Monday April 10, 2023

The workplace is not an exception to how quickly technology has advanced regarding how we communicate. Numerous industries worldwide have experienced a severe labor shortage in recent years. Because of this, current employees are working harder and longer hours, which has a negative impact on their morale, productivity, and performance. Many businesses are also finding it challenging to meet their staffing needs due to the aftermath of COVID-19. Thus, organizations are turning to technological solutions, such as shift scheduling tools, for assistance.

The demand for such tools has also increased with the popularity of remote work and hybrid work models. It allows managers and staff to easily communicate about shift changes and scheduling requirements in the present. But how effective are these tools in addressing staff shortages? Continue reading to learn more.

Labor Forecasting Is The Future

Here’s how you can be part of it:

1. Start by analyzing your historical data to identify trends and patterns in your staffing needs.
2. Look at past sales volumes, foot traffic, and other relevant metrics to see how staffing needs vary throughout the year.
3. Keep in mind that external factors like holidays, seasonal changes, and special events can also affect staffing needs.
4. Incorporate these factors into your labor forecast.

There are many tools available that can help you with labor forecasting, including software that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to make more accurate predictions. These tools can analyze data from multiple sources and generate forecasts considering various factors.

More Automation, Less Stress

Understaffed employees often feel pressure to work longer hours, which leads to skipping breaks to keep up with demand. However, this may lead to violations of labor laws, which could be problematic for managers. 

To prevent this issue, managers can enter employers’ required break times into automated workforce management software. These breaks can then be automatically incorporated into every schedule. This way, the manager will be alerted if an employee forgets to take a break or doesn’t do so within the allotted time.

In environments with insufficient staff, mistakes in break times are unfortunately common, but with the right software, scheduling can be done more effectively, lowering the likelihood of errors.

Real-time Availability, Improved Communication

Shift scheduling software allows employees to update their availability in real-time. Thanks to this, managers can quickly identify who is available to work and when, making it easier to fill open shifts. This can be especially useful when employees call in sick or need time off unexpectedly.

Besides, these tools can also improve communication between managers and employees. Managers can quickly notify employees of open shifts, schedule changes, or other important updates via notifications/alerts, which is especially important when trying to fill open shifts on short notice.

Greater flexibility:

Many shift scheduling tools allow employees to swap shifts or request time off, making it easier for managers to have complete visibility into their workforce’s availability. These features enable employees to keep their availability and preferred shift notifications up to date. When creating schedules, employees can specify their weekly availability, giving schedulers complete visibility of available staff. This feature enables part-time employees to indicate the days and times they are available to work, while full-time employees can specify when they are willing to work overtime hours.

Cross-Training for Higher Productivity

Training your employees to fill multiple shoes in the workplace is a worthwhile idea, especially amidst such a staff shortage. Why not? Performing various tasks when necessary is always helpful in a short-hand environment. Since the manager will mostly have employees with the required qualifications, cross-training simplifies scheduling.

Summing It Up

Employee shortage is a growing concern today; there’s no doubt about it. However, with the right approach and tools, you can work toward success amidst this crisis. Get started with Vocantas, the right employee scheduling tool for all your organizational needs.