AusLeisure

In spite of the ongoing skill shortage across many key industries, research by Humanforce, a provider of intelligent workforce management solutions, has shown that a lack of technology in the retail workplace is limiting flexible working options with 67% of Australian part-time and casual workers still unable to secure the shifts they desire each week.

Humanforce contracted Zoho Survey to survey 500 Australian part-time and casual worker respondents on shift flexibility issues in Q4 2021.

Bruce Mackenzie, Founder and Managing Director at Humanforce notes “many Australian retailers have faced worker shortages due to closed borders and Omicron isolation requirements, creating operational and customer service challenges. While there may be an assumption that there is an overabundance of retail work today, new research shows that there is a disconnect with the local flexible workforce who are not able to secure work when they want it each week.

A key workplace challenge for part-time or casual retail employees was the lack of workplace flexibility, with 61% of workers stating that they had experienced multiple instances of being unable to swap shifts with a co-worker over the last twelve months.

For workers that need to swap shifts, 30% reported they had to find someone to cover their shift themselves, with 63% having to call or text message managers and fellow workers to swap shifts.

Only 18% of respondents currently work for employees that automate shift-swapping via online or mobile apps – with a further 44% of people saying that such a system would be important in their workplace in the future.

Mackenzie advises “a lack of technology in the retail workplace is limiting the flexible working options of many part-time and casual employees. Advanced workplace management solutions can help facilitate a flexible work environment for employees, through automating shift management, onboarding, training, leave management and more.

“People undertaking flexible work want to be able to fulfill their employment obligations around other important life commitments. They are attracted to flexible work and in a tight labour market, businesses need to position themselves as an employer of choice by having systems in place that can make the lives of their workers easier.”

Click here to contact Humanforce via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory

Related Articles

11th February 2022 - COVID-19 related staff absences impact 22% of businesses

14th January 2022 - City of Ballarat finds solutions to staff shortages at its aquatic centres

7th January 2022 - Full vaccination mandate for Christchurch Council staff working in recreation facilities and art gallery

7th January 2022 - Staff shortages impact Gold Coast’s lifeguard team and close Upper Coomera Aquatic Centre

31st December 2021 - Older workers may help ease staff shortages through holiday season

2nd December 2021 - Humanforce highlights Australian businesses unable to fill 24% of shifts

22nd October 2021 - Humanforce and Earnd partnership launches new digital financial solutions for hospitality workers

16th September 2021 - Reopening Queensland tourism operators set to face staff shortages

10th September 2021 - VenuesLive steps up recruitment drive for Optus Stadium hospitality staff

8th September 2021 - Humanforce offers hospitality sector a solution to help manage COVID-19 vaccination policies

7th September 2021 - Resort owner Dr Jerry Schwartz mandates hotel staff vaccination

6th September 2021 - 90% of aquatic facility owners, operators and staff heading towards becoming fully vaccinated

29th August 2021 - What employers need to consider about vaccinations for staff and consumers

29th January 2021 - Humanforce enables staging of large-scale events in COVID-19 era

24th March 2020 - Humanforce release Employee Trace Tool to manage Casual Workers through Coronavirus outbreak

12th July 2018 - TimeTarget rebrands as Humanforce

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.