Your business may have a mixture of full and part-time staff, including employees who just work weekends. Understanding the unique role that weekend staff play in supporting your business is key to offering them the right support. Here are our tips for managing and motivating weekend staff so they are productive at work and loyal to your company.
Treat everyone equally
You need your weekend staff as much as you need your full-time and weekday staff, so it is important to treat them all equally and to not make too many distinctions. Weekend and part-time staff should receive the same perks and benefits to full-time or weekday staff, though of course these may be on a smaller scale compared with those working many more hours.
Work around them where you can
Even weekend staff member will need occasional days or time off. By making efforts to be as flexible as you can when a weekend employee needs to take time off, you show them that you value their employment and want to help them stay happy working for you. This doesn’t mean giving them every other Sunday off. Instead, make it easy for them to let you know far in advance of any specific days they need off, just like those who work during the week have to. If you don’t give weekend staff occasional flexibility it can lead to animosity from them in the future and they are less likely to be flexible for you in return.
Use one schedule for all staff
You can manage weekend and weekday staff in the same way, all on one scheduling system like
Findmyshift. This not only acts as an inclusive tool, making all staff feel part of the same team, but it also makes it very easy for you to deal with last minute changes to the weekend schedule and for you to keep in touch with staff who may only work one or two days a week.
Invest in training
They may only be with you at weekends, but for some businesses weekend days are their busiest time, so offering quality training is key to getting the best out of your staff when they are working under pressure. Investing in training for weekend employees could also mean that, if possible, they can move into a full-time job in the future. You should never think of training as a "waste" of time and money, no matter how many days or hours an employee works.
Get to know your staff
Take the time to get to know your weekend staff too. If you or your line managers don't normally work at weekends, make regular effort to be present for an hour or so on a Saturday or Sunday to meet with weekend employees, so they know who they need to go to with questions or problems. You should also include weekend staff in any social events, and maybe encourage teams working at weekends to have their own get-togethers so they bond well as a team.
Reward and motivate weekend staff
Your entire workforce is needed to keep your business running smoothly, so use the same employee engagement techniques and reward schemes for all. Make it clear that there are opportunities for growth and development for staff who work only at weekends as research has shown this is what motivates staff to be more productive and stay loyal to their employer. Showcasing their achievements alongside those of full-time staff can also help build a strong community feeling amongst all employees.