You hear about it everywhere, and almost every industry is struggling with it: a labor shortage. Almost every organization has several open positions. As a result, many companies are facing major challenges. It doesn’t look like this will change anytime soon. It’s a complex and far-reaching problem for which there are no easy solutions. But what can you do to retain and attract employees?
Good working conditions are a very important—if not the most important—factor when choosing an employer. But in addition to working conditions, there are, of course, many other factors that are important for attracting and retaining employees. That’s why, rather than focusing on working conditions, this article will describe how you can make work much more enjoyable for employees in the (grocery) retail industry with the help of a good planning tool. It won’t solve the labor shortage, but it will create an additional bond with your employees. And that ultimately has a very positive effect on your entire business.
The (potential) impact of staff shortages cannot be overstated. After all, without the right employees, work cannot be done (properly) and customers cannot be served properly. Everyone is familiar with the example of Schiphol. But staff shortages also hinder the growth and ambitions of organizations. After all, growth almost always means that additional new employees are needed. If demand remains high, this often leads to a higher workload for existing employees—with all the risks that entails.
It is clear that this poses a major challenge for all employers. After all, it is a widespread problem that affects (almost) all sectors and the entire country. In this tight labor market, employees are gaining an increasingly strong position relative to employers. Among other things, employees expect more and more flexibility from their employers, and this trend will continue to grow.
One important trend is that employees increasingly want to decide for themselves how they spend their work time. Their own input is the starting point for this. But how can employers organize this effectively? Especially in a dynamic environment like a supermarket, employers must deal with constantly changing situations and various internal and external developments.
With a good planning tool(workforce management) and an integrated employee app, you can organize this centrally. Employees can use the app to handle many tasks on their own. This gives your employees the autonomy and flexibility they need without losing control over the process and planning.
For example, you can easily involve your employees in the planning process by having them indicate their availability and creating the schedule based on that information. You can then send the schedule directly to your employees, who will be notified via their phones.
Are you dealing with sick employees or other staff members who have left? Do you want to swap shifts? In the past, this led to major problems with sticking to schedules. Just try finding the right replacement at the right price. In addition, there are often problems with clearly communicating the changes to the schedule. Is everyone well informed? What does the current schedule look like? What is expected of whom?
But you can easily manage all of this—and much more—centrally through our R&R Job App. This ensures greater employee engagement and more clarity for them. Employee autonomy and involvement in planning also have a significant impact on employee satisfaction.
“The most important thing is to make sure that people (continue to) want to work for you. A good WFM tool is very helpful in this regard—especially if you can make the work appealing to employees.”
Peter Peels – Retail Expert
A good workforce management tool is essential for effectively managing the entire planning process. Without a WFM system, you simply don't have the necessary insight. With a good planning tool, you can ensure that the right staff are on duty at the right time. You assign the right tasks to employees, and they know what is expected of them.
If you take the right steps based on the insights and recommendations generated by the WFM system, you’ll simply have a solid plan and gain clarity and peace of mind within the organization. You’ll also be able to respond quickly to changing situations. This is very important because it truly impacts the organization and business operations in general. You’ll also gain confidence in the system when you actually see and experience this calm and consistency in practice. This works much better for everyone.
It also enhances the customer experience when they enter a store that is adequately staffed at the right time. Customers can shop comfortably, and the staff is always ready to assist them.
“If you take the right actions based on the information and insights generated by the system, you’ll have a solid plan and achieve clarity and calm within the organization.
Robin Groen – Entrepreneur Albert Heijn Groen (multi-franchise)
Almost every organization deals with this or will have to deal with it: the availability and retention of good staff. A planning tool and employee involvement are certainly not the “golden egg.” But the commitment and flexibility it offers are important parts of the big picture for employees. So it definitely plays its part. And in this tight market, every contribution matters for the big picture.
Would you like to involve your employees more closely in the process with a good scheduling tool (WFM) and an app designed specifically for employees? Then please get in touch with us. We’d be happy to tell you about the possibilities and the great results achieved by our satisfied customers.
