Articles - Staffing

Getting staffing right is one of the biggest challenges (or, if you’re an optimistic, biggest opportunities) in contact centre management. This page brings together expert guidance, templates, and best practices on planning, scheduling, and maintaining the right staffing levels to meet customer demand. Discover how to forecast accurately, manage peaks and absences, and build flexibility into your operation without losing control of costs. You’ll also find ideas for improving recruitment, retention, and workforce engagement, helping you create a stable, well-prepared team that delivers consistent service.

Jonathan oConnor - What I've Learned cover image
What I’ve Learned From Running a Contact Centre – Always Start With a “Yes”
Person drawing playbook, strategy and tactics
Using Scheduling Playbooks to Manage Spikes in Service Demand
Cute little kitten in glasses fell asleep on keyboard on working desk place - quiet quitting concept
How to Combat Quiet Quitting in the Call Centre
Holiday concept with jack russell dog surfing on a wave
How to Manage Holiday and Vacation in the Contact Centre
Flexible work time schedule concept
32 Tips for Building Flexibility Into Contact Centre Schedules
Barriers between people
The 6 Barriers to Good Customer Service
What are the staffing levels like in your contact centre
Almost Two-Thirds of Contact Centres Understaffed
Video Image: Avoiding the Fairness Trap When Creating Schedules
How to Avoid the Fairness Trap When Creating Schedules
Age concept with birthday cake, candle and hat
Is Age Little More Than a Number?
marbles
How to Set up an Olympics-Based Call Centre Game
FTE Full Time Equivalent written on memory notes
What Exactly is FTE?
Person holding calculator looking at graphs
How to Calculate FTE Requirements Based on Volume
Emails on computer
Staffing Calculator for Email Queues
FTE questions
FTE Calculations for Call Centres
A coloured block with word FTE. FTE stands for Full Time Equivalent
How to Calculate Required FTE for Inbound Call Volumes
Person sat at desk using calculator to work out staff
How to Calculate the Number of Agents Required in a Contact Centre
Call and Contact Centre Questions: Staffing – FTE Required
Staffing – FTE Required
human resources and management concept
Call Centre Headcount Ratios
Scheduling Lunch Breaks
How Can I Schedule Breaks and Lunches In An Excel Report?
Video Image: Maximum Occupancy – The Most Common Resource Planning Mistake
Maximum Occupancy – The Most Common Resource Planning Mistake
Can You Recommend Any Games I Can Use to Motivate My Agents?
Shift Planning Calendar
12 Shift-Planning Techniques
capacity planning concept
20 Tips to Help Improve Your Capacity Planning
4 or 5 day work week blocks
Productivity Hack – A 4-Day Working Week