Retail workers want better options to manage availability, holiday and pay

Retail employees are seeking better workplace technology solutions to manage their availability, holiday and pay, according to research by Fourth.

The company’s new whitepaper is built on two surveys.

One was of 502 retail workers in the UK, and the second was of 251 HR, digital transformation, IT, finance and operations decision makers at senior manager level or above in retail sector firms of 500-6,000 people.

When asked about the ways their company communicates essential information with them, only 45% of employees said that their business uses a HR platform. Others stated they receive information through written (37%) and/or verbal (34%) communication.

The data shows that 44% of retail workers receive their shift rotas via digital and user-friendly routes, such as a HR platform or mobile app.

A further 18% say their shift rotas are digital but basic (for example a WhatsApp group), while another third receive shift rotas through analogue means, such as paper or whiteboard rotas. 

When it comes to managing their shifts, 68% of retail employees would benefit from being able to flag availability in advance via a HR/scheduling portal. 34% also believe the ability to see, book and approve holidays through a HR platform would help with people retention. 

The demand comes as the retail industry competes to attract and retain talent following sweeping industry changes during the pandemic. The research found that 99% of retail leaders are seeing an increase in older workers returning to retail jobs or starting retail jobs for the first time since the pandemic.

Likewise, most people have entered the retail workforce by transitioning from another profession (24%), or because it is the only job they have skills for (15%), they need a job with flexibility around childcare (14%), or it is their first job (12%).

46% of retail workers, meanwhile, want to learn new skills from their Millennial colleagues (26 to 41-year-olds), while just 43% are looking to learn from Generation X (42 to 57-year-olds).

Sebastien Sepierre, Managing Director – EMEA, Fourth, says: “Labour forecasting is always a challenge for retailers, but can hugely impact staff morale.”

“Shift scheduling can be quickly disrupted by events, staff illnesses, and annual leave, meaning managers may have to change rotas frequently and at the last minute. This creates instability in employees’ schedules, increasing their frustration and creating poor work-life balance, and in turn leading to high staff turnover.”

“Having accurate forecasting, easy-to-use scheduling tools and scheduling apps allow managers to publish schedules ahead of time with real-time communication and collaboration, supported by a mobile scheduling app allowing employees to swap shifts, apply for open shifts, and ultimately reduce challenges while improving the employee experience.”

He concludes: “At a time where employee engagement and retention is so vital in retail, industry leaders must look at how they can improve their workplace communication, while also ensuring those digital avenues are accessible for all ages and demographics.” 

Workforce tech solutionsStaff WriterFourth, Retail workers, Employees, Workplace technology solutions, Stores, Retail workforceComment