Here are four elements that have most certainly already begun to influence how you staff your laboratory.
Sickness: One of the most important concerns to keep in mind when you plan your schedule during these periods is that one of your employees may become ill. You must prepare for this, as it may necessitate some scheduling changes to accommodate the job.
Absenteeism: Employees may need to take extended amounts of time off from work to care for ailing family members or for personal reasons. Consider how you’ll ensure coverage in these instances, and consider cross-training the rest of your employees in advance of unexpected and extended absences.
Turnover
Working professionals in various industries may choose to resign or change careers for a variety of reasons. If your lab has turnover, make sure you’re prepared to hire new team members or have current staff fill in on responsibilities.
Staff Dissatisfaction
The requirement to balance your lab’s workload with the need to guarantee your personnel have time and flexibility to maintain their own health and duties is likely to have an impact on your scheduling choices. Remember, no one profits if your employees burn out due to work overload.
CREATE A EMERGENCY LAB STAFFING PLAN
• Identify your primary business operations. There are many-critical functions in a lab, however some jobs may be temporarily shifted to a lower priority in the sake of preserving employees for essential functions.
• Concentrate on most important jobs and skill sets. Once those critical activities have been determined, ensure that your team is proficient and sufficient in the precise skill sets required to maintain those functions.
• Pose tough questions such as : What is the highest degree of absenteeism that your lab can tolerate? How much cross-training do your employees need to execute different tasks?
