Myer staff dodge bullet
T O W N S V I L L E ’ S M y e r store won’t be among the 42 outlets nationwide which will undergo a staffing shake- up.
The changes at Myer’s stores will aim to put a more flexible workforce in place, with a higher representation of casual and part- time staff.
A Myer spokesman told the Bulletin the Townsville store would be one of 14 stores nationwide to dodge the changes, as it already had an acceptable ratio of permanent to parttime employees.
“Townsville already has a flexible staffing arrangement, so it’s positive news for them,” the spokesman said.
The new business model is expected to facilitate rostering of more sales staff in peak periods and decrease them during quiet times.
The move appears to be in stark contrast to rival David Jones, which is increasing the number of its full- time store employees.
Voluntary redundancies will be offered at 42 of Myer’s 66 stores as part of the retailer’s plan to turn around flagging sales.
“We are changing the mix of permanent and casual team members to achieve greater flexibility, so we can align our workforce with customer demand and adapt to changes in store traffic flows,” a Myer spokesman said.
Morningstar analyst Farina Parsons said striking the right balance between permanent and casual workers was particularly crucial for department stores, given their size.
“To get that rostering right is going to be very essential,” she said.
“It would be dangerous to get rid of too many staff because shedding too many would affect customer service and they can’t afford to do that in such a competitive environment.”
Myer has been struggling with declining sales and is in the middle of a major overhaul to turn around the business.
Myer has already cut 80 jobs at its Melbourne Docklands office last month as part of the “back to basics” strategy.
The retailer closed its department store at Sydney’s Top Ryde City shopping centre on Saturday and will close three speciality stores in Melbourne next month.
Shares in Myer closed up a cent, or 0.84 per cent, at $ 1.195 yesterday.