Roster Definition

A roster, also known as a rota or schedule, is a list of personnel and their related information, such as department, working hours, and tasks, for a specific time period.

Many businesses, like retail stores, manufacturing facilities, and offices, require a roster for day-to-day operations. A good workplace roster takes care of the needs of all stakeholders, including management, employees, and consumers.

A daily roster is often organized chronologically, with the first staff working that day stated first, followed by the next employee, and so on. Employees are listed on the left-hand side of a grid, and the days of the week are listed on the top of the grid, in a weekly or monthly calendar.

A roster is usually created by a manager. An HR manager is entirely responsible for generating and maintaining the roster in larger businesses.