HS | The Labor Budget Tool

Overview

The Labor Budget Tool allows managers to define labor targets that can be used throughout HotSchedules forecasting and reporting.

Labor budgets can be configured using either:

• Labor Percent
• Labor Hours

These budgets are used to compare scheduled labor against forecasted goals and help managers monitor labor performance.

Budget information is reflected throughout HotSchedules, including forecasting and labor reporting tools such as the Proforma By Percent report.

Fig. 1 – Labor Budget Tool and Labor Reporting

Access the Labor Budget Tool

1. Log in to HotSchedules.
2. Navigate to Forecasting.
3. Select Labor Budget.

The Labor Budget tool defaults to Labor Percent, but you can switch between Labor Percent and Labor Hours using the Budget Types drop-down menu.

Fig. 2 – Accessing the Labor Budget Tool

Update Labor Budget Values

To update a labor budget:

1. Select the budget type you would like to edit.
2. Click directly into the appropriate budget field.
3. Enter the desired value.
4. Repeat as needed for additional jobs or days.

Fig. 3 – Editing Labor Budget Values

Configure Budgets by Daypart

By default, labor budgets are configured at the daily level.

To create separate budgets for specific dayparts:

1. Select the plus (+) icon next to the job.
2. Expand the daypart view.
3. Enter the desired budget values for each daypart.

This allows labor budgets to be tracked more precisely throughout the day.

Fig. 4 – Budgeting by Daypart

Save Budget Changes

After making changes, select Post Budgets to save the updated labor budget.

Changes made to the default budget remain in effect until they are updated again.

Create a Custom Weekly Budget

In addition to default labor budgets, HotSchedules allows you to create budgets for specific weeks.

1. Select the Custom tab.
2. Choose the desired week from the drop-down menu.
3. Enter the labor budget values for that week and select Post Budgets.

Custom budgets apply only to the selected week and do not modify the default labor budget.

Fig. 5 – Custom Weekly Budget

Things to Keep in Mind

• Labor budgets can be configured using either Labor Percent or Labor Hours.
• Default budgets remain active until updated.
• Custom budgets override the default budget only for the selected week.
• Budgets can be configured at both the daily and daypart level.
• Labor budgets are used throughout forecasting and labor reporting tools to compare scheduled labor against labor goals.