Overstaffing

Overstaffing (in shift work): More employees scheduled than necessary for a shift.

Overstaffing

Having more employees scheduled than necessary for a shift can lead to increased labor costs and inefficiencies in resource allocation.

What is overstaffing

Imagine you’re a retail manager, and on a holiday weekend, you schedule eight cashiers, but only three are needed due to a lack of customer traffic. This creates idle time, frustrating employees who feel they could be utilized more effectively.

However, it can also occur in environments where workloads fluctuate, like hospitality. If you keep extra staff scheduled during off-peak hours, you’re missing out on potential cost savings. In contrast, being understaffed—having too few employees—leads to burnout and service delays. Thus, the sweet spot lies in accurately gauging workload needs to avoid overscheduling or underscheduling.

Although overstaffing might seem safe on busy days—”better safe than sorry” philosophy—it’s essential to recognize the nuances. Excessive staffing can also disrupt team dynamics and create competition among employees. The key to effective shift scheduling is flexibility and communication, allowing adjustments to be made on the fly as demand changes. Predictive analytics can play a significant role in avoiding overstaffing by analyzing historical data and forecasting future needs. Use these insights to determine optimal staffing levels without causing unnecessary labor costs, and your workforce will thrive.

Best Practices

• Always base your staffing levels on real-time data. Adjust schedules as needed rather than sticking to a rigid plan.
• Conduct regular team meetings to gather feedback on staffing conditions.
• Foster an open dialogue with employees to understand their availability and needs, making them feel involved in the scheduling process.

Common Pitfalls

• Ignoring historical data can lead you to miscalculate needs.
• Don’t wait until the last minute to assess staffing levels; forward-thinking is vital.
• Be wary of over-committing to shifts; flexibility matters.
• Avoid assuming that weekends or holidays guarantee busier shifts; demand can fluctuate based on various factors.

How we can help

Exploring the right scheduling solutions is key to managing excess workforce effectively. We understand each organization has unique needs, which is why we invite you to try out our self-scheduling software, Zelos Team Management. It’s a self-scheduling app that can introduce flexibility to your roster by covering sudden peak hours on-demand.

To take a moment to sign up for a free account on our website. You might find the perfect fit for your shift management needs.

Shift work glossary