The following are a sample of possible strategies to help improve communication between the managers and employees at the Blue Gate Restaurant where I currently waitress:

1)Give everyone an employee contact list that would include names, phone numbers,email addresses, normally available work times, as well as addresses of employees since many of our employees are Amish and do not have phones.

2)Develop a regular schedule so that employees are working roughly the same days each week. This would prevent having to rearrange other previously scheduled activities on a weekly basis.

3)Post the schedule online so employees do not have to drive all the way to work to see their schedule, as managers see it as your responsibility to figure it out and will not tell you over the phone. Also, have the opportunity to make shift changes/requests online. When done by paper, the managers often don't get to it until after the date requested to be changed has passed.

4)Make it a job for someone to specifically be in charge of calling off employees not needed every morning/afternoon. This would include taking into account how far away they live and calling them early enough in advance that they would not already be on the road when you call.