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.

Person looking confused holding abacus
How to Calculate Staffing in a Contact Centre
Free Download of the Excel Monthly Forecasting Template
Monthly Forecasting Excel Spreadsheet Template – Free Download
Person sat at desk using calculator to work out staff
How to Calculate the Number of Agents Required in a Contact Centre
Do and Don't concept
The Dos and Don’ts of Agent Scheduling
Person holding calculator looking at graphs
How to Calculate FTE Requirements Based on Volume
24 / 7 concept
What is the Minimum Number of Staff Required for a 24/7 Call Centre?
A calculator, notepad, graph and pens
Erlang Calculation – An Introduction
FTE questions
FTE Calculations for Call Centres
Scheduling Lunch Breaks
How Can I Schedule Breaks and Lunches In An Excel Report?
Image for erlang staffing calculator with screenshots of inputs and outputs
Call Centre Erlang Staffing Calculator – v 5.0 – With Abandons and Day Planner
Two hands holding a calculator with the words erlang calculators explained
What is Erlang and the Erlang Calculator?
A notebook and pen - training cheat sheet for handling difficult customers
Training Cheat Sheet – Handling Difficult Customers
A coloured block with word FTE. FTE stands for Full Time Equivalent
How to Calculate Required FTE for Inbound Call Volumes
A Guide to Call Centre Forecasting
One big idea versus many small ideas with light bulbs
The Power of One
Call Centre Agents playing a game
Motivational Games for Call Centres
An animated hand presses a calculator resting on a notepad
How to Calculate Schedule Efficiency
FTE Full Time Equivalent written on memory notes
What Exactly is FTE?
call center dress code
Call Centre Dress Codes
A picture of the Erlang A formula
A Beginner’s Guide to the Erlang A Formula
Barriers between people
The 6 Barriers to Good Customer Service
Call and Contact Centre Questions: How Many Agents Can One Team Leader Effectively Supervise?
Answers: How Many Agents Can One Team Leader Effectively Supervise?
call recording tapes
Can a Call Recording Made by a Customer be Used Against Me?
Flexible work time schedule concept
32 Tips for Building Flexibility Into Contact Centre Schedules