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Waiters and wage costs for an event

How many waiters should there be, and what does it cost per cover?

Answer: When a gathering needs planning, you need to know how many staff should be on the duty roster and what it costs per cover. The number of guests per staff is the house's own norm and depends on the menu: a served menu with wine menu needs more hands than a buffet. You enter the hourly labour cost yourself, with supplements, pension and holiday pay as the house calculates it.

Formula

Tjenere = gæster ÷ gæster pr. tjener, rundet op til et helt menneske

Timer i alt = tjenere × timer pr. tjener

Lønomkostning = timer i alt × lønomkostning pr. time

Pr. kuvert = lønomkostning ÷ antal gæster

Symbols and units in the formula
SymbolMeaningUnit
gaesterNumber of guestsgæster
gaester_pr_tjenerGaester pr. tjener (husets norm for menuen)gæster
timerHours per server (with setting up and clearing)timer
timeomkostningWage cost per hour (with allowances and pension)kr
=Servers on the duty rostertjenere
=Total hourstimer
=Total wage costkr
=Wage cost per coverkr

Validity and source

Source
Competence objective (waiter): 'plan parties, receptions, meetings and conferences suited to occasion, guest type and purpose'

Does not apply when

  • The standard for guests per server is the house's own. Standard values are just an example. The agreement's rules for minimum duty length, additions and holidays are in the Restaurant Agreement between HORESTA and 3F. Kitchen, washing and bar are not included.

Worked example

The calculator's own default values inserted. The figures are calculated with exactly the formula the tool uses.

Substituted

  • Number of guests80 gæster
  • Gaester pr. tjener (husets norm for menuen)10 gæster
  • Hours per server (with setting up and clearing)9 timer
  • Wage cost per hour (with allowances and pension)230 kr

Giver

  • Servers on the duty roster8 tjenere
  • Total hours72.0 timer
  • Total wage cost16,560 kr
  • Wage cost per cover207.00 kr

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Sådan bruger du den

Når et selskab er bekræftet, skal vagtplanen lægges, og prisen pr. kuvert skal kunne bære lønnen. Beregneren finder antal tjenere ud fra husets norm og regner timer og lønomkostning ud.

Step by step

  1. Find antal gæster i bekræftelsen.
  2. Vælg husets norm for gæster pr. tjener til netop den menu og servering.
  3. Tjenere = gæster ÷ norm, rundet op.
  4. Gang med timer pr. tjener, også opdækning og afrydning.
  5. Gang med lønomkostningen pr. time, og del med gæsterne for at se løn pr. kuvert.

Typical errors

  • At runde antallet af tjenere ned. 2,9 tjener er 3 mennesker.
  • At glemme opdækning før og afrydning efter. Det er ofte en tredjedel af timerne.
  • At bruge timelønnen uden tillæg, pension og feriepenge. Så bliver kuvertprisen for lav.

Examples from everyday life

Bryllup med serveret menu og vinmenu

Et bryllup med 80 gæster får fire retter og vinmenu. Huset regner 10 gæster pr. tjener, 9 timer pr. tjener og 230 kr i lønomkostning pr. time.

Number of guests
80 gæster
Gaester pr. tjener (husets norm for menuen)
10 gæster
Hours per server (with setting up and clearing)
9 hours
Wage cost per hour (with allowances and pension)
230 kr

It means: Der skal 8 tjenere på vagtplanen, i alt 72 hours. Det koster 16,560 kr, altså 207 kr pr. kuvert.

Konfirmation med buffet

En konfirmation med 35 gæster får buffet. Huset regner 12 gæster pr. tjener, 6 timer og 210 kr pr. time.

Number of guests
35 gæster
Gaester pr. tjener (husets norm for menuen)
12 gæster
Hours per server (with setting up and clearing)
6 hours
Wage cost per hour (with allowances and pension)
210 kr

It means: Der skal 3 tjenere på. Lønnen er 3,780 kr i alt og 108 kr pr. kuvert. Normen giver knap tre tjenere, og det rundes op til et helt menneske.

Rule of thumb

Løn pr. kuvert = timer pr. tjener × lønomkostning pr. time ÷ gæster pr. tjener.

How to check the answer

Gang løn pr. kuvert med antal gæster. Det skal give lønomkostningen i alt.