• The demand for services which many businesses must meet - hourly, daily, weekly and monthly - can be extremely variable.

• To meet such demand - particularly where front-line staff are required to meet short "peaks" in customer demand - it is essential that you have trained part-time staff available when required.

• As an employer of choice it is necessary to be able to take into account employees' preferences - both permanent and short-notice - if you expect them to stay with your business.

• This then enhances your part-time employee's ability to meet their obligation to you!

• Among options available are:

• dynamically rostered arrangements which take into account employee preferences;

• self-rostering, where employees choose which shifts they will work - either between themselves or with some guidance and

• the "supermarket model" of fixed shifts (often significantly shorter in length than may be perceived acceptable by management). 

• The make-up and attitudes of particular employee groupings will influence the option(s) chosen in each organisation, or staff grouping.