Managing staff in an industry where demand fluctuates throughout the year can be incredibly challenging. In retail, particularly grocery shops, there is a sharp increase in customer traffic during holidays and seasonal events such as Christmas. In fact, in 2024, retail foot traffic on the last Saturday before Christmas rose by an impressive 58 percent compared to daily averages.
To remain efficient and maintain high levels of customer service, businesses must be flexible with their staffing strategies to cope with these demands. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how businesses are balancing staffing levels during quieter and busier periods.
How Businesses Manage Fluctuating Demand
Businesses manage demand with a number of effective strategies. Here are some of the most common methods:
Using Seasonal/Temporary Workers
Hiring workers on a temporary basis is one of the most effective ways to manage an increase in demand. During peak periods such as Christmas, Easter, or the summer holidays, shops typically require additional staff to restock shelves, operate tills, and manage deliveries. Temporary workers allow businesses to meet this demand without having to commit to long-term contracts, helping to reduce labour costs when busy periods come to an end.
Incentivising Overtime
Occasionally, overtime is necessary to cover extra work during holiday periods. While many employees are willing to work extra hours, others might need further encouragement.
Incentivising overtime by increasing pay rates, offering bonuses, or providing additional time off can effectively motivate staff members to take on extra shifts regularly. This approach can help businesses maintain experienced and already integrated staff.
Keeping Shifts Flexible
Another important strategy is flexible scheduling. By adjusting shift patterns and using part-time staff, managers can ensure more employees are working during peak hours or busier periods and fewer are on the shop floor during quieter times when less staff are required. Modern software, including payroll for enterprises, allows managers to keep track of scheduling with ease to plan staffing levels more effectively.
Providing Additional Training
Training existing employees in other roles within the company can make it easier for businesses to manage demand. When a single staff member can work across numerous departments, such as checkouts, stock management, and customer service, managers gain extra flexibility during busy periods. Not only does this help cover absences and make it easier to cope with surges in demand, but it also improves operational efficiency and boosts staff confidence.
How Businesses Are Ensuring Staff Remain Happy and Healthy
It’s not just how staff are managed to meet demand that’s important, but also how they are supported from a health and wellbeing perspective. Effective staff management also includes supporting employee wellbeing, particularly during peak periods where more intense workloads can increase stress and risk burnout if managed poorly. It’s important to maintain clear communication, ensure shifts and workloads are allocated fairly, and hard work is recognised and rewarded.
Neglecting the happiness and wellbeing of employees often results in high turnovers, which can be detrimental during busy periods. And since training new employees can take time and disrupt workflows, it’s important to keep your best employees on top form during periods of high demand. Keeping them on side is crucial for survival.
Managing Staff Doesn’t Need to Be Difficult
Peak times can be stressful, for both employers and employees. But by employing strategies such as leveraging seasonal workers, incentivising overtime, offering flexible shifts, and prioritising employee wellbeing, you can manage demand more effectively. Not only does this improve employee engagement, productivity, and satisfaction, but it also ensures customers have a positive experience in your shop.
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