Turn Workforce Planning Upside Down. Running a retail operation is grueling. It is non-stop. There is no rest for even the weary.

Topic for Discussion: How does Carol manage the scheduling?

Answer: She rewards the behavior she wants to see repeated. And, she expects her employees to keep all the bases covered without consulting her. Carol believes her employees enjoy having plenty of freedom to work full days and half days and they may want to change their mind on a whim. Therefore, there is a complex reward system for employees who step into to fill a void at the last minute.

You think about it: How do you reward the behavior you want to see repeated? Can employees manage workflow without you? If not, what needs to be done so they can?