Today's employers face a growing list of challenges. Ongoing labor shortages, an explosion of different types of work and workers, and a mismatch between available skills and evolving roles all converge to make work life more challenging. We call this the complexity crisis, and it's especially difficult for the retail sector, where turnover, absenteeism, and burnout are higher than in many industries. Scheduling is a constant challenge due to fluctuating employee availability and customer demand. At the same time, managing different classes of part-time, seasonal, and full-time workers while ensuring compliance with labor regulations like overtime pay and shift limits adds complexity. Many employers also struggle to provide growth opportunities and desirable career paths to their workers.

Retail workers, managers, and executives all experience the challenges of this crisis differently. For that reason, we conducted a global research study to understand the dynamic between these groups and what retail leaders need to do differently to unlock the full value of their workforce.

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Here are three key takeaways for retailers looking to become pacesetters in their industry.

1. Make scheduling a top priority

Our research found that workforce scheduling was one of the most important areas for retailers to improve workforce retention and efficiency. When asked if they'd consider leaving their current job for one with a better schedule, a staggering nine out of 10 retail managers and workers agreed. For this reason, retail employers should consider fair scheduling an important driver for better worker retention. A great step is to invest in technology that simplifies the scheduling process for managers while offering employees the ability to pick up or swap shifts with co-workers through a convenient, self-serve mobile app.

2. Conquer compliance with better tools

Managing compliance with the many labor regulations surrounding different categories of employees is a constant challenge for retailers, and one that becomes only more complex as their operations cover more geographical jurisdictions. Luckily, this is an area where retail organizations are reaching a consensus on next steps. A full 93% of retail executives say that their organization has compliance challenges, and the exact same proportion want their company to invest in tech that makes compliance easier to manage. In cases like these, companies can invest in technology that is constantly being updated to reflect different compliance frameworks around the world, helping companies ensure they remain compliant while taking much of the burden off their internal team.

3. Close the gap between the floor and corner office

In nearly every industry, there'll be a gap in how executives, managers, and workers live the day-to-day realities of work. Unlike traditional office workers, retail workers are frequently spread across many different store locations, and their jobs often require them to work face-to-face with colleagues or customers. In these situations, the retail manager is the lynchpin for operational excellence and employee wellbeing, and succeeding in this role depends on the level of support they receive from their employer. But there's a significant perception gap between these groups, as our research found that:

• 87% of retail executives felt that company leaders understand the challenges faced by frontline workers, compared to only 53% of managers
• Nine in 10 executives also felt their retail employees were paid fairly, compared to only 55% of managers
• 80% of executives said that their company was good or great at providing work-life balance, compared to only 58% of managers

In addition to the key investments outlined above, retail companies can help overcome the challenges of this gap by providing better support to managers, which can include:

• Access to accurate, real-time forecasting data to make better decisions about staffing, pay, and other labor costs
• Better learning and career development tools for both themselves and their teams to build the next generation of skills right in-house
• Trustworthy AI tools to help managers solve problems including declining productivity; rising costs, turnover, and absenteeism; and inconsistent communication with their teams

We invite you to read the full report to learn more about the most impactful investments for boosting the productivity and efficiency of your retail workforce.