“During the Black Friday period, trading levels increase across many industries,” explained Cindy Gunn, group head of people at staffing provider GI Group UK.
Gunn told HR magazine: “Many businesses will scale up their workforce to cope with the additional demand, often using recruitment businesses to support.”
Thousands of Amazon workers are set to protest or strike in over 20 countries over Black Friday weekend (29 November to 2 December) to call for fair wages, the right to join unions, tax payments and a commitment to sustainability from the retailer.
The campaign group Make Amazon Pay has planned protests outside Amazon’s UK headquarters on Bishopsgate in London on Black Friday. A petition that has gained more than 110,000 signatures is due to be delivered to parliament, and workers plan to march to 11 Downing Street.
Retail, hospitality and services workers are due to face an increase in shifts and hours over the Black Friday period, data from shift work management platform Deputy, published on 12 November, has shown.
It revealed an expected 26% increase in shifts and a projected 35% increase in hours for retail workers, a 13% and 15% increase for hospitality workers, and a 68% and 52% increase for services workers, including postal and delivery workers.
Read more: How can HR support seasonal workers?
Increased demand often causes workers to work overtime to meet targets, Gunn noted.
HR should forward plan for the Black Friday period, according to Ruth Cornish, founder of consultancy Amelore.
"Supporting employees during Black Friday is key to ensuring a productive, effective and profitable period," she told HR magazine. In advance, make sure that your workforce planning is sharp, so rotas and shifts are manageable."
HR should ensure that they help workers manage workload during the Black Friday period, she continued.
“HR departments have a responsibility to provide support for employees during this busy time – making time for employees to take a break away from the workspace is important at all times, but more so when the workplace becomes more frantic.
“Listening to what employees want and making the workspace as comfortable as possible is crucial. Making sure that workloads are manageable and targets are achievable is also key; employees will become demotivated if they feel that targets are impossible to hit, and demotivation just leads to lost productivity and engagement.”
Employers should also prioritise giving workers notice about changed shifts, so that they can offset pressure in their personal lives, Gunn added.
She continued: “It’s key that business leaders do not assume everyone can drop everything and work much longer hours and overtime on days off. It’s important to give all employees as much notice as possible of any upcoming essential overtime requirements, to allow people to make other arrangements.
“Being clear around any target changes, additional remuneration and what support is available to those that may be struggling to meet the additional demands is also very important.”
Read more: Number of night workers from ethnic backgrounds surges
Providing flexible scheduling options during busy periods could help workers manage their workload, said Ian Moore, managing director at consultancy Lodge Court.
Speaking to HR magazine, he said: "Ensuring fair and timely compensation is paramount, as is offering flexible scheduling to accommodate personal needs. Promoting a healthy work/life balance through reasonable shift lengths and adequate rest periods helps prevent exhaustion.
"Open communication channels can encourage employees to voice concerns, while stress management resources, like wellness programs or counselling, can make a meaningful difference. By prioritising their workforce, employers not only safeguard wellbeing but also enhance team morale and productivity.”
