Workforce Planning at Dixons - Grab Staff from a Rival!

A good example here from the retailing sector of how workforce planning be affected by short-term changes in the external competitive environment.

Market leader Dixons has delayed recruiting their extra Christmas staff in order to allow staff from troubled rival Comet to apply. The placing of Comet into adminstration has put over 6,000 jobs at risk and Dixons has apparently already had 500 applications or enquiries from these staff.

I think this is a great example to use when looking at workforce planning as it highlights some key issues facing HR departments:

• Extra staff are often needed during busy times, and this must be planned for
  
• Recruiting staff who have worked for a competitor may need less training and can bring relevant skills and knowledge
  
• This move is also likely to be good for Dixon's corporate image as they are offering employment and, in the words of a company spokesman, 'hope' to the employees of Comet.
  

Overall, a great story for business studies students to follow as it further highlights that only the strongest in retail will survive.

The full story from Sky News can be found here: http://news.sky.com/story/1008169/dixons-to-hire-comet-staff-this-christmas