Flexible scheduling ‘critical’ as poly-employment rises in sector

Operators need to provide more flexible scheduling as hospitality workers are taking on multiple jobs to maintain financial stability, according to a recent report on the state of shift work.

Workforce management platform Deputy’s The Big Shift Report, which will be discussed at the upcoming Shift Work in Hospitality webinar on 30 September, revealed that hospitality is the most common sector, out of retail, healthcare and services, for workers holding multiple jobs, with 44% of poly-workers employed in hospitality followed by healthcare at 11%.

It also reported that 6% of hospitality workers hold three or more jobs – the highest rate among all shift-based industries.

As hospitality workers face rising living expenses and job instability, poly-employment is becoming increasingly common.

Sign up to The Caterer’s free Shift Work in Hospitality webinar on 30 September to discover the future of shift work in the sector

The report stated that flexible scheduling from operators is “becoming more critical than ever”, and that, to compete for talent with other shift-based industries, the sector must improve “job quality and working conditions”.

The report said that AI and digital tools are becoming increasingly essential to improve operational efficiency and job satisfaction.

Dr Shashi Karunanethy, chief economist at Geografia, a demography and economics analysts and consultancy group that partnered with Deputy to uncover the findings, said: “The findings in the report point to a fundamental change in the way the country approaches hourly work.

“AI-enabled planning tools and the rise of poly-employment across day and night shifts are creating the opportunity for greater flexibility. These trends reflect deeper economic pressures and shifting workforce demographics, while also signalling how technology can enhance the role of shift workers. As employers and policymakers respond, understanding these dynamics will be critical to supporting a resilient and future-ready labour market.”

Elsewhere, the report also revealed regional disparities in shift work, with London remaining the epicentre, recording job growth of more than 15% between June 2022 and June 2024. Scotland and the East of England also saw strong growth, while the north-east and Wales experienced sharp declines in shift work roles.

Liz Flynn, people director at London pub group Cubitt House, will share insights into the group’s experiences of shift workers at the Shift Work in Hospitality webinar, highlighting both the benefits and the solutions to the challenges they face.

Meanwhile, drawing on data from more than 430,000 shift workers, Shashi will explore wider emerging trends and opportunities for hospitality businesses as the industry adapts to changing workforce expectations and a new generation of workers.