The process of expanding retail operations inevitably brings an increase in full-time and part-time employees. The complexity of scheduling shifts poses a constant challenge for HR managers and store managers, highlighting the growing burden of workforce management.
Store managers in the retail industry not only have to consider employee work hours and leave arrangements but also develop strategies for handling unforeseen circumstances.
Without a well-designed rostering system, dissatisfaction among employees or the inability to quickly allocate additional manpower can impact store operations. Moreover, store managers are responsible for handling employee requests, integrating attendance data, managing leave approvals, and overseeing various store-related tasks. The sheer volume of these administrative responsibilities can overwhelm store managers.
So, what are the major pain points faced by the retail industry in scheduling? Let’s analyse them in detail:
Flexible yet error-prone store scheduling
The retail industry employs a mix of full-time and part-time staff with high turnover rates, resulting in a variety of shift types such as morning, evening shifts and more. If employees work at different stores within a day or during peak seasons like holidays, the scheduling process becomes time-consuming, error-prone, and labour-intensive for store managers and HR personnel.
Lengthy scheduling using paper or Excel
Traditional methods of scheduling using paper-based forms or Excel spreadsheets are time-consuming. The process involves confirming schedules with employees in advance, manually compiling and cross-checking shift data, and finally distributing the schedule. Adjusting schedules for sudden employee leave or urgent staffing requirements becomes challenging and time-consuming.
Lack of synchronisation in store information
Store scheduling often requires frequent adjustments due to unexpected events. Coordinating with the head office for scheduling changes can lead to repeated communication and frequent modifications. Not all stores have computer systems to ensure timely information exchange with the head office. This lack of synchronisation can result in discrepancies between the head office’s information and individual store schedules, impacting payroll calculations.
Keeping compliance
Traditional management approaches often overlook the analysis of scheduling durations, making it difficult to ensure compliant workforce management. Store managers manually coordinate and arrange employee schedules, which increases the likelihood of errors when calculating working hours and complying with Fair Work and EBA regulations.
How to Efficiently Schedule Retail Staff?
Retail scheduling is a necessary task accompanied by challenges and common errors. However, some stores have started using rostering systems to alleviate the management burden. How can a rostering system help the retail industry address these challenges? What scheduling techniques can be employed to increase efficiency?
Workstem offers an intelligent scheduling management system that can provide the answers.
Flexibly handle diverse shifts
Customise various shift templates based on the scheduling rules for different types of employees. Define multiple shifts in a day or across different locations, differentiate between workdays, rest days, and public holidays, and manage scheduling in an organised manner to meet different requirements.
Cloud-based scheduling in minutes
Streamline scheduling by batch scheduling on a weekly or monthly basis, or copy shifts based on personnel or time. Enable employee self-service for shift swapping and replacements, reducing the need for manual cross-checking by HR or store managers and improving scheduling efficiency.
Real-time update of schedule information: Use an integrated web and HR mobile app platform where HR or store managers can quickly publish schedules. Employees can access their schedules in real-time through the mobile app. Utilise employee self-reporting on availability to understand their availability status, allowing for timely adjustments to meet sudden staffing needs.
Keeping compliant workforce management
Automatically calculate hours worked, including overtime hours on working days, rest days, and public holidays, along with other scheduling factors. Analyse scheduling durations to ensure compliance with Fair Work and EBA regulations. HR and store managers can schedule employees in a manner that upholds employee rights and fulfils legal obligations.
Workstem – Advanced Rostering System for Retail Scheduling Needs
With the high turnover rate in the retail industry, efficient management requires a comprehensive workforce management solution. Workstem offers a cloud-based all-in-one HR management system designed specifically for retail. It encompasses modules for company management, onboarding, rostering, time and attendance tracking, leave management, expense claims, payroll, tax, superannuation,STP and more.
The Workstem rostering system provides a range of features to streamline scheduling processes. It supports customizable shift templates, batch scheduling, and mobile app functionality, allowing for flexible shift adjustments and empowering employees with self-service capabilities. With Workstem, you can meet various scheduling requirements and achieve efficient scheduling for your retail operations.
Experience the benefits of Workstem by booking a free demo today! Click here to get started.
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