#shiftwork

Vicente Juarez

On site in NY, manufucturing is alive and well thanks to employees who care

Three weeks have passed since the beginning of my internship here at Coleman Consulting Group. I am learning the different dynamics of corporations and production facilities, and how companies operate. My first business trip to New York opened my eyes to the factory floor, where I saw the relationship between the end product and the workers each step of the way. Immediately I saw people who were very focused and task oriented, unafraid to "step on toes" if it meant performin

Vicente Juarez

Expectations of an Intern

For nearly 16 years, I had no idea what a consultant did. All I knew is that they helped companies improve. I learned from my dad, a Managing Partner with Coleman Consulting Group, that consultants specialize in finding solutions to make companies more efficient, but I never knew what exactly that meant. This summer, I am finally getting the opportunity to be exposed to the world of consulting. I will get to see and experience companies through a consultant's eyes. My colleg

Marco Juarez

The best shift solutions for the best in tile

I’ve been designing and implementing shift schedules for over 20 years. I get excited every time I have the opportunity to design something from scratch for a place that hasn’t even hired its first employee. In 2014, leading ceramic tile manufacturer Dal-Tile broke ground on its newest ceramic tile production facility in Dickson, Tennessee, and I was asked to work with the new management team to design shift schedules for the facility. The biggest challenge in designing the r

Marco Juarez

Are You Underpaying Your Employees?

Do you know if your company is in compliance with the provisions FLSA? In the last two years, 100 percent of the clients we have consulted are at risk of back pay – and they had no idea. In some cases up to millions of dollars. #HRonPurpose #HR #shiftlength #overtime #Business #scheduling #shiftwork #flsa #Humanresorces

Marco Juarez

When Is Overtime Good for Business?

That may sound like a strange question. Many people are conditioned to believe that overtime is never good for a business. The reality is that overtime can be extremely cost effective and even build morale under the following conditions: Overtime is used to meet a short-term increase in demand (a short-term need) Overtime levels or use does not become excessive Policies favor people that prefer to work overtime, while those that do not want overtime can avoid it When overtime

Marco Juarez

More Capacity – More Days Off – Happy Employees – Win, Win Win!!!

I love it when we make a real difference for both the employee and the company! This story starts out like so many others in manufacturing plants all over the world. Demand for the product being produced grows, so a facility that might traditionally run Monday through Friday starts doing work on Saturdays. Demand grows further and suddenly production is happening seven days a week. This was the situation at Keystone Foods’ processing facility in Eufaula, Alabama. Growth was g

Frank Pereira

Back to school thoughts on Work/Life balance

Now that the summer is nearly over, many parents are getting ready for school. For many people, this tends to be a high demand period where we "bend" our schedules to make sure we are there at the right times for drop off, pickup, and to support all the afterschool demands. Work schedules that allow people to meet those demands can make a big difference for many employees. A segment of the population that continues to grow is the dual income families with kids that manage th

Marco Juarez

Schedules Can Be Very Flexible and Predictable at the Same Time

Are you one of those companies that has been using overtime to cover the increased demand for your product or service? Or maybe you added an extra shift of people because you were working too much overtime and realize that wasn’t the right answer either. Maybe you’re reading this and wondering where the heck is he going with this blog. Luckily I recorded this video to explain why both of these situations is a problem. I have a solution that could make your schedules more pred

Marco Juarez

The True Cost of Turnover?

As unemployment declines, turnover increases in every industry, but industries where shiftwork is most prevalent seem to get hit hardest. Employees that are left behind have to work harder – and sometimes longer –hours to make up for the open positions. As overtime increases, I have seen multiple instances where managers and supervisors make it worse by promising to get employees home early only to hold them late, call them in early, or require them to work a day off. Pretty

Frank Pereira and Marco Juarez

A Healthy and Safe Schedule is About More Than Just Work

Is scheduling having an impact on workplace fatigue and accident rates?

Frank Pereira and Marco Juarez

The Power of the Right Schedule

Over the years, many of the employees I meet have said, “I work to live, not live to work.” I think that is true of most people. We work to earn money to feed our families, buy a house, and live a good life. For most people, this simple statement means that living life is more important than making money. Too often, however, I see companies use pay as a way to modify behavior. A common example is paying a “shift differential” to encourage people to work an undesired schedule

Marco Juarez

What is the Best Schedule?

The question I am repeatedly asked as a shift schedule consultant is, “What is the best schedule?” I have an answer to that question, but most of the time I like to turn the question around and ask, “What do you think the best schedule might be?” The conversation usually progresses like this: Shift Worker: 8-hour shifts Monday through Friday! Me: So, if I schedule you for 8-hour shifts all the time Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, you would be happy? Shift Worke

Marco Juarez

A Conversation with Our Managing Partner

#worklifebalance #shiftwork #businessneeds #threecircles #employeedesires #shiftlength

Marco Juarez

What is a Shiftwork Schedule Consultant?

I have been changing people’s lives for over 19 years. I have to admit – I love my job. I get to help companies and employees from all around the world find new ways to work. I am a shift work schedule expert. I am one of only a handful of shift work schedule experts in the world. What does it mean to be a "schedule" expert? Let me explain. Technically speaking, I am an expert at designing and implementing systems for deploying capital and personnel, with employee buy-in, and

BEYOND YOUR TYPICAL SCHEDULING