Looking for a rotating or fixed shift schedule template? This employee schedule template Google Sheets can help you build a staff schedule for your restaurant or store.
To help you get started, we included instructions directly in the template.
The only thing you need to use the template is access to Google Sheets, which is free with any Google account.
What is a Google Sheets employee schedule template?
It’s a scheduling template created and edited using Google Sheets, a popular spreadsheet program that works in your browser.
If you’re more comfortable with Microsoft Excel, you may prefer an Excel employee shift schedule template download.
Our Excel version can also be opened with LibreOffice Calc, which is free.
Why schedule employees using Google Sheets?
A Google Sheets employee schedule template is far more organized than writing schedules by hand. These types of schedule templates save time, reduce errors, and can be customized to suit your team’s needs.
Because the file lives in Google Drive, your team members can view it from anywhere. You can also easily assign shifts and update the schedule in real-time without having to resend attachments.
This is why managers have used spreadsheet templates for years. Before Google Sheets was available, managers would use Excel and other applications.
Usually, a Google Sheets schedule requires you to manipulate the data and schedule the time yourself. Then, when you’re done, you share the finished schedule at your place of work.
What’s included in the template:
- fill-in-the-blank shift schedule worksheet
- instructions inside the template
- automatic calculator feature
How to Use the Employee Schedule Template Google Sheet
We made it easier for you by providing a monthly fixed-shift structure inside the spreadsheet. All you need to do is update the names of your employees and their shifts.
The schedule template will automatically track hours for you at the bottom.
TIP: If you work in restaurants or food service, check out our guide to using restaurant schedule templates.
Limitations of Google Sheets employee schedule templates
Spreadsheet templates for scheduling have been in use for decades. While they have worked for businesses in the past, they take time to configure, use, and reuse – even ones built using Google Sheets.
If you need to update your employee shift schedule, you must go back into the spreadsheet to reformat and change your rows and columns.
Even a reschedule schedule template requires some manual effort to make adjustments based on things like employee time off requests. The template can’t make the changes or assign shifts for you.
This means you’ll probably still be spending hours each week building schedules, though probably not as much as if you wrote them down by hand.
Other schedule template options
When you’re ready to level up your scheduling process and get your Friday nights back, we invite you to try TimeForge.
Our AutoScheduler and RoboSchedules tools can automatically build or suggest shift schedules for you in a fraction of the time. Because they live in the cloud, they can be accessed from anywhere using a mobile phone or one of our labor management mobile apps.
And unlike Google Sheets, our scheduling software will notify employees when a new schedule is posted. This means your team will always know exactly when they work.
TimeForge is risk-free – no credit card or contract required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Google Sheets employee schedule template account for different time zones if I have remote workers in various locations?
The Google Sheets employee schedule template does not have a built-in feature to account for different time zones. However, you can manually adjust the shift times to correspond with the various time zones of your remote workers.
For more advanced features like automatic time zone adjustments, consider using TimeForge’s labor management system.
Is there an option to integrate the Google Sheets employee schedule template with other systems such as payroll or HR systems?
While Google Sheets itself does not offer direct integrations with payroll or HR systems, you can manually export data from the spreadsheet and import it into your other systems.
For automatic integrations with payroll, HR systems, and more, consider using TimeForge’s labor management system, which offers a variety of integration options.
Can the Google Sheets employee schedule template handle split shifts?
The Google Sheets employee schedule template can be manually adjusted to handle split shifts. You would need to add additional rows or columns to represent the different parts of the split shift.
However, this process can be time-consuming and prone to errors. For a more efficient and reliable way to schedule split shifts, consider using TimeForge’s labor management system. TimeForge can also handle labor law compliance around split shifts to prevent non-compliant schedules.
Can I customize the Google Sheets schedule template for overnight shifts?
Yes, you can adjust the shift times manually to include overnight coverage. For more advanced automation, consider TimeForge.
Does the schedule template include conditional formatting for missed shifts?
Not by default, but you can add conditional formatting rules in Google Sheets. For real-time monitoring, TimeForge offers this feature automatically.
How do I share the employee schedule with my team?
Simply use the “Share” button in Google Sheets to grant view or edit access via email or link.
