Fourth

Overview

Fourth is a workforce management and inventory software platform for hospitality and restaurant industries. The platform combines scheduling, time and attendance, payroll, and inventory management with built-in labor compliance tools. Fourth includes HotSchedules, the restaurant industry's leading workforce management software.

Time & Attendance Features

• Multi-Platform Time Clocks: Web, mobile, tablet, and biometric options
• Mobile Punch: Employees clock in/out from smartphones
• Geofencing: Location-based clock-in restrictions
• Shift Verification: Compare scheduled vs actual hours
• Tip Tracking: Capture and allocate tips by shift
• Break Compliance: Meal and rest break enforcement
• Overtime Alerts: Real-time notifications when approaching OT
• Time-Off Management: Request and approve PTO through mobile app
• Attestation: Manager approval of time entries

Scheduling Features (HotSchedules)

• Demand-Based Scheduling: Create schedules based on sales forecasts
• Auto-Scheduling: AI-generated optimal schedules
• Labor Cost Controls: Schedule within budget constraints
• Shift Management: Build, publish, and modify schedules
• Schedule Templates: Reusable scheduling patterns
• Shift Marketplace: Employees pick up and swap shifts
• Availability Management: Collect and honor employee availability
• Mobile Schedules: Staff access schedules from phones
• Schedule Notifications: Automatic alerts for schedule changes

Labor Forecasting

• Sales-Based Forecasting: Predict labor needs from sales data
• Historical Analysis: Use past patterns for future planning
• Event Integration: Adjust forecasts for special events
• Multi-Unit Forecasting: Forecast across restaurant groups
• Budget Alignment: Forecast within labor budget parameters

Compliance Management

• Labor Law Compliance: Automatic adherence to federal, state, local laws
• Predictive Scheduling: Meet fair workweek requirements
• Break Rules: Enforce mandatory meal and rest breaks
• Overtime Regulations: Configurable OT rules by jurisdiction
• Minor Labor Laws: Special protections for underage workers
• Audit-Ready Records: Complete compliance documentation

Payroll Integration

• Seamless Payroll Export: Send time data to payroll providers
• Tip Reporting: Track and report tip income
• Multi-Location Payroll: Support for restaurant groups
• PTO Accruals: Automatic vacation and sick time calculations
• Wage & Hour Compliance: Ensure proper compensation

Inventory Management

• Recipe Costing: Calculate food and beverage costs
• Purchase Orders: Vendor ordering and receiving
• Inventory Counts: Track stock levels and usage
• Waste Tracking: Monitor and reduce waste
• Theoretical vs Actual: Compare expected vs actual usage
• Menu Engineering: Analyze profitability by menu item

Restaurant-Specific Features

• FOH/BOH Scheduling: Separate front and back of house management
• Station Assignments: Assign servers to sections
• Sales Integration: Connect with POS systems for sales data
• Labor Cost %: Track labor as percentage of sales
• Multi-Concept Support: Manage different restaurant brands

Mobile Capabilities

• Full-featured mobile app for managers and staff
• View schedules and request time off
• Clock in/out from mobile devices
• Shift trading and pickup
• Manager approvals on-the-go
• Real-time labor cost visibility

Reporting & Analytics

• Labor Cost Reports: Real-time and historical labor analysis
• Sales vs Labor: Compare labor costs to revenue
• Productivity Metrics: Covers per labor hour, tables per server
• Schedule Compliance: Scheduled vs actual hours variance
• Overtime Reports: Track and control overtime costs
• Custom Dashboards: Executive KPI visibility

Benefits

• Reduces labor costs by 2-5% through optimized scheduling
• Improves schedule accuracy and reduces conflicts
• Ensures compliance with complex restaurant labor laws
• Increases employee engagement with mobile access
• Provides real-time visibility into labor costs and sales
• Streamlines communication between managers and staff
• Reduces food costs through better inventory management

Integrations

• Major POS systems (Toast, Square, Clover, NCR, Oracle, etc.)
• Payroll providers (ADP, Paychex, Ceridian, etc.)
• HRIS systems
• Accounting software
• Online ordering platforms

Pricing

Fourth offers customized pricing based on number of locations, employees, and features. Pricing typically includes setup, training, and ongoing support. Contact for detailed quote.