Apple Increases Work Scheduling Commitments for Retail Store Employees

[MacRumors]

ifoAppleStore reports that Apple will be adjusting its scheduling practices for retail store employees as of April 15th, placing greater weekend demands on its full-time workers and requiring greater weekly commitments from its part-time staff. The moves come as traffic at Apple stores continues to rise and the company seeks to bolster staff presence during the busiest times.

According to the report, while Apple has been requiring many of its full-time staff to work one of the two weekend days per week, the company is now redefining Friday as a weekend day and requiring Specialists, Creatives, and Geniuses to work two out of the three weekend days per week.

Soon, Apple will add Friday to its official list of "weekend days," and full-timers must work two of those three days, or possibly a shift that includes both Saturday and Sunday. The changes will affect Family Room and Red Zone Specialists, Creatives and Geniuses, and seems to stem from a recognition of increased store traffic on Fridays.

For part-timers, Apple will be requiring a minimum weekly commitment of 24 hours, up from 16 hours. The change will potentially squeeze those workers who have multiple jobs or other commitments that led them to join the Apple store on a part-time basis in the first place.

The report suggests that Apple will be trying to do a better job of accommodating requests for time off, hoping to soften the blow of the increased commitments, but the company does realize that it may lose some of its staff, particularly part-time workers, due to the changes.

Article Link: Apple Increases Work Scheduling Commitments for Retail Store Employees

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

And I applied for a job and have heard nothing back.

 

[ctdonath]

New product arrival around then perhaps? (iMac 2012 please please please?)

 

[G.I. Joe]

What about hiring more staff? Ain't that an option? After all it's the wealthiest company in the world...

 

[aprofetto8]

And I applied for a job and have heard nothing back.

That's rough. I'd send an email to Tim Cook.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

The change will potentially squeeze those workers who have multiple jobs or other commitments that led them to join the Apple store on a part-time basis in the first place.

Life is a series of choices.

 

[OneMike]

Would think hiring more people would've been a better choice.

 

[Koodauw]

I hope they find a away to keep the majority of the part-time staff. At my local store the part-timers are the most knowledgeable. Many had other full time job in related fields. I'd hate to loss them as a resource.

 

[ljmac]

What about hiring more staff? Ain't that an option? After all it's the wealthiest company in the world...

Think this has more to do with having knowledgeable staff around when store is busy.

 

[BMNB1tch]

they absolutely need to hire more staff

and fire the do nothing middle and store managers who hide in the back offices rather than sell things on the floor

 

[Jessica Lares]

I hope this means that some people will leave. I think the Apple Stores around here are too crowded with staff waiting to help you find something and only three people who can handle your purchase. I miss the days where I'd walk in, be asked what I could be of help with, and then have someone run and get it for me while I stand at the register. Now I have to walk around and look for someone to make a purchase. Not really organized.

 

[lil' brudder]

Oh gee... the Fair Labor Association better get involved.

 

[Doc750]

The kids they have working there on the weekend are weird. They have strange body piercing, multi colored hair, oversized glasses, etc. but it all looks so artificial, like they tried to be different just to get the job,and then add in the fact that they know very little about the product they sell. If you ask anything even remotely technical they run and get you someone else to answer your question.

 

[Moonjumper]

They need more staff all the time. It can be difficult to get hold of someone even on a Monday or Tuesday.

 

[max pl]

dont see the point in this when anytime ive ever been to one of their stores theyve had a dozen or so employees just standing around chit chatting.

and thats with a store full of customers.

 

[GenesisST]

And I applied for a job and have heard nothing back.

Did you send it at sjobs@apple.com?

 

[blow45]

smiling blue shirted artificial apple bots... smiling for the cameras that is, after it's off it's another story...

Why hire more stuff anyway? They 've already created so many jobs for the fed ex truck manufacturers at mercedes benz...

 

[dokujaryu]

This is pretty standard in the service/retail industry. Kinda surprised it wasn't like that before honestly.

 

[G.I. Joe]

Think this has more to do with having knowledgeable staff around when store is busy.

Absolutely. One way to achieve that is to hire staff now so that they are knowledgeable enough in the future or is Apple expecting less costumers visiting their stores then?

 

[dubprocess]

Working Apple retail is horrific but it can lead to many other opportunities if you play your cards right. I worked as a "Genius" for years and thankfully escaped with my dignity remaining. I now work as an IT analyst for a private company and am never looking back. Yes its retail and it sucks, but you gotta be smart and work your way out with an intuitive exit plan.

Best of luck to the Apple employees who really love their jobs and who give their best everyday. I gotta admit Apple Retail work-life balance is the worst I have ever experienced out of any retail job. Because so many people want to work at Apple, the ball is in Apple's court.

 

[pvmacguy]

The kids they have working there on the weekend are weird. They have strange body piercing, multi colored hair, oversized glasses, etc. but it all looks so artificial, like they tried to be different just to get the job,and then add in the fact that they know very little about the product they sell. If you ask anything even remotely technical they run and get you someone else to answer your question.

Guess you've never heard of hipsters before....

Side note, it's best for companies not to alienate their current employees by making ridicules shifts or non-flexable schedules it leads to poor morale and high employee churn.

 

[nickXedge]

Wirelessly posted

For those saying, "Hire more staff..." - they probably will. However it costs about $10,000 to hire a new employee in a retail environment such as Apple's. It is incredibly more beneficial (financially) to tighten availability requirements for existing employees. It creates better employee efficiency because you have fewer people working more. Like I said, though, I'm sure they continue to hire more staff constantly, doesn't mean they shouldn't make the most of their current employees. And before anyone freaks out about the $10,000 I mentioned, its true. It comes from labor to hire the new employee, drug tests, training time, and many other factors. Simply put, it's one of the most expensive things a large company can do on a retail level. I know this because I work for a large company with retail stores and am part of this process.

 

[cvaldes]

Would think hiring more people would've been a better choice.

Actually, a core team of fully committed individuals is typically a more effective workforce, whether it's retail or really any other industry.

From a managerial standpoint, having a larger pool of part-time employees often results in scheduling headaches, plus increases the risk of hiring people who aren't terribly committed to the company or aren't around enough to be highly effective.

That said, Apple does a pretty decent job in selecting its employees. Even in something like part-time retail, the employee caliber is quite high. Unsurprisingly this results in good sales: Apple has the highest revenue for a bricks-and-mortar chain operation (revenue per square foot).

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

The increase from 16 to 24 hours for part timers is annoying. I was considering applying for a part time job at an Apple store when my PhD funding runs out and I'm due to write up my thesis but 24 hours worth would be too much as a second job. Shame.

 

[scoobydoo99]

dont see the point in this when anytime ive ever been to one of their stores theyve had a dozen or so employees just standing around chit chatting.

and thats with a store full of customers.

agreed. It's hard to navigate an Apple store because there are so many employees out on the floor taking up space.