Episode 13: Beyond the Stove: How to Solve Labor Compliance and Manager Burnout in Multi-Unit Restaurant Operations

• Guest: Anthony Presley, founder of Time Forge

• Episode: 86 Reason Ep13: How to Fix Hospitality Labor Compliance & Burnout - Anthony Presley

• Episode Duration: 1hr 10m 56s

• Published: Dec 22, 2025

• Topics: Restaurant Labor Compliance, Manager Burnout Solutions, Multi-Unit Restaurant Operations, Employee Scheduling Software, Restaurant Workforce Management, Hospitality Labor Laws

🎧 Listen now To All Episodes

Subscribe: | Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcast | iHeart

Episode Summary

Great food isn't enough anymore. In today's competitive restaurant landscape, operational excellence separates thriving multi-unit operations from those constantly fighting fires. Yet for most restaurant owners, the real challenge isn't happening in the dining room, it's buried in the back office, where scheduling chaos, compliance nightmares, and labor management issues are quietly destroying profitability and burning out your best managers.

In this episode of the 86 Reason Podcast, we dive deep with Anthony Presley, founder of Time Forge and a lifelong technologist who transformed his unconventional background, from hacking video games in Cairo to pioneering workforce solutions, into a system that saves multi-unit operators from costly compliance errors and excessive manager workloads. His insights reveal how industrial engineering principles can revolutionize restaurant operations.

Key Takeaways

From Cairo Hacker to Restaurant Tech Pioneer

Anthony's journey into restaurant technology started in an unlikely place: Cairo American College in Egypt, where he learned programming from an Apple fellow who helped invent the original Macintosh. Without reliable internet access, young Anthony sharpened his technical skills by reverse-engineering video game copy protection, an early lesson in systems optimization that would define his career.

This foundation led Anthony to a crucial realization: the hospitality industry was dramatically behind in technology adoption compared to sectors like healthcare and retail. Rather than seeing this as a limitation, he recognized an opportunity. The restaurant sector was ripe for transformation, ready for someone to apply proven optimization strategies from more advanced industries.

The Scheduling Crisis That Launched Time Forge

The spark for Time Forge came in 1999 when Anthony witnessed a glaring operational failure: his roommate's uncle ran a restaurant with only one phone line, forcing employees to physically drive to the location just to check their work schedules. It was inefficient, frustrating, and expensive.

When the same problem persisted seven years later in 2006, Anthony committed to solving the industry's scheduling nightmares once and for all.

But his first attempt missed the mark. Anthony built an automated scheduling system modeled after sophisticated hospital staffing algorithms. The technology was impressive, but restaurant operators weren't buying. One Mexican restaurant founder delivered the harsh truth: "Anthony, I pay my managers to build schedules. I don't know why I'd also pay you."

This rejection exposed a critical blind spot in the industry: restaurant owners fundamentally undervalued their managers' time.

The Hidden Cost of the 80-Hour Manager

Here's the problem Anthony identified: the restaurant industry operates under a dangerous misconception that managers should be generalists capable of working 80-hour weeks while juggling marketing, technology troubleshooting, operations, and even facility repairs.

This impossible expectation creates a vicious cycle. Managers burn out. Turnover skyrockets. Training costs multiply. Operational consistency suffers.

Anthony's solution? Stop wasting manager time on low-value administrative tasks. Instead of deciphering sticky notes and text messages to piece together schedules, managers should focus on what actually drives revenue: guest experience, team development, and operational excellence.

Time Forge evolved to tackle the most complex challenges facing multi-state operators: navigating different overtime laws across jurisdictions, maintaining compliance, preventing legal issues, and solving HR headaches. The technology became valuable precisely because it removed these crushing pressures from managers' plates.

Smart Funding: Know When Money Helps (and Hurts)

For entrepreneurs considering raising capital, Anthony offers hard-earned wisdom: money should only be "gasoline for the fire"—fuel to accelerate a proven, repeatable business model.

Time Forge remained largely bootstrapped until 2014, when a large publicly traded customer came on board requiring a massive rollout that couldn't be executed without capital infusion. That's when they raised their Series A.

Anthony warns against raising money prematurely. Without a solid business model, capital injection leads to three painful outcomes: burning through cash without traction, giving away equity unnecessarily, and answering to new bosses (investors) who demand substantial returns. The pressure can destroy a company that isn't ready for rapid scaling.

About Anthony Presley

Anthony Presley is a lifelong technologist and founder of Time Forge, specializing in complex labor management solutions for multi-state operators in hospitality and retail.

Connect with Anthony:

• Company: Time Forge

• LinkedIn: /in/apresley/

Listen to the Full Episode

This article only scratches the surface of Anthony's insights on restaurant operations, technology adoption, and building scalable systems. Subscribe to the 86 Reason Podcast to hear the complete conversation and discover more hard-won wisdom from the industry's most innovative leaders.

Subscribe & Stay Connected

Don't miss future episodes of 86 Reason Podcast, created by Over Easy Office. Subscribe today for more candid conversations about the operational realities behind successful hospitality businesses, because in this industry, every story teaches you something about People, Plates, & Profits.

Subscribe on: | Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcast | iHeart |

Ready to pair your hospitality operations with the financial support they need to deliver real value? Learn how Over Easy Office's outsourced bookkeeping, AP processing, and inventory management services can help you maximize your business potential without the overwhelm. Contact us today to discover solutions tailored for the restaurant industry.