Auto-Schedule Smarter: How hrPad Cuts Restaurant Manager Workload by 75%

If you’re a restaurant operations or HR leader, you know just how chaotic scheduling can be. From juggling time-off requests to enforcing fair workweek laws, shift planning often turns into a weeklong headache for your managers. For high-volume, multi-location chains, it’s not just an inconvenience—it’s a productivity killer. That’s exactly where CloudApper’s hrPad comes in, offering automated employee scheduling that reduces manual work by up to 75% while integrating seamlessly with your UKG and other HCM systems.

The Scheduling Burden in Restaurant Operations

Let’s start with what restaurant managers are up against:

• They’re manually creating schedules for dozens of hourly workers.
• They must account for time-off requests, availability, and compliance with city-specific labor laws.
• Shift swaps and no-shows lead to last-minute scrambling.
• Everything has to be re-entered into the HCM or workforce system (like UKG Pro WFM or Ready).

This process is repetitive, slow, and error-prone. And when compliance is on the line, one missed shift or scheduling violation can turn into a legal and operational issue.

What Makes hrPad Different?

hrPad is more than a digital punch clock. It’s a fully customizable, AI-powered employee self-service kiosk that integrates directly with UKG or other HCM systems. But what really sets it apart is its ability to automate large portions of the scheduling process—without replacing your current system.

• Integrates with UKG Pro and Ready: Pulls time-off requests, availability data, and approved shift patterns directly.
• Honors Seniority and Compliance Rules: Applies logic to respect shift preferences, seniority, and local laws (like Chicago’s Fair Workweek).
• Supports Two-Week Pay Period Scheduling: Managers can auto-generate full bi-weekly schedules with just a few clicks.

How hrPad Automates 75% of Scheduling Tasks

Here’s how it works:

1. hrPad collects PTO, availability, and position data directly from UKG or other HCM systems via APIs.
2. It applies custom business logic to build shift templates.
3. It honors restrictions such as “no Thursdays” for John or “minimum 2 days rest between shifts.”
4. Schedules are pre-built and shown to managers for review before publishing.

This process means scheduling managers spend far less time planning from scratch. Instead, they focus only on reviewing and tweaking schedules—cutting the workload by as much as 75%.

“Before hrPad, I used to spend an entire day creating schedules for each location. Now, I’m done in under an hour.” — Quote from Luis G., District Manager

Real-Time Syncing Between Systems

Unlike standalone tools that require double entry, hrPad keeps everything in sync with UKG and other HCM systems.

• Bi-directional sync: Changes in UKG reflect in hrPad and vice versa.
• No duplicate work: Managers don’t need to enter shifts twice.
• Instant compliance: Scheduling changes are always validated against UKG rules.

Whether it’s a swap approved in the UKG app or a change made on the hrPad kiosk, all systems stay aligned.

Multi-Location and Borrowed Employee Scheduling

Restaurants often deal with employees working across multiple locations. hrPad makes this simple.

• Shared visibility: Managers can see which employees are eligible to work across stores.
• Multiple job codes: Employees with multiple roles (e.g., server and host) are recognized appropriately.
• No reconfiguration: As long as permissions exist in UKG or other HCM systems, hrPad respects them.

This ensures full flexibility without HR needing to manually intervene every time an employee is “borrowed.”

Why Restaurant Chains Are Turning to hrPad

The value is clear:

• Time savings: Managers reclaim hours every pay period.
• Labor law compliance: Adheres to advance scheduling laws.
• Employee satisfaction: Fewer errors, better shift consistency.
• Lower cost: No additional hardware needed. hrPad runs on any tablet (iOS, Android, or Windows).

Conclusion: Smarter Scheduling Starts Here

Scheduling doesn’t have to be painful. With hrPad, restaurant managers gain an AI-powered co-pilot that handles the heavy lifting. You still have the final say—but instead of building from scratch, you start with 75% of the work already done.

Ready to cut your scheduling workload in half? See how hrPad works with your existing HCM setup.