SPREADSHEET GUIDE · EMPLOYEE SCHEDULING

An employee schedule you can actually use.

Plan coverage, see who is working and calculate hours in one Excel workbook. A practical schedule starts with clear inputs—not a wall of formulas.

What to include in a staff schedule

1. Staff and roles: one row per person, with role or department if needed.
2. Dates and shifts: exact shift start and end times; note overnight shifts explicitly.
3. Break rules: indicate whether meal breaks are unpaid and how many minutes to deduct.
4. Hours and coverage: calculate total scheduled hours, highlight uncovered shifts and distinguish overtime.
5. Changes: add a change log or updated date so the team knows which version is current.

Example request to start with

Review any overtime, break and labor-law calculations against your actual policies and applicable requirements; a schedule template isn't a payroll compliance system.