The holiday season is just around the corner, and in the world of supermarkets, that means one thing above all else: crowds! As a WFM expert, I know how important it is to be well-prepared. In this blog, I’ll discuss the art of managing your staff during this hectic time—from setting deadlines for vacation requests to the smart use of part-time employees and forecasting. Read on for practical tips and tricks!
Let's start at the beginning: vacation requests. As the holidays approach, it's important to set clear deadlines for vacation requests. And why? Well, quite simply, to avoid last-minute scheduling problems. If you specify a clear deadline, you—as the person in charge of scheduling—will have enough time to plan properly and fill any gaps.
These potential gaps in your schedule tend to occur mainly during the holidays, because your “regular” employees want more vacation time and because you also need more staff at the supermarket. Part-time workers, temporary employees, and on-call staff are your lifeline in these situations, as they provide you with much-needed flexibility. They often even want to work during the holidays, making them ideal for such peak periods. However, it’s important to manage these flexible employees effectively. Make sure they know what tasks they’re expected to perform and what the timeframe is for completing them.
Also interesting:“A Good Balance Between Permanent and Flexible Employees (rr-wfm.com)” (Blog)
Forecasting is, so to speak, about predicting the future. This is an essential component of modern WFM, especially for supermarkets. Using historical sales data, you can estimate customer traffic with reasonable accuracy. With this knowledge, you can optimize your staffing—not too much, not too little, but just right.
This may seem obvious, but clear communication with your team is crucial—especially during the busy holiday season. Ensure that information and expectations are communicated clearly. A well-informed team is an efficient team. By using a WFM system with an employee app, such as the R&R Job App, your employees always have their up-to-date schedule right in their pocket. This way, employees always know when, at what time, and in which department they’re scheduled to work. In addition, allowing employees to swap shifts through the Job App can help during this busy time, while keeping the scheduling process well-managed.
Last but not least: your team’s well-being. The holidays can be stressful, so it’s important to keep an eye on your employees’ workload and well-being. A satisfied team performs better. Plus, customers might be a little more on edge due to the hustle and bustle. By training your employees in customer service and product knowledge ahead of time, you’ll ensure they can handle these situations with ease—and you’ll have satisfied customers!
Managing and scheduling supermarket staff during the holidays can be a daunting task, but with the right preparation and advance planning, you’ll go a long way. The key to success during the holidays lies in a well-planned team. It’s all about assigning the right employee to the right job at the right time—at a reasonable hourly rate. In other words: working efficiently!
Good luck and have a great vacation!
