Best Workforce Management Software for Family Entertainment Centers: Top Picks and Key Features
Running an arcade, trampoline park, a mini-golf course, or a bowling alley? Compare the best workforce management software options to find the right fit for your team.
Operating a family entertainment center (FEC) goes far beyond fun and games. FECs rely on tight schedules, seasonal staff, and real-time coordination to keep things running smoothly. The real challenge lies in managing your workforce: tracking time, filling last-minute shift vacancies, staying compliant, and processing payroll while navigating fluctuating demand and seasonal hiring.
Instead of just checking off features, focus on what workforce management software should do to improve operations: smarter scheduling, labor compliance (including youth labor laws), demand forecasting, and integrations with POS and booking systems.
What should workforce management software do for FECs?
Critical capabilities for FEC operations include:
Functionality
Why it matters
Demand-based employee scheduling
Aligns staffing with foot traffic, special events, and off-peak hours to avoid overstaffing and service gaps
Labor forecasting
Uses historical sales, bookings, events, and weather to predict demand for better scheduling and hiring decisions
Labor law compliance tools
Automatically enforces rules for breaks, shift limits, youth labor restrictions, pay rates, and necessary certifications
Mobile clock-ins with geofencing
Ensures employees clock in from the correct location, reducing time theft and buddy punching
Shift swapping
Lets employees quickly swap or cover shifts, useful when there are last-minute absences or no-shows
Checklists and task notes
Keeps SOPs like cleaning, maintenance, and safety checks completed and logged
Employee self-service
Enables staff to view schedules, request time off, clock in, and swap shifts from their mobile devices
Real-time dashboard
Provides live data on labor costs, staffing coverage, and sales
Automatic alerts
Sends instant notifications for late clock-ins, missed breaks, or when employees approach overtime
Top Workforce Management Software for Family Entertainment Centers
Our Top Five Picks: Quick Summary
Platform
Best for
Why it stands out
Workforce.com
Multi-location FECs that need labor forecasting and compliance tools
Advanced scheduling, demand-based labor forecasting, real-time dashboards, and built-in compliance features—ideal for full-time and seasonal staff
Deputy
FECs looking for a simple, user-friendly WFM solution
Intuitive interface with scheduling, time tracking, and shift swapping
Homebase
Small, single-location centers
Free plan and easy-to-use workforce features
UKG Ready
Large FEC chains needing a full HR and WFM suite
Scalable tools for HR, compliance, and workforce management
7shifts
FECs with significant food & beverage operations (e.g., full-service cafes or snack bars)
Scheduling tools and compliance features, tailored to F&B teams
#1 Workforce.com
Workforce.com is a cloud-based workforce management software solution purpose-built for hourly and shift-based teams, making it an excellent fit for FECs. It offers labor forecasting, demand-based scheduling, and built-in compliance tools that automatically enforce applicable labor rules, including youth labor laws — a critical need when hiring minors.
Labor forecasting: Forecast demand using AI-powered models based on historical sales, party bookings, seasonal events, weather, and other operational factors to optimize staffing in advance.
Demand-based scheduling: Build shifts around actual demand to avoid overstaffing, minimize overtime, and ensure adequate coverage for events or peak periods.
Compliance tools: Automatically enforce labor laws while scheduling and running payroll. Receive real-time alerts for violations, missed breaks, and overtime exposure.
Shift swapping: Employees can request swaps or managers can offer open shifts directly to qualified staff to cover last-minute gaps.
Live dashboard: Monitor sales, labor costs, and attendance in a single view to make faster operational decisions.
Qualifications management: Ensure only certified staff are scheduled for high-risk attractions or machinery.
Task management: Track cleaning, safety checks, and maintenance tasks to maintain guest safety and operational consistency.
Built-in payroll: Streamline payroll processing by approving timesheets and running payroll within the same platform.
Integrations: Sync with POS and booking systems (e.g., ROLLER) to feed sales and attendance data into forecasting models.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Large and multi-site FECs focused on labor forecasting, smart scheduling, payroll, and labor compliance.
Pricing: Quote-based — contact Workforce.com for a tailored demo and pricing.
#2 Deputy
Deputy is known for a simple, user-friendly interface for scheduling, time tracking, and shift management. It’s a solid choice for smaller FECs that need an intuitive tool without a heavy feature set.
Pros
Cons
Best for: FECs looking for a simple, user-friendly WFM solution.
Pricing (as of 2025): Scheduling: $4.50/user/month; Time & Attendance: $4.50/user/month; Premium: $5/user/month; Enterprise: Custom pricing. Add-ons available for HR and analytics.
#3 Homebase
Homebase is a budget-friendly option for small, single-location FECs that need basic scheduling, time tracking, and team communication. A free tier covers many starter needs.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Small FECs with straightforward staffing needs and tight budgets.
Pricing (as of 2025): Basic – Free (1 location, up to 10 employees); Essentials – $30/month; Plus – $70/month; All-in-One – $120/month. Add-ons for payroll and hiring are extra.
#4 UKG Ready
UKG Ready offers a comprehensive HR and WFM suite suitable for large FEC chains that need advanced HR, benefits administration, and compliance tools. It scales well but often requires more complex implementation.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Large FEC chains that need a full HR and workforce management suite.
Pricing (as of 2025): Quote-based. Contact UKG for tailored pricing.
#5 7shifts
7shifts is tailored for food & beverage operations and is a good option for FECs with cafes, snack bars, or full-service dining. It provides strong scheduling and manager tools, though some advanced forecasting and payroll features may require higher tiers.
Pros
Cons
Best for: FECs with food & beverage operations seeking robust scheduling tools.
Pricing (as of 2025): Comp Plan: Free for small single-location businesses; Essentials, Pro and Premium tiers available per-location. Add-ons for payroll and tips may apply. Check 7shifts for current pricing.
Other Notable Options
These platforms didn’t make the top five, but they may still be worth exploring depending on your team size, industry fit, and budget.
When I Work
Best for: Small FECs that need simple scheduling and time-tracking tools
Why consider it: Easy setup and a mobile-friendly interface that staff adopt quickly
Pros: Easy setup, mobile-friendly, straightforward scheduling and clock-ins for small teams
Cons: Features may be limited for more complex forecasting or multi-location needs
Connecteam
Best for: Small FECs prioritizing checklists, forms, and operational task management
Why consider it: All-in-one mobile solution with forms, checklists, and shift management
Pros: Built-in forms and checklists, strong mobile UX, free tier for small teams
Cons: Some advanced features (2FA, multi-location scheduling, advanced analytics) require higher-tier plans
ZoomShift
Best for: Small FECs or seasonal operations that need straightforward scheduling
Why consider it: Simple scheduling and shift swapping for hourly teams
Pros: Intuitive interface, easy adoption for seasonal staff, simple shift swap and availability tools
Cons: Limited forecasting and advanced labor analytics compared to dedicated forecasting platforms
What are the common workforce management challenges in FECs?
FECs face a unique combination of challenges: unpredictable foot traffic, teams that include minors, seasonal hiring, and multiple attractions that each may have different staffing and certification needs. Manual processes and disconnected tools amplify these problems, leading to staffing gaps, payroll errors, and compliance risk.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the right workforce management system for FECs
The right workforce management software for a family entertainment center goes beyond scheduling. It should streamline operations, protect margins, ensure compliance (especially for youth workers), and improve the guest experience. When evaluating platforms, bring your real-world scenarios to demos: seasonal spikes, event days, youth-worker rules, and any POS or booking integrations you rely on.
Workforce.com is the most comprehensive option we recommend for FECs that need advanced forecasting, strong compliance, and a single source of truth for scheduling, time, and payroll. Schedule a demo to see how it could work for your venues.