# The Monday order and the empty shift

“The Monday order and the empty shift” is an operations assistant job simulation on FinderK. You work at Millbrook Bakehouse, an original fictional company, and complete 3 assignments in about 55 minutes. It is for anyone who wants to practice operations assistant work. No previous work experience is required.

- Role: Operations assistant
- Industry: Operations
- Career: Supply chain and logistics (https://finderk.com/careers/supply-chain-and-logistics)
- Level: Early career
- Time: About 55 minutes, 3 assignments
- Access: Included in Plus
- Created by: FinderK
- Work tools: Mail, Office documents and spreadsheets, Calendar, Tables, Chat
- Page: https://finderk.com/simulations/the-monday-order-and-the-empty-shift
- Last updated: 2026-10-10

## Summary

Work out the week's supplier order from the records and the rules, cover a barista shift without breaking the hours limit, then send the order and fix the rota so the week runs from the records.

## Full brief

You are the operations assistant at a bakery with four cafés. On Monday morning the weekly supplier order is due by noon: four weeks of usage, this morning's stock count, a confirmed wedding order, a promotion that starts next week and two suppliers' pack sizes all bear on it. A barista is off sick and Thursday's shift has no one to run the coffee machine; the obvious cover would break the 48 hour rule. You work out the order, choose a cover the rules allow, and turn the manager's approval into records the business runs from. Automated checks confirm your totals and saved work; your judgement is reviewed against the standard for the role.

## What is Millbrook Bakehouse?

Millbrook Bakehouse is a fictional bakery with one central bakery and four cafés, employing 38 people. This case takes place in the week of 9 November 2026. All times are UTC and all prices are US dollars. The operations assistant works out the weekly order and the rota; the operations manager approves spend and extra hours.

## Who do you play?

You are the operations assistant in the Operations team. You place the weekly supplier order, keep the rota whole and keep the records the business runs from. You work out and recommend; the operations manager approves spend above 500 dollars, extra hours, overtime, moves between cafés and agency cover. You cannot roster anyone above 48 hours or open a café shift without a trained barista.

## What will you do?

1. 1. Work out the Monday order (22 minutes)
2. 2. Cover Thursday morning at Station Road (18 minutes)
3. 3. Send the order and fix the rota (15 minutes)

## Which skills will you practice?

- Work out an order from records, rules and pack sizes
- Read a lead time against a date
- Find the cover that fits the rules, not the easiest one
- Turn an approval into records other people run from

## Frequently asked questions

### How long does “The Monday order and the empty shift” take?

About 55 minutes, across 3 assignments. When the time is up, you get 10 minutes to round up and submit. Pausing stops the clock.

### Is “The Monday order and the empty shift” free?

No. It is included in FinderK Plus. You can also try it without an account, without grading.

### Do I need operations assistant experience?

No. No previous work experience is required. The listed level is early career.

### What do I get when I finish?

You get feedback on each assignment you submit. Completing all required assignments earns a completion certificate. It records participation and is not professional accreditation.

### Is Millbrook Bakehouse a real company?

No. Millbrook Bakehouse is an original fictional company made for practice. Its coworkers may make mistakes, so check their suggestions against the evidence.