Increasing staffing levels can offer several advantages over scheduling only the minimum necessary:
1. Improved service quality: With more staff available, customer service and support can be enhanced. This can lead to higher customer satisfaction, repeat business, and positive word-of-mouth recommendations.
2. Flexibility and resilience: Increasing staffing levels provides a buffer for unexpected absences, surges in demand, or unforeseen events. It allows for smoother operations and the ability to adapt quickly to changes in workload.
3. Employee well-being: Adequate staffing levels can reduce the burden on individual employees, leading to lower stress levels, better work-life balance, and increased job satisfaction. This can contribute to higher employee retention and morale.
4. Productivity and efficiency: By having more hands on deck, tasks can be completed more efficiently, leading to potential cost savings and increased productivity. This can also free up time for staff to focus on value-added activities.
5. Safety and compliance: In certain industries, having adequate staffing levels is essential for maintaining safety standards and regulatory compliance. This is particularly important in settings where staff are responsible for the well-being of others, such as healthcare, childcare, and public safety.
While lean and six sigma state that decreasing staffing levels can bring numerous financial benefits, when you look at the true cost having 1-2 more people more than necessary can actually prove beneficial.
A new approach 