HRMT610: Workforce Planning
October 20, 2014
Dr. Jan Spencer
Workforce planning is important as workforce planning lets HR avoid talent shortages and surpluses (Sullivan, 2002). There are economic reasons in which why workforce planning is also important. The economic reasons include an increase in productivity, and the reduction of labor costs (Sullivan, 2002). Though workforce planning is of such a great importance it is sometimes executed incorrectly. Such occurs at my current job at Walmart. Walmart is the largest employer in the United States behind the United States government and therefor face a variety of complex issues. Workforce planning is especially important with Walmart especially during the holiday seasons. It is imperative that there be enough qualified associates to service the customers in the busy holiday season. The reality of the Walmart in which I work at is that there are increasingly high turnover rates both voluntarily and involuntarily. The location, the wages, and candidate pool demographics play a major role in the turnover ratio. Workforce planning is difficult as many of the positions are left abruptly and because the candidate pool needed for replacement lack the talent and availability needed by the company.
Based on my observations of the store hiring methods and constant communication with the potential candidate pool, shortages in the labor force likely occur for multiple reasons. The city in which the Walmart is located is comprised of over 80 percent Caucasians. The cost of living is also high. Being that the cost of living is so high in the city in which Walmart is located many of the locals do not apply for work within the store, as the pay cannot support living. But instead more than 50% of the employees are Haitians that commute from a few cities over where the cost of living is less. The candidate pool is mainly comprised of college students, people looking for a part time second job, and
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