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Shrinkage Calculator for Retail

If you need 8 staff on the floor, how many should you schedule?

Shrinkage

28.0%

Net Capacity

72.0%

Headcount

70

You need 70 staff to keep 50 available, with 20 extra to cover shrinkage.

Shrinkage categories

Adjust each category as a percentage of total paid time

PTO7%
Sick Leave5%
Paid Breaks6%
Training4%
Stock / Inventory Tasks4%
Team Huddles2%

Add custom category

Shrinkage breakdown

Live view of which categories contribute most to total shrinkage

Capacity split

Available time vs shrinkage

Headcount mix

Coverage target vs added staff for shrinkage

Frequently asked questions

What is shrinkage in retail staffing?

It's the gap between scheduled hours and actual productive floor time, caused by breaks, training, meetings, and absences.

What's a good shrinkage rate for retail?

Typically 20โ€“30%. Stores with extensive onboarding or seasonal hiring may see higher rates.

How does shrinkage differ from labor waste?

Shrinkage is unavoidable paid non-productive time. Labor waste refers to overstaffing or poor scheduling; they're related but distinct.

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