The way garden centres manage flexible workers could soon face significant change.

In its response to the Government's consultation on reforms to zero-hours and similar contracts, the Horticultural Trades Association highlighted the unique workforce challenges faced by environmental horticulture. Seasonal demand, changing weather conditions, hospitality operations, student workers and fluctuating customer footfall all combine to create staffing pressures unlike those seen in traditional retail.

With proposals including guaranteed hours based on historic working patterns and greater obligations around shift management, maintaining flexibility while ensuring compliance is likely to become increasingly important.

For many Garden Centres, this raises an important question: do existing workforce planning processes provide the visibility and control needed for a more regulated employment environment?

Managing rotas through spreadsheets, paper schedules and disconnected systems can make it difficult to track working patterns, employee availability, skills, compliance requirements and labour costs. At the same time, managers are expected to respond quickly to changing demand driven by weather, seasonal peaks and local events.

This is where technology can help.

Skyline WorkForce Manager's AI-powered SMART Rota has been developed specifically for Garden Centres and Nurseries. By considering employee availability, skills, contracts, holidays, compliance requirements, planned events and even weather forecasts, it helps managers place the right people in the right place at the right time, while maintaining control of labour costs.

As workforce regulations evolve, better workforce planning isn't just about compliance. It's about protecting margins, maintaining customer service and making informed staffing decisions with confidence.

Visit us on Stand 17H30 at Glee (8-10 September) to see Skyline WorkForce Manager in action and discover how smarter workforce planning can help your Garden Centre stay ahead of coming workforce challenges.

Book a demonstration: https://workforce-manager.co.uk/book-a-demo/ | or call 01604 697101