Anthropologie Manager Achieves Flexibility, Accountability, and Compliance with Shyft

Reduced Absenteeism

The Shyft solution has been “a more streamlined and efficient way to get shifts covered” for Anthropologie team members. When the schedule is posted, the manager usually sees “a flurry of shifts being posted,” anywhere from 3 weeks in advance to 3 to 4 hours before a shift starts.

As a result of using Shyft, the manager says she’s seen a reduction in call-outs at the store. She believes associates enjoy using Shyft because “it’s easier to get shifts covered through the Shyft app instead of reaching out to people directly.”

Increasing Accountability

She also shared that Shyft has helped hold managers and associates accountable for managing the store’s schedule. The managers have put systems in place to make sure managers check the app regularly so that associates “get their fair share” of time and coverage approvals. Overall, even when going through scheduling changes within the company, Shyft has helped managers “stay on top of shift swapping.”

Secure Scheduling Compliance

The Shyft solution is even enabling the team to comply with Seattle’s Secure Scheduling Ordinance. Seattle’s policy requires managers to provide advanced notice of schedules and forbids last-minute changes. While happy to support team members’ scheduling stability, the manager acknowledged that it is challenging balance staying compliant and maintaining coverage at the store.

“With Shyft, if we do need coverage, it’s super easy to post,” the store manager said. “If we do have hours to give out, people can volunteer to pick them up, without conflicting with any of those laws or getting penalized.” The employee’s decision to pick up a shift – and effectively accept a change in their schedule – is voluntary, and their consent is documented in Shyft. This provides store managers with peace of mind as they try to meet staffing needs while staying compliant.

Communication Improves Team Morale

The manager shared that Shyft also helps with team morale at the store by facilitating more team interactions. She believes “it’s less stressful [for associates to communicate in Shyft] than physically reaching out.” Store team members use the Shyft messaging feature to share “product info or things we are excited about, which contributes to a positive feeling.”

“At Anthropologie, outfitting is important, so we might [use Shyft to] tell the team that we want everyone to wear dresses this weekend to support our dress business,” she said. “Before, we had to email everybody.” Using Shyft is “easier and less intrusive on their personal lives.” Opportunities to use Shyft to communicate as a team are wide-ranging, including “giving everyone a heads up to leave early if there’s traffic that day.”

The store manager encourages staff to enable notifications in Shyft. That way, they can see a shift as soon as it is posted “and snatch it up.” This also reassures her that if she or another manager sends a message, “[team members] will actually see it.”

Onboarding

New hires at the Anthropologie location are trained in Shyft during orientation. The manager shared that they’ve made Shyft part of new employee on-boarding. “We go over the features and show them briefly how to navigate the app.” Then managers encourage new hires to pick up shifts in Shyft. “They get acclimated to it pretty quickly.”

The App that Keeps on Giving

The Anthropologie team chose Shyft because they were feeling limited in their ability to communicate and trade shifts. Today, Shyft helps them get shifts covered, reduce absenteeism, comply with Secure Scheduling, and improve morale. When asked if she would recommend Shyft, the Anthropologie store manager responded enthusiastically with, “Yes! Totally!”