1. Before day 1: a paid trial shift
Two to three hours, paid, on a real shift with a lead, not the rush. Within an hour of them leaving, score seven things from 1 to 3: showed up, asked before assuming, hands moved, talked to customers, cleaned without being asked, took correction, speed under a little pressure.
17 or more out of 21 is a hire. 13 to 16 is a hire if you are short and they scored 3 on talking to customers. Under 13, thank them and pay them. A 1 on showing up or taking correction is a no at any total.
2. One block a day, signed off
The trainer and the trainee both sign off each day before the next one starts. A day off pauses the plan; it does not skip a day.
| Day | Focus | By the end of the day |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Welcome | Where everything is. |
| 2 | Register | Ring, tender, void with a second initial. |
| 3 | Milk and the cash rules | Milk that pours. The cash rules, signed. |
| 4 | Espresso | A shot in range. |
| 5 | Mid-shift reset and pastry case | The reset and the pastry count. |
| 6 | The rush, watching | Where the bottleneck is. |
| 7 | Off | The plan pauses. |
| 8 | Opening, shadowing | The whole open, with a net. |
| 9 | Bar, one slow hour | Every drink on the menu once. |
| 10 | Closing, shadowing | The close and its checklist. |
| 11 | Bar, in the rush | Calm at seven people deep. |
| 12 | Opening, half alone | Half the open with no net. |
| 13 | Full shift | A normal day, lead on the floor, not beside them. |
| 14 | Review | Where they stand, what comes next. |
3. Put the training on the schedule
Training hours are paid hours, so price them before the schedule goes up. The sample shop forecasts $1,550 on a Tuesday, so at its 28% labor target the budget is $434. Its three-person floor costs $429.00 with payroll burden. Add a new barista at $15.50 an hour for a training shift from 7 to 11:
| Tuesday | Hours | Labor with burden | Labor % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floor | 21.75 | $429.00 | 27.7% |
| Training shift | 4.00 | $68.20 | 4.4% |
| Total | 25.75 | $497.20 | 32.1% |
The day lands $63.20 over budget. Fine if you decided it. A problem if you find it on the payroll report.
4. Day 14: the review
Fifteen minutes with the owner or lead. Sign the station checklists where earned, write three goals for the next 30 days, confirm schedule and pay in writing, and book the 30-day check-in.
5. Alone on a station
Each station has its own checklist, and every line moves from Shown to Practiced to Solo, with both initials. Nobody is scheduled alone on a station until every line on it reads Solo.
The kit's Staffing guide has it ready to print: job posts, the interview guide, the trial-shift scorecard, the 14-day plan, a training checklist for every station and the pay ladder. It is part of the Tillwhistle kit, $97 once.