Fixed Scheduling
While fixed scheduling provides predictability for both employees and managers, it may not always align staffing with changing customer demand, making it less flexible than demand-based scheduling.
What is fixed scheduling?
Fixed scheduling uses recurring shift patterns that remain largely unchanged over time. For example, an employee may be scheduled to work every Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
This approach is common in businesses with stable operating hours and relatively consistent customer demand. In retail, however, managers often supplement fixed schedules with additional shifts during busy periods to better match staffing with customer traffic.
Why is fixed scheduling important?
Fixed scheduling offers stability and simplicity, making it easier for employees to plan their personal lives and for managers to create recurring schedules.
Benefits include:
Greater schedule consistency for employees.
Reduced time spent creating schedules.
Easier workforce planning.
Improved schedule predictability.
Simpler administration for recurring shifts.
However, because customer demand can fluctuate significantly in retail, fixed scheduling may result in overstaffing during slower periods or understaffing during peak trading hours.
When is fixed scheduling used?
Retailers may use fixed scheduling for:
Full-time employees with regular working hours.
Management positions.
Stores with consistent customer traffic.
Roles that require predictable staffing, such as security or maintenance.
Core staffing levels that are supplemented during peak periods.
Many retailers combine fixed schedules with more flexible scheduling practices to balance operational stability with changing business needs.
Fixed scheduling vs. demand-based scheduling
These scheduling approaches differ in how staffing decisions are made.
Fixed scheduling assigns recurring shifts that remain consistent over time, regardless of changes in customer demand.
Demand-based scheduling adjusts staffing levels based on forecasted sales, customer traffic, and operational workload, ensuring labour is aligned with business activity.
For retailers with fluctuating demand, demand-based scheduling generally provides greater flexibility and labour efficiency, while fixed scheduling offers greater predictability for employees.
