House DeskGuide
How to stop running your pub rota on WhatsApp
WhatsApp is fine for a quick message. It is a poor place to keep who is working Saturday. Here is a practical switch.
Put the rota somewhere staff can trust; keep WhatsApp for chat, not the master plan.
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Why WhatsApp rotas fail
Screenshots go stale, replies bury the plan, and nobody knows which image is current when someone calls in sick.
A cleaner process
Publish the week in House Desk, let staff see their shifts, route leave and swaps through the app, and keep the group chat for announcements, not the master plan.
- Build next week in the rota view
- Invite the team once
- Approve leave where availability is visible
- Stop posting spreadsheet photos
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Will staff adopt another app?
Adoption is easiest when the rota is clearer than the group chat. Start with publishing weeks and clock-in; expand modules after the habit sticks.
Keep reading
Related features and guides
- FeaturePub rota softwarePub rota software for UK pubs. Build weeks, handle swaps and holidays, and stop running shifts through WhatsApp. Part of House Desk pub management software.Read more →
- FeaturePub timesheets & clock-inClock-in and timesheets for UK pubs. Honest hours ready for payroll, next to the rota and leave. Part of House Desk pub management software.Read more →
- GuideBest pub rota software UKBest pub rota software UK in 2026. Compare House Desk, Deputy, RotaSmart, ShiftGuard and BatchStaff for landlords.Read more →
Ready to run your pub from one place?
Try HouseDesk free for a month. No card required. From £49 a month after your trial, with every module included.