team.
2. Then the constraints. How many days off each person gets, who cannot work when. Constraints beat preferences.
3. Names last. Place people so the hours come out roughly level. A spread of more than eight hours between the busiest and the quietest person is worth redoing.

The tool above does the third step for you: it deals the team across the shifts, respects days off, and shows you the hours spread. When there are not enough people it does not quietly fudge the numbers — it leaves the slot open and says so.

Frequently asked questions

Is anything sent anywhere?

No. Everything runs in your browser and nothing reaches a server. Close the tab and it is gone, so download the CSV if you want to keep the schedule.

How many days off should I set?

It depends on your local law and what you agreed with your team. The default is two, which is a standard five-day week. Check your local working-time rules.

Why are some shifts marked open?

There are fewer people than the coverage needs. That is not a calculation error, it is a real shortfall: add someone, reduce the people per shift, or drop the shift.