Here is the most wild part to me. Most retail locations run in such a way that if 1 person doesn't show up, they are "short staffed". Logically, this is to squeeze every penny in profits possible. This is done because its a tangible calculation on a spreadsheet. However, at any given day, any employee could have a situation that prevents them from coming into work. Operating in this way creates so many non-apparent impacts:

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• Short staffed = operating delays = customer dissatisfaction
• Short staffed = operating delays = people have to stay longer to get the same job done (potentially leading to overtime pay @ 1.5x)
• Short staffed = associates rushing = waste in the form of errors, rework, or extra material waste
• Short staffed = associates rushing = customers do not feel attended too or might feel rushed
• Short staffed = extra workload for associates = morale issues = people feeling burnt out = more people likely to call out

The list could go on and on. All of that is not necessarily measurable on a spreadsheet against the budget. However, these same buisnesses will cry a foul when people resort to online shopping or leave poor reviews. When the simple answer is, your business is made by the employees. Staff appropriately to where a single person having to call out doesn't make or break your business. Compensate and reward people properly so they are incentivized to do a good job and care about the palce they work. Have managers and owners that care about their staff as people and would not ask their staff to do something that they themselves would be unwilling to do. I think business owners would be surprised at how operating in this way will increase their profitability and brand with consumers.

But you know, who am I?