Q: I can't seem to cover my Saturdays at my retail store so we are able to maximize sales. I have 5 full-time employees who work on Saturdays, and 10 part-timers. The full-timers either work 8-5 or 1 to 10pm, and the part-timers each works a 5-8 hour shift. We always seem to run short during our peak period (4-7pm). Our store is open 10am to 9:30pm. What do you suggest?
A: Saturday, and really all weekend, is one of the toughest periods to cover effectively. Since much of retail business focuses on the weekend, you may want to consider altering your mindset around when you schedule your staff.
Given the peak nature of business on Saturday, is it really necessary to bring in your full-timers at 8am? You may want to consider having them work a 9 hour shift from 9:30 to 6:30 (or 10:30 to 7:30), and cutting an hour off of another day like a Tuesday. In some cases, you may even want to consider a 10 hour shift if necessary.
For part-timers, in most places a 5 hour shift only requires a 15 minute rest period. You may want to schedule your part-timers for a 5 hour shift from 1-6 or 2-7 to maximize coverage during that time.
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