Staff shortages force a baker from Upper Austria to close parts of its branches in the afternoon. Reinhard Honeder shows that adapting the concept helps in some locations.
With the phrase “not only dough should rest”, the Honed Naturbackstube announced in mid-October 2022 that opening hours would be reduced in several locations and that they would close in the afternoon. Reason: The employees must be relieved.
“At the Breaking Point”
“Changing duty rosters, spontaneous changes of workplaces in sales and short-term replacements of colleagues require enormous commitment and flexibility. Some employees have reached the breaking point,” emphasized boss Reinhard Honeder.
Almost half a year later, the website of the bakery from Engerwitzdorf still shows many branches that are closed in the afternoon. “We are gradually trying to keep more shops open in the afternoon, but we need planning certainty for that,” says the 56-year-old. While four apprentices are starting in the bakery this year, the staffing situation for drivers and sales is more tense. “We have too few employees, especially in sales,” says Honeder.
Two branches are already open all day
The range is being expanded step by step: the branch in Kaisergasse/Fabrikstrasse in Linz has been open until the evening since the beginning of November, while the one in Pichling has only been open for a few weeks.
To cope with the shortage of staff, the bakery is also responding with changed concepts: some stores that offer seating have been changed in such a way that the customer orders and pays at the counter and the employees serve alone. That saves manners and time.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
