> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.solvice.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Retail Staffing

> Optimize store coverage with part-time availability, peak hour staffing, and fair scheduling

## Overview

This example demonstrates retail store scheduling where a mix of full-time and part-time employees must cover varying demand throughout the week. The solution optimizes coverage during peak hours while respecting student schedules, availability preferences, and fair hour distribution.

<Info>
  This example showcases demand-based staffing, part-time availability windows, skill-based register assignments, and workload fairness across diverse employee types.
</Info>

## Business Scenario

A retail store manages:

* 15 employees (5 full-time, 10 part-time including students)
* Variable demand: quiet mornings, busy afternoons, peak weekends
* Different roles: cashier, floor, stock, supervisor
* Part-time constraints: students available only evenings/weekends
* Fair distribution of desirable weekend shifts
* Minimum 2 supervisors during peak hours

## Complete Implementation

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Request">
    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "employees": [
        {
          "name": "Alex-FT",
          "skills": [
            { "name": "supervisor", "level": 5 },
            { "name": "cashier", "level": 5 },
            { "name": "floor", "level": 4 }
          ],
          "availability": [
            "2024-04-01T00:00:00/2024-04-07T23:59:59"
          ],
          "wage": 22
        },
        {
          "name": "Beth-FT",
          "skills": [
            { "name": "supervisor", "level": 4 },
            { "name": "cashier", "level": 5 },
            { "name": "stock", "level": 3 }
          ],
          "availability": [
            "2024-04-01T00:00:00/2024-04-07T23:59:59"
          ],
          "wage": 21
        },
        {
          "name": "Carlos-PT",
          "skills": [
            { "name": "cashier", "level": 3 },
            { "name": "floor", "level": 4 }
          ],
          "availability": [
            "2024-04-01T16:00:00/2024-04-01T22:00:00",
            "2024-04-02T16:00:00/2024-04-02T22:00:00",
            "2024-04-03T16:00:00/2024-04-03T22:00:00",
            "2024-04-06T09:00:00/2024-04-06T22:00:00",
            "2024-04-07T09:00:00/2024-04-07T22:00:00"
          ],
          "preference": ["weekend-floor-pm"],
          "wage": 15
        },
        {
          "name": "Diana-PT",
          "skills": [
            { "name": "cashier", "level": 4 },
            { "name": "floor", "level": 2 }
          ],
          "availability": [
            "2024-04-01T08:00:00/2024-04-01T14:00:00",
            "2024-04-02T08:00:00/2024-04-02T14:00:00",
            "2024-04-03T08:00:00/2024-04-03T14:00:00",
            "2024-04-04T08:00:00/2024-04-04T14:00:00",
            "2024-04-05T08:00:00/2024-04-05T14:00:00"
          ],
          "wage": 14
        },
        {
          "name": "Evan-Student",
          "skills": [
            { "name": "cashier", "level": 2 },
            { "name": "stock", "level": 3 }
          ],
          "availability": [
            "2024-04-01T17:00:00/2024-04-01T22:00:00",
            "2024-04-03T17:00:00/2024-04-03T22:00:00",
            "2024-04-05T17:00:00/2024-04-05T22:00:00",
            "2024-04-06T10:00:00/2024-04-06T22:00:00",
            "2024-04-07T10:00:00/2024-04-07T18:00:00"
          ],
          "wage": 12
        }
      ],
      "shifts": [
        {
          "name": "mon-open",
          "from": "2024-04-01T08:00:00",
          "to": "2024-04-01T14:00:00",
          "skills": [{ "name": "cashier" }],
          "min": 2,
          "max": 3,
          "tags": [{ "name": "MORNING" }, { "name": "WEEKDAY" }],
          "priority": 3
        },
        {
          "name": "mon-peak",
          "from": "2024-04-01T14:00:00",
          "to": "2024-04-01T20:00:00",
          "skills": [{ "name": "cashier" }],
          "min": 4,
          "max": 5,
          "tags": [{ "name": "AFTERNOON" }, { "name": "PEAK" }, { "name": "WEEKDAY" }],
          "priority": 1
        },
        {
          "name": "mon-close",
          "from": "2024-04-01T18:00:00",
          "to": "2024-04-01T22:00:00",
          "skills": [{ "name": "floor" }],
          "min": 2,
          "max": 3,
          "tags": [{ "name": "EVENING" }, { "name": "WEEKDAY" }],
          "priority": 2
        },
        {
          "name": "mon-supervisor",
          "from": "2024-04-01T12:00:00",
          "to": "2024-04-01T20:00:00",
          "skills": [{ "name": "supervisor" }],
          "min": 1,
          "max": 2,
          "tags": [{ "name": "SUPERVISOR" }, { "name": "WEEKDAY" }],
          "priority": 1
        },
        {
          "name": "sat-peak",
          "from": "2024-04-06T10:00:00",
          "to": "2024-04-06T18:00:00",
          "skills": [{ "name": "cashier" }],
          "min": 5,
          "max": 6,
          "tags": [{ "name": "WEEKEND" }, { "name": "PEAK" }],
          "priority": 1
        },
        {
          "name": "weekend-floor-pm",
          "from": "2024-04-06T14:00:00",
          "to": "2024-04-06T22:00:00",
          "skills": [{ "name": "floor" }],
          "min": 3,
          "max": 4,
          "tags": [{ "name": "WEEKEND" }, { "name": "PEAK" }],
          "priority": 1
        },
        {
          "name": "sun-all-day",
          "from": "2024-04-07T10:00:00",
          "to": "2024-04-07T18:00:00",
          "skills": [{ "name": "cashier" }],
          "min": 4,
          "max": 5,
          "tags": [{ "name": "WEEKEND" }],
          "priority": 1
        }
      ],
      "rules": [
        {
          "constraint": "COUNTER",
          "type": "HOURS_WORKED",
          "min": 32,
          "max": 40,
          "period": { "duration": "P7D" }
        },
        {
          "constraint": "COUNTER",
          "type": "WORKING_DAYS",
          "max": 5,
          "period": { "duration": "P7D" }
        },
        {
          "constraint": "SEQUENCE",
          "type": "WORKING_DAYS",
          "max": 6
        }
      ],
      "demands": [
        {
          "name": "peak-coverage",
          "from": "2024-04-06T12:00:00",
          "to": "2024-04-06T18:00:00",
          "min": 8,
          "max": 10
        }
      ],
      "requirements": [
        {
          "shifts": ["mon-peak", "sat-peak", "sun-all-day"],
          "skill": "supervisor",
          "value": 2
        }
      ],
      "fairnessBuckets": [
        {
          "employees": ["Carlos-PT", "Diana-PT", "Evan-Student"],
          "shifts": ["sat-peak", "weekend-floor-pm", "sun-all-day"],
          "period": {
            "from": "2024-04-01",
            "to": "2024-04-30"
          }
        }
      ],
      "options": {
        "hardAvailability": true,
        "partialPlanning": false,
        "penaliseZeroHours": true
      },
      "weights": {
        "availability": "100hard",
        "unassigned": "50medium",
        "wages": "3soft",
        "pref": "5medium"
      }
    }
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Solution">
    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "id": "retail-schedule-001",
      "status": "SOLVED",
      "score": {
        "hardScore": 0,
        "mediumScore": 0,
        "softScore": -890,
        "feasible": true
      },
      "assignments": [
        {
          "shift": "mon-open",
          "employee": "Diana-PT"
        },
        {
          "shift": "mon-open",
          "employee": "Beth-FT"
        },
        {
          "shift": "mon-peak",
          "employee": "Alex-FT"
        },
        {
          "shift": "mon-peak",
          "employee": "Beth-FT"
        },
        {
          "shift": "mon-peak",
          "employee": "Carlos-PT"
        },
        {
          "shift": "mon-close",
          "employee": "Carlos-PT"
        },
        {
          "shift": "mon-close",
          "employee": "Evan-Student"
        },
        {
          "shift": "mon-supervisor",
          "employee": "Alex-FT"
        },
        {
          "shift": "sat-peak",
          "employee": "Alex-FT"
        },
        {
          "shift": "sat-peak",
          "employee": "Beth-FT"
        },
        {
          "shift": "sat-peak",
          "employee": "Carlos-PT"
        },
        {
          "shift": "sat-peak",
          "employee": "Evan-Student"
        },
        {
          "shift": "weekend-floor-pm",
          "employee": "Carlos-PT"
        },
        {
          "shift": "sun-all-day",
          "employee": "Alex-FT"
        },
        {
          "shift": "sun-all-day",
          "employee": "Evan-Student"
        }
      ],
      "unassigned": [],
      "violations": [
        {
          "name": "Wage Costs",
          "value": 890,
          "level": "SOFT"
        }
      ]
    }
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Analysis">
    The solution optimizes retail staffing effectively:

    1. **Peak Coverage**: Saturday peak fully staffed with 5+ employees
    2. **Supervisor Presence**: At least 1 supervisor during all peak shifts
    3. **Student Schedules**: Evan only assigned evening/weekend shifts matching availability
    4. **Part-Time Balance**: Diana's morning-only availability respected
    5. **Fair Weekend Distribution**: Part-timers share weekend shifts equitably

    <Check>
      Full coverage achieved while respecting all availability constraints and minimizing wage costs.
    </Check>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Key Retail Features

### Part-Time Availability Windows

Handle complex availability patterns:

```json theme={null}
{
  "employees": [{
    "name": "Student-Worker",
    "availability": [
      "2024-04-01T17:00:00/2024-04-01T22:00:00",
      "2024-04-06T09:00:00/2024-04-06T22:00:00",
      "2024-04-07T09:00:00/2024-04-07T18:00:00"
    ]
  }]
}
```

### Peak Hour Demands

Ensure adequate staffing during busy periods:

```json theme={null}
{
  "demands": [
    {
      "name": "saturday-rush",
      "from": "2024-04-06T12:00:00",
      "to": "2024-04-06T18:00:00",
      "min": 8,
      "max": 10
    }
  ]
}
```

### Shift Priority for Coverage

Prioritize critical shifts:

```json theme={null}
{
  "shifts": [
    {
      "name": "peak-cashier",
      "priority": 1,
      "min": 4
    },
    {
      "name": "morning-stock",
      "priority": 3,
      "min": 1
    }
  ]
}
```

<Tip>
  Priority 1 shifts are filled first. Use lower priority (higher numbers) for shifts that can be understaffed if needed.
</Tip>

### Weekend Shift Fairness

Distribute desirable weekend shifts fairly:

```json theme={null}
{
  "fairnessBuckets": [
    {
      "employees": ["Part-Timer-1", "Part-Timer-2", "Part-Timer-3"],
      "shifts": ["saturday-pm", "sunday-am", "sunday-pm"],
      "period": { "from": "2024-04-01", "to": "2024-04-30" }
    }
  ]
}
```

## Common Retail Patterns

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Split shifts for peak coverage">
    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "shifts": [
        { "name": "am-shift", "from": "08:00", "to": "12:00" },
        { "name": "pm-shift", "from": "16:00", "to": "22:00" }
      ],
      "rules": [
        {
          "constraint": "COUNTER",
          "type": "WORKING_SHIFT_TYPE",
          "tags": ["SPLIT"],
          "max": 2,
          "period": { "duration": "P7D" }
        }
      ]
    }
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Seasonal staffing increase">
    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "shifts": [{
        "name": "holiday-extra",
        "from": "2024-12-20T10:00:00",
        "to": "2024-12-20T22:00:00",
        "min": 8,
        "max": 12,
        "tags": [{ "name": "HOLIDAY" }]
      }],
      "options": { "partialPlanning": true }
    }
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Opening and closing duties">
    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "shifts": [
        {
          "name": "opener",
          "from": "07:00",
          "to": "15:00",
          "skills": [{ "name": "key-holder" }],
          "min": 1,
          "max": 1
        },
        {
          "name": "closer",
          "from": "14:00",
          "to": "22:00",
          "skills": [{ "name": "key-holder" }],
          "min": 1,
          "max": 1
        }
      ]
    }
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Cross-training flexibility">
    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "employees": [{
        "name": "Flexible-Worker",
        "skills": [
          { "name": "cashier", "level": 3 },
          { "name": "floor", "level": 3 },
          { "name": "stock", "level": 2 }
        ]
      }],
      "weights": {
        "softSkills": "5soft"
      }
    }
    ```
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Related Examples

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Demand Coverage" icon="chart-line" href="/guides/fill/examples/demand">
    Match staffing to customer demand
  </Card>

  <Card title="Fairness Buckets" icon="balance-scale" href="/guides/fill/examples/fairness">
    Equitable shift distribution
  </Card>

  <Card title="Rules and Constraints" icon="scale-balanced" href="/guides/fill/examples/rule">
    Working hour and day limits
  </Card>

  <Card title="Request Schema" icon="brackets-curly" href="/guides/fill/schemas/request">
    Complete field reference
  </Card>
</CardGroup>